Leipziger Festwiese, Open-air event meadow near Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany
Leipziger Festwiese is a large open meadow in the west of Leipzig, situated next to Red Bull Arena and enclosed by earthen embankments. It has entry points on both the eastern and western sides and an open layout that can hold very large crowds.
The meadow was laid out in the second half of the 1930s on the Ranstädter Viehweide, a flood-prone pasture crossed by a path to Leutzsch. It was named Adolf-Hitler-Feld on 22 May 1938 and inaugurated on 24 May 1938 for the Saxon NSDAP Gau party rally. When the Zentralstadion was built in the mid-1950s, its northern half was covered, leaving today's near-square shape; the bell tower was erected in 1956.
The Festwiese is best known today as a place where large concerts and open-air festivals bring together crowds from across the region. The open grassy layout means the space feels very different depending on whether you arrive for a rock festival or a fairground event.
The site is easy to reach by tram, with several lines stopping close to the grounds. Because it is fully open-air, it is worth checking the weather before you go and dressing accordingly.
At the northern edge of the grounds stands a bell tower named after Werner Seelenbinder, a German wrestler and resistance figure, and it is a protected monument. The tower stands roughly 43 meters tall and works as a clear landmark when moving around the site.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,091 contributors worldwide.