Auerbachs Keller is the most famous and one of the oldest restaurants in Leipzig. auerbach cellar in leipzig auerbach cellar in leipzig
The doctor of medicine received permission to trade in wine for excellent service.
At the entrance to the restaurant, visitors are greeted by a bronze sculpture by Mathieu Molitor. This sculptural display depicts Faust accompanied by Mephistopheles.
Why did Auerbach's Cellar gain such unheard-of popularity? Back in the 18th century, Johann Wolfgang Goethe liked to look into a romantic restaurant, where a rather interesting audience gathered. 
Here he heard an ancient legend about how the famous warlock Johann Faust rode in this cellar up the stairs to the exit to the street riding on a large barrel (naturally with the help of dark forces). This place and this story impressed the young man so much that Auerbach's Cellar acts as the setting for the first part of his tragedy Faust.
So, the restaurant owes its celebrity primarily to Johann Wolfgang Goethe.
In 1912-1914, Auerbach's cellar underwent significant rebuilding and expansion during the demolition of the upper floors of the medieval building to create the Medler Passage.
Contacts:
Address: Mädler Passage, Grimmaische Str. 2-4, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Opening hours: daily 12–22*
*Opening hours may vary
Phone: +49 341 216100
In one of the studies, he was ranked 5th among the most famous restaurants in the world (after the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the Sacher Hotel in Vienna and the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles).
Auerbach's cellar is located in the old center of Leipzig on Grimmaische Straße inside the Mädler Passage, just a few steps from the Market Square.
The restaurant has several small historical halls with a capacity of 20-40 people, places in which you need to reserve in advance:
- Fasskeller ("Barrel cellar"),
- Lutherzimmer ("Luther Hall"),
- Goethezimmer ("Goethe Hall"),
- Alt-Leipzig ("Old Leipzig"),
- as well as the Großer Keller ("Great Cellar") built in 1913.
The first mention of the wine trade in this place dates back to 1438.
Name "Auerbach's Cellar" not chosen randomly. It is associated with its first owner, city council member and professor of medicine Heinrich Strömer, originally from Auerbach, who was known in the city as "Dr. Auerbach". For his impeccable service and devotion, the doctor received permission from the Saxon elector to trade in wine.
From the very first days of its existence, Auerbach's cellar became very popular among the population of Leipzig. Among the regulars at this establishment was the reformer Martin Luther.
With its popularity "Auerbach's cellar", which became in the XVI century. one of the most famous wine cellars of the city, is due primarily to Johann Wolfgang Goethe.
During his studies in Leipzig, he often looked into the "Auerbach's Cellar" and heard an ancient legend that here the famous warlock Johann Faust rode up the stairs to the exit on a large barrel, and such a thing could not have done without the help of the devil.
This story and this place impressed Goethe so much that Auerbach's Cellar became the setting for the first part of his tragedy Faust.
In the central part of the room are large old wine barrels. For visitors, a real performance is played so that the story of Faust comes to life.
Ever since the 18th century, the institution can hardly cope with the influx of visitors. The restaurant, which is located underground, in the cellar, exploits its glory with might and main: sculptures of Mephistopheles and Faust are installed in front of the entrance.
The ground part of the establishment is "Mephisto Bar", and the gothic interiors of the establishment only resemble the gloomy atmosphere of Goethe's tragedy.
This autumn, a group of tourists and I visited Leipzig, one of the beautiful cities in Germany, "little Paris", according to Goethe. We walked along their main pedestrian street Grimmaische Strasse, decorated with magnificent buildings and artistically decorated spacious passages. And in one of these passages , known as the Medler Passage, we were introduced to the Auerbach Cellar. The story about this cellar impressed me so much that I decided to introduce you to its history.
"Auerbach's Cellar" (German Auerbachs Keller) - the most famous and one of the oldest restaurants Leipzig. The restaurant got its modern name from the name of its owner, a member of the city council and a professor of medicine, Dr. Heinrich Strömer from Auerbach in Upper Palatinate, who was known in Leipzig simply as "Doctor Auerbach".
