Chemnitz

Architecture and industrial heritage enthusiasts will be captivated in this East German city, which emerged in the 12th century next to the Erzgebirge or Erz Mountains. Chemnitz has been primarily a hardworking textile city over the centuries and experienced economic revivals due to the discovery of silver ore and later through industrialization, which earned the city the nickname ‘Manchester of Saxony’.

All those episodes, and many more, are visible in the diverse palette of buildings: art nouveau, Bauhaus, modernism, and brutalism, plus the enormous damage from the Second World War have all left their marks. The Saxon Industrial Museum tells a fascinating story, but be sure to visit the archaeological museum Smac, which explains why there are so many huge fossils in the city: they are part of the ‘petrified forest,’ which is nearly 300 million years old and partly lies beneath the city.

• Culture: visit the Villa Esche, an art nouveau residence by Henry Van de Velde, the beautiful Kassberg district, and the Museum Gunzenhauser, which houses the private collection of collector Alfred Gunzenhauser, focusing mainly on 20th-century expressionism.
• Nature: a nature reserve was established in the city in 1996. Furthermore, you can walk in the nearby Erzgebirge. There is also a walking program that leads through smaller towns in the area, such as Plauen, Zwickau, Freiberg …

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