Thomaskirche
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About
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Why go
- Johann Sebastian Bach’s grave lies in the choir beneath a bronze epitaph.
- The Thomanerchor gives regular concerts at the church on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Guided tours climb 232 steps up the church’s 68-metre tower.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played the church organ here in 1789.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 18:00Show all
Don't miss
- Baptismal fontFranz Döteber’s marble-and-alabaster font, made in 1614–1615, was used for the baptisms of Richard Wagner, Karl Liebknecht and 11 of Bach’s children. Its reliefs depict four biblical stories about water.Centre of the choir
- Thomas windowDesigned by Hans Gottfried von Stockhausen, it is the church’s only visible depiction of its patron, Thomas.Inside the church
- Bach monumentErected in 1908, the monument stands level with the church’s Bach window.Southern Thomaskirchhof
Know before you go
- Open Monday–Thursday, 10:00–18:00; Friday, 10:00–16:00; Saturday, 10:00–13:30; Sunday, 11:30–17:30.
- Private photography and filming are unrestricted. Commercial interior photography requires prior written permission.
- Audio and TV recording inside the church, in the galleries and on the tower requires case-by-case permission.
- Choirs may perform about 20 minutes of unaccompanied sacred music on the steps to the chancel; they cannot use the church organs.
Services and visiting hours
- Church
- Services, motets and concerts
- Thomasshop
- South side, between the church and Thomashaus
- Visiting choirs
- Performances remain open to listeners
Interesting facts6
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1496
The roof structure dates to 1496 and has seven levels beneath a 63-degree pitch.
Thomaskirche Leipzig | Bauwerk -
88 sounding
The Sauer organ has 88 sounding stops, or sound settings, and more than 6,000 pipes.
Thomaskirche Leipzig | Bauwerk -
61 stops
The Bach organ has 61 stops across four manuals and a pedal, plus a rotating bell star and chimes.
Thomaskirche Leipzig | Bauwerk -
1885
The present limestone pulpit dates to 1885 and carries images symbolising the four Evangelists.
Thomaskirche Leipzig | Bauwerk -
A crucifix by Caspar Friedrich Löbelt is among the few surviving objects from Bach’s time.
St. Thomas Church, Leipzig - Wikipedia -
The tower’s octagonal upper section dates to the 14th century.
Thomaskirche Leipzig | Bauwerk
Shorts
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Thomaskirche 🔵 LeipzigLeipzigZoom
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Leipzigs Wahrzeichen: Thomaskirche & Mendelssohn-Denkmal – Ein magisc…AsatrU dark
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Altstadt von Leipzig - Thomas Kirche, Johann Sebastian Bach Denkmal T…AsatrU dark
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Thomaskirche 🇩🇪LeipzigTatjana Pospelova
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Thomaskirche 🔵 Leipzig 🎶 Wo Musikgeschichte geschrieben wurdeLeipzigZoom
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Church, where is Bach was playingTanya 💖
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Läuten der Thomaskirche Leipzig 28.9.2012buchzone
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Leipzig aus der Luft - Thomaskirche und Alte BörseLeipzig Travel
History
Archaeologists found Romanesque church foundations beneath the choir and crossing. Between 1212 and 1222, the church became part of the new college of Augustinian canons.
- 12th c.Foundations of an early church date to the beginning of the 12th century.
- 1212The church was recorded in the charter founding an Augustinian canons’ monastery; the Thomanerchor also traces its origins to 1212.
- 1482–1496The old nave was demolished and rebuilt largely in its present form. Bishop Thilo von Trotha consecrated the church on 10 April 1496.
- 1539Martin Luther preached at Pentecost as the church became a Lutheran place of worship.
- 1723–1750Johann Sebastian Bach served as cantor; many of his cantatas and Passions premiered here.
Show all
- 1884–1889A Gothic Revival renovation removed much of the Baroque interior. The present limestone pulpit dates to 1885.
- 1943A December air raid damaged the building and collapsed the tower roof.
- 1949–1950Bach’s presumed remains were transferred here in 1949; his choir grave was dedicated in 1950.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair entrance Use the Burgstraße door.
- Concert hearing support Sit on the left or middle of the nave and set hearing aids to telephone mode.
- Toilet Entrances are beside the Mendelssohn Portal and opposite the Thomasshop entrance; they are not wheelchair accessible.
Hidden gems nearby
Sources: St. Thomas Church, Leipzig - Wikipedia · Leipzig - Wikivoyage (see) · Thomaskirche Leipzig | Startseite · Thomaskirche Leipzig | Bauwerk · Thomaskirche Leipzig | Besucherinformationen · Thomaskirche (Leipzig) - Wikipedia · Église Saint-Thomas de Leipzig - Wikipedia · checked 1 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
Which congregation uses Thomaskirche?
It is the church of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation of St. Thomas.
Did Bach also teach at Thomaskirche?
Yes. Johann Sebastian Bach taught at the affiliated school while serving as music director.
Does Luther’s pulpit survive at Thomaskirche?
No. The present limestone pulpit dates to 1885.
Who appears in Thomaskirche’s choir windows?
They depict historic figures and events, including Johann Sebastian Bach and Martin Luther.
Why is there a Mendelssohn Portal at Thomaskirche?
It was named for Felix Mendelssohn on 3 February 2009, his 200th birthday.
What survives from Bach’s time at Thomaskirche?
A crucifix by Caspar Friedrich Löbelt is among the few surviving objects from Bach’s time.
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