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The Moritzbastei (translation: Moritz bastion) is the only remaining part of the ancient town fortifications of Leipzig. It is located on Kurt-Masur-Platz in the southeast of the city center. From 1979 to 1993 it was operated by Leipzig University as a student club. Since 1993 it has been managed as a cultural center by a private limited liability company on behalf of the Moritzbastei Leipzig Foundation.

History of the building

Between 1551 and 1554, what became known as the Moritzbastei was built as a bastion in Leipzig's walls under the supervision of the mayor Hieronymus Lotter. In 1547, Elector Moritz of Saxony directed the reconstruction of the town fortifications of Leipzig after they became largely destroyed during the Smalkaldic War between German Emperor Charles V and the Smalkaldic League. The bastion was named after Elector Moritz.

In 1642, during the Thirty Years War, the Moritzbastei was stormed. During the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), it lost its military function. Henceforth it served as a store for trade goods and workplace for a bell founder and a book printer.

From 1796 to 1834, Leipzig's first public school was built over the basement of the Moritzbastei by architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe. It was the first school in Germany without confessional segregated classes. It was destroyed in 1943 during World War II.

From 1974 the Moritzbastei was rebuilt under the supervision of Leipzig University. More than 30,000 students were engaged in the reconstruction of the bastion, among them the future Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. From 1982 onward the Moritzbastei was the official student club of Leipzig University. Rubble and remains of the destroyed building were filled into the basement rooms of the bastion.

Moritzbastei as a student club

In 1973/1974 students discovered the remains of the Moritzbastei and persuaded the university and city of Leipzig to allow it to be rebuilt. Subsequently, it was run by the Free German Youth as a venue for encounter and cultural events.

Since 1992 the Moritzbastei is no longer part of Leipzig University and became a legally independent (commercial) foundation. It is still linked to the university through its board of directors which is headed by the Rector of Leipzig University while a second board member has to be an elected student representative.

Moritzbastei since 1993

Since 1993 the Moritzbastei has been run in the form of a GmbH under licence of the Moritzbastei foundation as a well known cultural centre. Its main purpose being to foster and sustain the student and academic culture in Leipzig.

The Board of Trustees, which oversees the work of the foundation without institutional subvention, consists of one representative of the city of Leipzig, the Free State of Saxony and the student body.

In recent years artists from all over the world have been guests of the Moritzbastei.

External links

51°20′14″N 12°22′45″E / 51.3372°N 12.3792°E / 51.3372; 12.3792

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 [[File:Moritzbastei Leipzig 1785.jpg|thumb|Moritzbastei in 1785]]
 [[File:Leipzig - Universitätsstraße - Moritzbastei 05 ies.jpg|thumb|Moritzbastei in 2015]]
-'''The Moritzbastei''' is the only remaining part of the ancient town fortifications of [[Leipzig]]. It is located on Kurt-Masur-Platz in the southeast of Leipzig city center. From 1979 to 1993 it was operated by [[Leipzig University]] as a student club. Since 1993 it has been managed as a cultural center by a [[Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung|private limited liability company]] on behalf of the Moritzbastei Leipzig Foundation.
+'''The Moritzbastei''' (translation: Moritz bastion) is the only remaining part of the ancient town fortifications of [[Leipzig]]. It is located on Kurt-Masur-Platz in the southeast of the city center. From 1979 to 1993 it was operated by [[Leipzig University]] as a student club. Since 1993 it has been managed as a cultural center by a [[Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung|private limited liability company]] on behalf of the ''Moritzbastei Leipzig Foundation''.
 == History of the building ==
-Between 1551 and 1554, the Moritzbastei was built as a [[bastion]] in the city's walls under the supervision of the mayor [[Hieronymus Lotter]]. In 1547, Elector Moritz of [[Saxony]] directed the reconstruction of the town fortifications of Leipzig after they became largely destroyed during the [[Smalkaldic War]] between German Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] and the [[Smalkaldic League]].
+Between 1551 and 1554, what became known as the Moritzbastei was built as a [[bastion]] in Leipzig's walls under the supervision of the mayor [[Hieronymus Lotter]]. In 1547, [[Maurice, Elector of Saxony|Elector Moritz]] of [[Saxony]] directed the reconstruction of the town fortifications of Leipzig after they became largely destroyed during the [[Smalkaldic War]] between German Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] and the [[Smalkaldic League]]. The bastion was named after Elector Moritz.
 In 1642, during the [[Thirty Years War]], the Moritzbastei was stormed. During the [[Seven Years' War]] (1756–1763), it lost its military function. Henceforth it served as a store for trade goods and workplace for a bell founder and a book printer.
-In the period 1796–1834, the first public school (1. Bürgerschule) was built over the basement of the Moritzbastei by architect [[Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe]]. It was the first school in Germany without confessional segregated classes and was destroyed in 1943 during [[World War II]].
+From 1796 to 1834, Leipzig's first public school  was built over the basement of the Moritzbastei by architect [[Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe]]. It was the first school in Germany without confessional segregated classes. It was destroyed in 1943 during [[World War II]].
-From 1974 the Moritzbastei was rebuilt under the supervision of [[Leipzig University]]. More than 30,000 students were engaged in the reconstruction of the bastion, among them the future [[Chancellor of Germany]], [[Angela Merkel]].  From 1982 onward the Moritzbastei was the official [[student club]] of Leipzig University.
+From 1974 the Moritzbastei was rebuilt under the supervision of [[Leipzig University]]. More than 30,000 students were engaged in the reconstruction of the bastion, among them the future [[Chancellor of Germany]], [[Angela Merkel]].  From 1982 onward the Moritzbastei was the official [[student club]] of Leipzig University. Rubble and remains of the destroyed building were filled into the basement rooms of the bastion.
 == Moritzbastei as a student club ==
-In 1973 or 1974 students discovered the remains of the Moritzbastei and persuaded the university and city of [[Leipzig]] to allow it to be rebuilt. Subsequently, it was run by the [[Free German Youth]] as a venue for encounter and cultural events.
+In 1973/1974 students discovered the remains of the Moritzbastei and persuaded the university and city of [[Leipzig]] to allow it to be rebuilt. Subsequently, it was run by the [[Free German Youth]] as a venue for encounter and cultural events.
 Since 1992 the Moritzbastei is no longer part of [[Leipzig University]] and became a legally independent (commercial) foundation. It is still linked to the university through its board of directors which is headed by the [[Rector (academia)|Rector]] of Leipzig University while a second board member has to be an elected student representative.