Little Wetzlar town, the birthplace of Leica

Wandering through the medieval streets of little Wetzlar in Germany can evoke a spiritual kinship to the roots of modern photography. After all, this is the birthplace of Leica, the camera brand that has shaped the world of photography for more than a century.

Founded in Wetzlar in 1869, the company moved its production to neighbouring Solms in the mid-1980s. After an economic trough at the beginning of the new millennium, the company turned its fortunes around and returned to Wetzlar, also known as the City of Optics, with a new head office and production facilities.

Located near Frankfurt, Wetzlar is a city of contrasts, its mediaeval charm matched with modernity and a spirit of innovation.

History still abounds. During World War II, the town, being an industrial site, became the target of heavy Allied bombing that destroyed much of it. The Old Town, however, was largely spared.

Not far from the Old Town lies Leitz Park, the headquarters and manufacturing site of Leica Camera AG. Leitz Park is also a cultural and educational centre for photography enthusiasts. It houses the Leica Museum, showcasing the evolution of the company’s cameras and contributions to photography.

The first Leica camera, the Leica I, was introduced in 1925 by Oskar Barnack, an engineer working for Ernst Leitz Optische Werke in Wetzlar. It revolutionised photography by being one of the first commercially successful 35mm cameras.

Many of the world’s best photojournalists – such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and Elliott Erwitt – used Leica rangefinder cameras to document the defining events of the 20th century, embedding the brand and Wetzlar in photographic history.