Like many other cities, until the mid-19th century Leipzig consisted of the medieval urban core surrounded by small newer districts and villages. These separate parts only grew together to form a city during industrialization, and when the city centre was reshaped at the turn of the 19th century Leipzig finally became a lively metropolis. This transformation is documented in sources such as postcards - the IfL's collection alone includes around 5000 images.[...further information]

Hans Meyer was a vibrant figure of his time: an explorer and the first to climb Mount Kilmanjaro, a successful publisher and generous patron of the arts, a convinced supporter of colonialism and respected university lecturer. The Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography has designed an exhibition on his life and work to commemorate the 150th anniversary of his birth.

 [...further information]

In almost no other country is national identity questioned as intensively as in Germany. In its major exhibition, "What is German?", the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg presents answers to this question from the last two hundred years. Five themes are discussed with a mixture of seriousness and humour: "Longing", "Fatherland", "Belief", "Character" and "Mindset".

Interactive maps and animations from the National Atlas produced by the Leibniz Insitute for Regional Geography provide orientation and unusual insights into many geographical aspects of the exhibition. The information on Germany and the Germans presented in Nuremberg can be viewed  hier

 further information ...

In this poster exhibition on the eastern expansion of the EU, the IfL addresses a politically and geographically interested audience. The current situation and the spatial changes in Eastern Europe are presented in the themes "Decline and new beginnings", "Processes of adaptation", "Barriers in people's minds", "Borders and cross-border relations", "Economic-ecological developments", "Spatial connections" and "Relationships and overview of states".

 [... more]

27 Posters show selected collections in the Archive and give insights into the history of German geography. The papers presented include those of  Friedrich Ratzel,  Hans Meyer,  Walter Christaller and  Ernst Neef.

 [...more]

This poster exhibition consists of 26 posters. It was assembled from the comprehensive "First German South Polar Expedition" collection. It reflects the course of the two-year expedition and its scientific findings as well as the development of polar research and the associated political conditions in the period of imperialism.  Erich Drygalski

 [...more]

The exhibition was designed to commemorate the hundreth anniversary of the Andean expedition undertaken by Leipzig geographer  Hans Meyer and Munich painter Rudolf Reschreiter in 1903. Using posters and original materials from the Archive and the Central Geographical Library, the study and artistic depiction of the Andes in the past and at present are described.

A  book accompanying the exhibition, Die Anden, has appeared in co-operation with the German Alpine Association.

 [... more]

In 1893 the Berlin travel agency Carl Stangen undertook a group tour across North America. One participant brought back many photogrpahs from the USA, which form the core of this exhibition. Natural landscapes and natural wonders, skyscrapers and modern suburban railways - an impressive kaleidoscope of the new world power of  the USA between New York and San Francisco.

 [...more]