The heart of Leipzig is centered around the Market Square where the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) is located. With every step taken on the cobblestones, one is taken back to the German Renaissance.

The Old Town Hall was constructed in 1556 by Hieronymus Lotter. It once served as the seat for the city’s council but was turned into a museum in 1909.

Leipzig is the largest city in the state of Saxony. It’s a city of merchants and artists as they say. Some call it the second Berlin, except that it’s much smaller, not as gentrified, and nowhere near as expensive as the capital.

The city is extremely unique and like many German cities, has an interesting past. I wish I could have explored more those three weeks that I stood there. One of the activities that I did partake in was strolling through the markt (market).

The farmers market took place every Tuesday and Thursday in the Market Square. It was filled with the regions local goods.

Berries of all sorts and colors stood out at the stands. You can smell them from far away and see the pops of color from the other side of the square.

The summer sun and cool breeze made the stroll that much more enjoyable. I’d catch the market before the tourist entered the area in the morning.

Besides produce, local meat, cheese, wine, and baked goods filled the stands all around.

One of the things I admire about Germans is their patience. Patience in regards to waiting to eat food that is appropriate to the season.

I’ve noticed even while shopping at grocery stores, foods that aren’t in season do not get picked up, whereas in my home state of California, people will buy off season produce during any of the seasons.

I enjoy roaming markets from around the world because I’m given a glimpse into the culture of the country I’m visiting. I get to see what the citizens harvest and eat, how they communicate with one another, and how they manage their stands. So much can be learned at a market.

It’s beautiful to watch any vendor speak about their product, no matter what it may be. You can see how proud they are about what they’ve cultivated.

Every chance I get I try to speak to the vendor. I ask them questions about where they’re located, how long they’ve been selling at the market, and then more specific questions about what I want to buy.

They are the perfect people to ask what to cook the product with or what to pair it with.

If you visit this city, try to visit the Market Square on a Tuesday or Thursday. During the Holiday season the market turns into a Christmas Market. It’s a great way to experience part of the culture.

During one of our trips we picked up some cauliflower, eggs, blueberries, raspberries, zucchini, eggs, cheese, fresh flowers, and a sort of pickle thing. We enjoyed every bite of what we made with our fresh goods.

Support your local farmers and businesses, they are the soul of every community.