Sadgoth's Guide to Wave gotik treffen / leipzig 

Every year the list of venues changes, new ones appear and old ones disappear, occasionally a few old ones pop up for a year or two and then disappear again, covid changed the list more than any other year (probably due to venues changing hands). The list below details a number of venues that have been around for a few years (the full list will be detailed in the official program)

DARKFLOWER
Darkflower is the gothic regular Leipzig  nightclub (that many find too small for the WGT weekend) it is also used during the day for events such as a new album release parties or come and meet the band party, check the official program for details). As you enter the club, show your WGT wristband and go down the stairs (be prepared for a wave of heat to hit you as you descend, toilets are to your left and  to your right is the main dance-floor. The bar is down the side of the dance-floor, it can be quite hard to reach once the place is full, the sound from the dance-floor will hinder your conversation with the bar staff (note its not unknown for band members of the Goth world to be serving behind the bar, so when you order your beer, have a look to see if you recognise the person who has just served you).

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There is a second dance-floors to the rear of the building, just follow the bar past the archway. The club really is excellent, guest DJs will play most nights and the dancefloor will be very packed till the very early hours of the morning. Expect the place to be going till 6am every night. Check out the bar for some wonderful cocktails/drinks too, it does however get very hot, worth visiting after 3am when it starts to thin out / cool down.

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SCHAUSPIELHAUS

Schauspielhaus is a traditional theater located just to the west of town. During WGT the venue is used to host concerts and readings where you will need to sit down to watch the show. Its a lovely venue, however it can get busy esp for bigger bands and you might want to get here early if there is a band you really want to see. Its a wonderfully posh venue and excellent for the bands that play there and the seats are very comfy, try to get there early as the seats in the gods are quite distant. NOTE: Drinks are not allowed in the main hall, only in the foyer. It has also been noted that people seem to fall asleep in this venue, guess after a few days of WGT it can get a bit tiring and comfy seats and beautiful music can mean snoozy time...

 

VOLKERSCHLACHTDENKMAL / KRYPTA
There are venues and then there is the Krypta, this is the most breathtaking venue you are ever likely to visit, it is set within the centre of the huge Völkerschlachtdenkmal, so music that is played here will resonate around the massive stone walls and statues. It is located to the South East of the city centre and will host only a small number of concerts

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("Monument of the Battle of the Nations") is a large monument in Leipzig, Germany, to the Battle of Leipzig of 1813, also known as the Battle of the Nations. It is one of Leipzig's main landmarks. The monument commemorates Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig. This was a crucial step towards the end of hostilities, which was, in essence, a victory for the German peoples. Additionally, it mourns the 120,000 dead from all the nations involved, not only the German soldiers.

 

The structure is 91 metres tall, making it the tallest monument in Europe. It contains over 500 steps to a viewing platform at the top, from which there are spectacular views across the city and its environs. It was one of the first major structures to make extensive use of concrete, although the facings are of granite. It is said to stand on the spot of the bloodiest fighting, where Napoleon saw his army destroyed. The architect of the monument was Bruno Schmitz, and the carved figures, including the 5.5 metres (18 feet) high Totenwächter ("Guards of the Dead", or "Keepers of the Vigil of the Dead") are the work of sculptor Franz Metzner. The construction work took place over a period of 15 years.

 

Hitler exploited the monument to the full, and chose it as a frequent venue for his speeches when in Leipzig. During the period of communist rule in East Germany, the government of the GDR was unsure whether it should allow the monument to stand, since it represented the staunch nationalism of the period of the German Empire. Eventually, it was decided that the monument should be allowed to remain, since it represented a battle in which Russian and German soldiers had fought together against a common enemy, and was therefore representative of "Russo-German Brotherhood-in-arms"

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The venue is amazing, although only one or two bands will play (and normally from the folk, classical spectrum)