Thomasalumnat

The Thomasalumnat is an educational building in Leipzig comprising an older structure from 1876 and a modern extension added in 2013. It houses classrooms, student sleeping quarters, teacher apartments, practice rooms, and library spaces for the choir's collections.

The building was constructed in the 1870s after the institution moved away from its original site near Thomaskirche. Architect August Friedrich Viehweger designed it in late classical style to accommodate students in separate study and sleeping spaces.

The building serves as the home and training center for the Thomanerchor, one of Germany's oldest choirs, where young musicians live and study together. You can feel the musical focus of the place in how spaces are organized and how people move through them.

The site can be visited during certain times, so it helps to plan ahead if you want to see the interior spaces or architecture. Allow yourself time to explore the different areas, as the complex includes both older and newer sections that reveal different eras.

The original 1870s design provided separate study and sleeping spaces for about 60 students, reflecting how educators at that time thought about student life and personal development. This careful separation reveals attitudes toward learning and rest that were distinctly different from modern approaches.