St. Thomas Church

As the church bells rang slowly, I looked up at the silhouette of St. Thomas Church and truly felt that I was in the city of music, Leipzig. Listening to Bach’s music in a place so deeply connected to his life felt like stepping into a time machine. I visited last year and again this year, and each time, the experience brought new meaning and a deep sense of resonance. If you also visit the Bach Museum right next door, it will enrich your understanding of both the music and the man behind it. Located right in the city center, the church is easy to reach, and there are plenty of inviting spots nearby to explore and relax.

I visited this church in March, 2025. I was deeply moved to visit this church, so rich in history and positive energy. Moreover, I felt the timelessness of Bach’s notes resonating throughout the space. It was truly thrilling! 💖

st. thomas church (thomaskirche) in leipzig is famous for its music. it's where j.s. bach worked for 27 years and is buried. it's also home to the legendary st. thomas boys choir (thomanerchor) – try to catch their weekly performances (motets) if you can. it's a beautiful, historic church and a must-see for any music fan in leipzig

A beautiful church visually and acoustically, with a lot of history- specifically about Johann Sebastian Bach, with some artifacts of his inside of the church as well as a statue of him in front of the church (pictured in this review). He spent a considerable amount of time in this church writing music and leading the famous Thomas choir (Thomanerchor) which is a boys choir who sing so beautifully and the sound is so perfectly radiates throughout the church, this space has the perfect acoustics and is amazing to hear music inside of!

A gem of historical place. The energy of the space is simply filled with the purity of the Bach period. Be sure to ask about activities so you can experience the organ and boys choir. Magical.

We were here by a part of our European beer tour. We never knew Leipzig has been such big part of Classical Music! There was some Symphony in practice going while we were there. The acoustic.Sounds was fantastic!

This church is certainly the highlight of my visit to Leipzig. Inside you will find the tomb of Bach, the baptism basin where his children were baptized as well as white organ that he played! Highly recommended! Also don’t miss the main entrance that has being rebuilding after complete destruction during the war!

I love the St. Thomas church. It was where JS Bach wrote and performed his music. It has a wonderful inviting spirit and is highly active with constant musical performances. It also has a delightful bookstore with fun Bach merchandize.

Truly an amazing experience to step into this magnificent church. The architecture is beautiful, the peacefulness overwhelming and to be so lucky to be there when someone steps up to the organ and starts practicing or hear the Boys choir practice be there for a service is truly a treat to never forget. And see the flowers resting on Bach's grave- it's a moment. Tips: Get there early if seeing the boys choi and if you want to be able to see them you will have to sit downstairs towards the inside. If you are in back rows (out of luck) Up top left side (facing choir) you will see organ player and the amazing ceiling and be near the stain glass windows.

Gayle and I spent a nice afternoon and evening in Leipzig before travelling to Prague the next day. We toured around the Church, marveled at the stained glass, and learned a bit about pre- and post GDR and Nazi history and of course the musical pedigree of this distinct historical and architectural landmark. We returned later to attend evening prayers (for a modest entry fee). The highlight was hearing the St. Thomas Boy's Choir, of which Bach was once choirmaster. They were up in the balcony sounding like angels, while we sat down below listening to them and the pastor in German. I found it to be a moving spiritual experience that transcended language.

What an amazing historical and architectural site! From Bach's tomb to the unification of Germany this is a must see historical site. Beautiful architecture which is hard to find post WWII. The acoustics in the building are fantastic as they play the organ. For only a euro admission this is great. There is a great small music museum with many old texts and instruments. You can really feel the significance of this building while exploring, I'm not too much of a spiritual person but this place sure made me feel something. Beautiful place to visit and absolutely essential to any music lover.

I concur with the other reviewers. If you visit Leipzig, you should visit this church. If you're thinking, should I visit Leipzig so I can visit this church, then no, I don't think you should make the trip. Perhaps as a musician, you might like to go to pay your respects to Bach but as a landmark, this style of architecture is just not my taste. I like a bit more flash and both the exterior and interior of the church are rather simple and restrained and not worth visiting for the visual splendor of the facade or decor alone.

This is a must see for anybody who is into old churches or the history of music. JS Bach was choir master here from 1723 until his death in 1750, though he wouldn't recognise the interior because it was completely remodelled in the 1880s. Nevertheless his grave takes pride of place in what is a magnificent and well maintained building.

If you visit Leipzig you should visit this famous church