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City in Saxony, Germany
Photo: Kora27, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Chemnitz is a city in southwestern Saxony, and the third-largest city in the state, after Dresden and Leipzig. The settlement developed around a monastery, and was granted city status in 1170. Due to its location at the foot of the Erzgebirge (literally ore mountains), in the 16th century Chemnitz began to grow in size an importance as a place of trade, and later as the base of industrial production.
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The city was called Karl-Marx-Stadt from 1953 to 1990, and on Brückenstraße there is a 7-m-tall bronze head of Karl Marx - referred to locally as "Charlie" or the "Nischel" (local slang for "head"). All kinds of "Nischel" souvenirs are sold, even ones made of marzipan or chocolate.
This red-bricked tower in the city centre survived many wars and centuries and is all that is left of the city wall.
Opernhaus Chemnitz
One of the most beautiful buildings in Chemnitz.
Altes Rathaus
Neues Rathaus
A house on the main market square with a richly decorated baroque facade from 1741. Only part of the original building survived the war but was restored.
Contains 2,459 works by 270 artists of the 20th century that were collected by the art dealer Dr. Alfred Gunzenhauser. Housed in former Sparkasse Chemnitz offices, a building in the New Objectivity style completed in 1930.
A former department store which now houses a mix of shops and cultural institutions, with pieces of petrified forest in the atrium.
The major green areas of central Chemnitz are the Schloßpark and the Küchwald, to the north-west and west of the city centre. The miniature railway and Kosmonautzentrum in the Küchwald are worth a visit, especially if you're visiting the city with children.
Like many other cities in socialist countries, Chemnitz was afforded a "Palace of Culture" in the post-war period. It is a rather elegant neoclassicist building situated amidst greenery. It fell into disuse at the turn of the millennium and is waiting for the city to find it a new role and tenants.
Wasserschloss Klaffenbach
W highlight, especially during the summer season.
A beautiful small castle known as the smallest castle in Saxony.
The museum of industry can be found a little way out from the city centre (maps of the city centre can be got from the tourist information shop, in the front of the town hall). Much of Chemnitz's industrial heritage is detailed here with several working pieces of machinery and an old fireless steam engine. There is also a souvenir shop.
The Volkswagen engine factory in Chemnitz which builds the TSI units has a visitor's centre which organizes guided tours through the factory for groups of between 10 and 25 people.
A soccer club in the second highest amateur league in Germany (3rd Division) and former East German national champion.
Niners Chemnitz
A basketball club in Germany's highest professional league (BBL).
Chembows
An archery club with one of the largest areas for shooting with bows. The club owns a full FITA-range, 3D-parcours and indoor arena.
Der Filmpalast am Roten Turm
Der Filmpalast im Vita Center
The mixture of a traditional wooden interior with copper brewing vessels and home brewed beer make this a great place to sit down, relax and enjoy an evening. The food served here comes from Saxony/Bavaria, is very good and also reasonably priced. Get there relatively early if you want to be able to pick your table. A nightclub can also be found in the basement.
German chain, in Chemnitz the bar-restaurant-cafe is on the main square in the city centre and has a large summer patio.
Mercure Kongresshotel
This hotel is the large landmark "radiator" building found in the centre of Chemnitz. With 386 rooms, it's one of the largest hotels in the area. The rooms are equipped with modern amenities. Parking can be found nearby and the main railway station is within five minutes' walk. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, WiFi and currency exchange. Reception staff speak English and German. Pets are accepted and there are some smoking rooms.
former Moskau Hotel
The usual nostalgic souvenirs of the socialist era can be bought from various stores, such as model Trabis or Ampelmänner postcards. There are also several second-hand stalls (especially in the train station) selling East German items.
By plane
The airports in Dresden and Leipzig have their own train stations, from where Chemnitz can be reached with a change in Dresden Main Station (Hbf) or Leipzig Main Station (Hbf) respectively, taking…
By car
Chemnitz is situated at the junction of the motorways A4 and A72.
Like many East German cities, Chemnitz has an expansive network of public transport comprising mainly of buses and trams.
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Dresden · International · DRS
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