Leipzig Cotton Mill (Spinnerei)

The Leipzig Cotton Mill (Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei) in the Plagwitz district is an industrial monument that now thrives as an art district. On about ten hectares of red-brick halls, artists work in studios while galleries and workshops open their doors. If you want things to do in Leipzig away from the city center, it blends industrial history, contemporary art and a distinctive atmosphere, and the grounds are free to enter.

Where it is and how to get there

The mill is at Spinnereistraße 7, southwest of the city center. Leipzig is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Berlin by fast train. From Leipzig Hauptbahnhof, take S-Bahn line S1 toward Miltitzer Allee to Plagwitz station, or tram line 14 to its terminus at Plagwitz S-Bahn station. From there walk left under the tracks, turn left into Spinnereistraße and, after about 50 meters, left into the site. Parking on the grounds is limited to two hours in designated areas. From Leipzig/Halle Airport, the FlughafenExpress train runs every half hour to the main station.

From cotton mill to art hub

The mill was founded in 1884 and became the largest cotton spinning mill on the European continent. By 1907 it had more than 20 production buildings, workers' housing and kindergartens, and up to 4,000 people worked there in three shifts until 1989. After reunification, artists moved in, including figures of the "New Leipzig School." Today the site has about a dozen galleries and around 100 artists.

What to see

• Brick halls and courtyards: a small town of numbered buildings
• Galleries and exhibition spaces: many open Tuesday through Saturday
• Hall 14: a center for contemporary art
• archiv massiv: the visitor center in building 20 and meeting point for tours

Visiting (as of October 2026)

The grounds are open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and entry is free. A guided tour of about one hour runs on selected Fridays and Saturdays, costs EUR 12 (EUR 9 reduced), and must be booked by email in advance. The official site does not state the tour language, so ask when booking. Group tours of up to 20 people cost EUR 170. Tours are not wheelchair accessible because of several steps. Plan two to three hours for a visit.

Nearby

The Karl-Heine-Canal and other brick industrial buildings in Plagwitz are close by, which makes the district good for an afternoon walk after your visit.