A gas tank turned into a painting
The building gives away its past. Leipzig’s municipal gasworks built this round brick gasometer in the early 20th century, and it once held the city’s gas supply. Today the steel tank inside is gone. In its place hangs a single enormous print that covers the full inner circle of the drum.
The artist is Yadegar Asisi, who has been showing his panoramas here since 2003. The first was Mount Everest. Later subjects have included ancient Rome, the Amazon rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Each one runs for years, so check the official Panometer website to see which panorama is on before you go.
Inside the drum
You come in through an exhibition ring on the ground floor. Panels, objects and short films there set up the panorama’s subject, and they deserve more than a quick walk past. After that you step into the dark central space and climb the viewing tower.
- Several platform levels: the top one gives you the full horizon. The lower ones put you closer to foreground detail.
- A light cycle: lighting takes the scene from dawn through day to night and back, timed to a soundscape. Stay for at least one full cycle.
- Time needed: plan 90 minutes to two hours for the exhibition and the tower together.
- Bring: a camera that copes with low light. Use binoculars too if you have them, because the far wall is rich in detail.
Timing your visit and getting in
The crowd pattern is clear. On weekdays it stays quiet across the whole 10am–6pm window, so a Tuesday or Wednesday morning is the easy choice. On weekends the drum fills between 11am and 4pm, and the tower stairs get crowded. If Saturday or Sunday is your only option, come at 5pm and get the last stretch to yourself.
Opening hours are not listed here and they change by season. Confirm them on the official website, along with current ticket prices, before you set out. Most visitors book online and show the ticket on their phone at the door. Germany still runs on cash more than many countries do, so carry some euros as a fallback.
A few house habits help. Let people finish their photo before you take the railing spot, and keep your voice down when the lights dim. Families with children come here a lot, so the lower platforms stay busy. If you want stillness, go to the top.
Around Leipzig-Süd
The Panometer is in the south of the city, roughly 3 km from Leipzig Hauptbahnhof. Trams and buses run from the centre. The LVB journey planner gives the closest stop to Richard-Lehmann-Straße for your route. Cycling also works well, since Leipzig is flat and the city has plenty of bike lanes.
The Völkerschlachtdenkmal, the huge stone Monument to the Battle of the Nations finished in 1913, stands a short way southeast. Seeing both makes a full half-day. The Alte Messe, Leipzig’s old trade-fair grounds, sits between them. To the west, the bars and cafés of Connewitz and the Südvorstadt along Karl-Liebknecht-Straße are good places for dinner afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
When is the quietest time to visit the Leipzig Panometer?
Weekdays are quiet from 10am to 6pm. On weekends, the calmest window is 5pm–6pm, and 11am–4pm is the busiest stretch to avoid.
How long should I spend at the Panometer?
Allow 90 minutes to two hours. That covers the ground-floor exhibition and at least one full day-night light cycle from the viewing tower.
How do I get there from Leipzig Hauptbahnhof?
It is roughly 3 km south of the station, at Richard-Lehmann-Straße 114 in Leipzig-Süd. Trams and buses run there; check the LVB journey planner for the closest stop. Cycling is also easy.
Which panorama is showing right now?
Yadegar Asisi's panoramas change every few years. Past subjects include Everest, ancient Rome, the Amazon and the Great Barrier Reef. The official Panometer website lists the current one, along with opening hours and ticket prices.
What else is nearby?
The Völkerschlachtdenkmal (Monument to the Battle of the Nations) is a short way southeast. The Alte Messe grounds and the cafés of Connewitz and Südvorstadt are also close.
Plan your trip to Leipzig
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