Leipzig, Germany's Booming City

While there are no castles in the city of Leipzig, Colditz Castle is worth taking a day trip to Colditz. It's not far from Leipzig and can easily be reached by taxi or even by public transport. This Renaissance castle is a hugely popular attraction with visitors because of its unique history. Not only did it serve as a home to several important monarchs, it also holds a unique place in World War II history. During World War II Colditz Castle was turned into a prisoner of war camp that held allied prisoners who had previously attempted escapes from other camps. Although it was considered a high security camp, there were many successful escapes from the castle. The most well known escape plan was an elaborate scheme that included a glider but was never used. Curiosity over the castle  and glider escape plan have inspired various television shows and even replicas of the castle and glider. The castle has gone through several renovations and now offers guided tours where prisoner escape methods can be observed.