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During 1875 about one million passengers passed through the Bayrischer Bahnhof. The Leipzig station, nicknamed the "Gate into the South", led the travelers to Bavaria, Austria and Italy. During this time Leipzig gained in importance as a commerce and industrial city and central freight station.
Kings and large princes operated here just like commercial travellers, buyers and workers. The golden time of the Bayrischer Bahnhof ended only with the opening of the main station. In the year 1912 main line train traffic was shifted there.
Picture: The newly built main station in 1912.
In 1944 an attack by the Allies during World War II serverly damaged the Bayrischer Bahnhof. The passenger hall, train station and administrations building were completely destroyed.
Nevertheless the railway company continued. After 1945 there were no longer enough resources to reconstruct the station. Many attempts were made to rebuild the station, but none materialized. In 1975 the station was placed under monument protection by the government.
Finally there was hope for the destroyed buildings of the Bayrischer Bahnhof: The Deutsche Bahn AG and brewery owner Thomas Schneider annouced their intention to rebuild the compex completely and furnishing it in its historical premises as a hotel brewery.
In May the construction work began. With highest care and under guidance of the monument conservationists one secured the existing remains and supplemented her after its historical layout. The public pursued the rebuilding of the Bayrischer Bahnhof with sympathy and interest - finally it became a landmark of the city Leipzig.
