The History of the Mädler-Passage

Two progressive Leipzig businessmen set their mark on the Mädler Passage and made it world famous: Dr. Heinrich Stromer von Auerbach and Anton Mädler.

Dr. Heinrich Stromer von Auerbach

Anton Mädler

In 1525, Dr. Stromer von Auerbach, the Rector of Leipzig University opened an wine bar in the Waldheim-Hummelhainischen Hof. because the business prospered he erected a substantial new building on the same site five years later, the exhibition hall “Auerbach’s Hof”. The cellar vaults remained unchanged and continued to be used by the wine bar.

To celebrate the 100 anniversary in 1625 Alderman Johann Vetzer a descendant of Dr. Stromer von Auerbach rebuilt the exhibition hall. At the same time he wanted to create a new attraction for Auerbach’s Cellar: He commissioned the artist Andreas Brettschneider to paint two murals which portrayed the legend of Dr Faustus - seated on the wine barrel and drinking with students in a Leipzig wine bar. By backdating the paintings to 1525 they were ever-after associated with Auerbach’s Cellar made it even better known and helped by Goethe’s Faust to celebrity status.

Auerbachs Hof around 1920

Auerbachs Hof before demolition

By the beginning of the 19th century, “Auerbach’s Hof” had established itself as an exhibition hall. It changed owners several times. Both Count Lindenau von Machern and the Counts von Veltheim owned it. Auerbach’s Cellar also experienced expansion, above all helped by the ongoing artistic and decorative improvement which attracted evermore guests.

On 1st January 1911, the Councillor of Commerce, Anton Mädler, owner of the Suitcase and Bag Factory Moritz Mädler, acquired the complete complex of houses of Auerbach’s Cellar and bought additional neighbouring plots of land as well. When the building plans became known, calls from around the world to save Auerbach’s Cellar were raised. Mädler proved himself to be an idealist and spared neither cost nor effort to include the inn in the new building and even to expand it.

Construction of the part of the Passage leading to Grimmaischen Straße began in 1912 and the second part , the rotunda and the connection to the Neumarkt followed in 1914. From that time the Mädler Passage was used as an exhibition hall for porcelain wine and leather ware.

And this tradition continued during DDR times. At the Spring and Autumn Fairs, primarily porcelain and stoneware were displayed. By the way the Mädler Passage was never confiscated by the State but instead was run by the Leipzig Messamt as trustee.

When the Messeshauses am Markt was built between 1963 and 1965, the Mädler Passage gained a third entrance from Peterstraße. Anton Mädler had made a similar plan but was not able to realise it because he was not able to acquire the necessary plot of land.

After the Reforms in 1993, the property company, Dr. Jürgen Schneider, wanted to renovate the complex, but the plans did not come to fruition because the concern was declared bankrupt in 1994.

Entrance Grimmaische Straße

Entrance Neumarkt

Extensive restructuring and renovation measures were assumed by the Mädler-Passage Leipzig Grundstück GmbH & Co in 1995. During the next two years the complete premises, including Auerbach’s Cellar were renovated according to the historic design. Today the Mädler Passage is once again one of the finest and most visited arcades in the world.

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