Taucha, an old university village in Saxony, bordering Leipzig, allows you to follow the footsteps of guys like Johann Sebestian Bach.
Some of Taucha’s history isn’t so pretty (even though the town itself is beautiful).
It was almost destroyed by the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) and suffered heavily with outbreaks of the Plague for decades in the 17th century. All this didn’t stop its residents from living and many of the sites here are what that sturdy stock built.
Sadly, World War 2 damaged much of the town with bombings from the Allies in 1944. Furthermore, the town suffered heavily because the Central German Engine Works used the forced labor of over 2000 people for arms production.
Taucha remembers the children forced to work in the labor camps with a memorial dedicated in their memory.
The town’s Local History Museum is a great place to delve deeper into its history.
A visit to the old Schloss Taucha and the Stadtmauer (fortification wall) weave a historic tale, as well. And the ancient Brewhouse has another local history exhibit and a delicious restaurant to boot.
Taucha’s crowning glory is the Parish Church Moritz with spectacular mountain backdrop. If you want to get even more in touch with nature, there’s a fantastic Botanical Garden nearby.
You’ll also find plenty of festivals in the region, like the annual film festival known as Dokfestival or the annual Book Fair.
Venture over to Leipzig which hosts the annual Wave Gotik Treffen, or Dark Culture Festival. It’s one huge “Goth” Fest, a far cry from the days of Bach, but fun nonetheless.