With its popularity "Auerbach's cellar", which became in the XVI century. one of the most famous wine cellars of the city, owes first of all Johann Wolfgang Goethe. During his studies in Leipzig in - 1768 he often looked into the "Auerbach's Cellar" and heard an ancient legend that here the famous warlock Johann Faust rode a large barrel up the stairs to the exit to the street, and such a thing was not without the help of the devil. This story and this place impressed Goethe so much that Auerbach's Cellar became the setting for the first part of his tragedy "Faust".
Passage Medler, left and right at the entrance to the cellar, sculptural groups of scenes from "Faust"
There are four small historical halls in the cellar with a capacity of 20-40 people, 1. "Goethe Hall" This banquet hall with Gothic vaults is named after, probably, the most eminent guest of the Auerbach Cellar, the great poet Goethe. Both in his famous work "Faust" and in numerous letters, the poet repeatedly mentions our restaurant, which he often visited and loved. The place, the table at which Goethe used to sit will remain an undisclosed secret. Therefore, every guest who takes a place in the cellar can assume that it is he who is sitting in the place once chosen by the great poet himself.Numerous paintings and documents hung on the walls of this hall remind today's visitor of the poet and other famous personalities who used to visit the cellar.
2. "Luther Hall" In addition to Goethe, Luther was a frequent guest of Auerbach's Cellar, so one of the halls of our restaurant is also named after him. The founder and first owner of the Auerbach Cellar restaurant, Heinrich Stromer, originally from Auerbach, was considered in the 16th century one of the most educated and enlightened inhabitants of Leipzig. Disliked by the church, but at the same time respected by the cultural community, the reformer Martin Luther of Wittenberg was a friend of Stromer. Luther was forced to hide from his enemies in safe places; in Leipzig, the Auerbach house was such a safe place.
3. Hall "Old Leipzig"- as well as
4. "Barrel cellar".
Thanks to the mention of the barrel cellar in Goethe's classic Faust, it is safe to say that it is the most famous guest salon in Germany.
This cellar even today looks exactly like the whole generations of visitors saw it for many years before the great Goethe or after him. Translated in 1912-1914. on wall
painting panels allow us and
today to feel the unique atmosphere of this historical place. Instead of a chandelier on the ceiling, you can see a huge sculpture made from a single piece of wood depicting a flight on top of a barrel. In full accordance with the legend that has survived to this day, a huge old wine barrel is part of the interior of this room. Legend has it that the magician and magician Johann Faust flew out of this cellar on a similar wine barrel.
Later, The Great Cellar Hall was built.In the Great Hall of the cellar, which was built in 1912-1914 during the construction of the Medler passage, the restaurant's visitors are offered, first of all, simple hearty typical dishes of Saxon cuisine and beer snacks.
"Bowls on the table" - this is the motto of this hall on weekends and holidays, because at this time in the restaurant you can taste hearty "homemade" dishes for the whole family at affordable prices, for cooking which at home there is often simply not enough time.
So, when you are in Leipzig, do not pass by this cellar.
The Auerbach cellar is a wine trading establishment founded in 1525 by the physician Heinrich Strömer. The cellar has gained wide popularity thanks to its famous visitors - Dr. Strömer's personal friend, church reformer Martin Luther and the German poet Goethe, author of Mephistopheles. Auerbach's cellar itself is described in Goethe's tragedy as the place where the main characters celebrate the deal and where the barrel flight takes place.
Now the scenes that brought fame to the institution are immortalized in its halls. In front of the cellar building, you can see the sculpture of Faust and Mephistopheles, there is also a barrel in the room, similar to that described in the tragedy. In addition, in the cellar of Auerbach you can see many paintings, engravings, historical documents telling about the poet and the heroes of his works. One of the halls is named after Martin Luther. The modern cellar has retained its historical specialization, but has changed the format of trade. Now it is a fashionable restaurant with rich interiors and stocks of expensive wines stored in barrels.
Auerbach cellar on the map
Type: Historical values (castle, palace, ruins, etc.) Address: Grimmaische Straße 2-4, 04109 Leipzig, Deutschland. Opening hours: The Great Hall is open daily 11.30-24.00, historical halls on Monday-Saturday 18.00-24.00. Cost: in the Great Hall main courses - 11-23 €, fixed price menu - 20-37 €, in historical halls main dishes - 27-31 €, fixed price menu - 34-40 €. How to get there: take tram number 9 to the Thomaskirche stop. Website.
