Summary
The Saxon city of Zwickau is often referred to as “Automobil- und Robert-Schumann-Stadt” (City of Cars and Robert Schumann). While longer in phrasing, this title encapsulates two significant aspects of Zwickau: the renowned 19th-century composer Robert Schumann was born here, and his birthplace hosts an intriguing museum dedicated to his life and his relationship with the talented pianist Clara Wieck.
Moreover, Zwickau is also the birthplace of Robert Horch, the engineer and inventor credited for the establishment of the Audi car brand. Historically, the city has benefited from wealth accrued from silver mining in nearby Schneeberg after 1470, resulting in an impressive legacy of Late Gothic and Renaissance art and architecture.
Now let us explore the top attractions in Zwickau:
1. Marienkirche
Dating back to the 1100s, Zwickau’s cathedral underwent a redesign to become an impressive Late Gothic hall church between 1463 and 1565. The Baroque spire was added later, replacing the original Gothic structure in the 1670s after it was struck by lightning.
Standing at 88 meters, this spire remains the tallest structure in Zwickau today.
The church houses significant works of art from the Late Gothic and Renaissance periods, featuring a remarkable star rib vault in its nave and choir.
The winged altarpiece, crafted by Michael Wolgemut—who mentored the young Albrecht Dürer in the late 15th century—is a centerpiece of the church.
Additionally, there exists an impressive Pietà (Lamentation of Christ) from 1502 by the Saxon sculptor Peter Breuer, along with a beautiful Holy Sepulchre dating from 1507.
2. Horch Museum
Located in the former Audi plant of Zwickau, this museum is named after engineer and automotive pioneer August Horch.
In 1932, he established what we now recognize as Audi, forming a union of four brands: Audi, Horch, Wanderer, and DWK, each represented by a ring in Audi’s emblem.
The museum highlights August Horch’s groundbreaking innovations and showcases the origins of Saxony’s automobile industry, initiated in 1903 with the formation of the Saxon-Thuringian Automobile Club.
A collection of vintage Audi and Horch vehicles from before World War II is also on display, many of which are prototypes or were made for the German military.
Following the war, this plant produced Trabants for the German Democratic Republic, and a selection of models from the 1950s to the early 90s are exhibited, all in pristine condition.
3. Katharinenkirche
Renovated during a similar period as the Marienkirche due to a fire in 1403, the Katharinenkirche is also a hall church in the Late Gothic style.
The nave and choir were elaborately furnished in the 16th century, with most of the original fixtures still intact.
Notable is the winged altarpiece crafted by the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder.
This exquisite piece was presented to the church in 1518 by the Elector of Saxony, Frederick III (who is depicted on one wing), and the central image shows Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.
Additional sculptures created by Peter Breuer, alongside a pulpit and baptismal font from the 1530s crafted by local artist Paul Speck, can be found here.
4. Robert-Schumann-Haus
The composer Robert Schumann was born at the house located at the corner of Hauptmarkt in 1810. His childhood residence is now a museum containing the world’s largest exhibition dedicated to Schumann’s career.
The highlight of the exhibition is a catalogue of 4,000 manuscripts by Schumann and his wife Clara. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of their relationship, as well as of Schumann’s health challenges and his friendship with Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy over the course of eight rooms.
This museum possesses an invaluable collection of keyboard instruments, with the most extraordinary being the piano built by André Stein, commissioned for Clara by her father Friedrich Wieck for her first public concert in Leipzig at the tender age of nine.
5. Göltzsch Viaduct
Located near the village of Mylau in the countryside southwest of Zwickau, the Göltzsch Viaduct is recognized as the largest brick-built bridge in the world.
This viaduct spans the river valley of the same name and was completed in 1851 after five years of construction.
It remains operational today, measuring over half a kilometer in length, featuring 98 arches and reaching a maximum height of 78 meters. At one point, it was the tallest railway bridge globally.
Remarkable statistics accompany the viaduct’s construction: it comprises 50,000 bricks, with a workforce of 1,736 individuals partaking in its assembly, 31 of whom tragically lost their lives during this endeavor.
Numerous vantage points are available along walking trails in the valley for those wishing to photograph this early engineering marvel.
6. Priesterhäuser Zwickau
Adjacent to the Marienkirche are a series of houses constructed for the clergy, with origins tracing back to 1264, making them the oldest existing residential structures in Saxony.
The last renovations were made in 1466, and visitors are welcome to explore the interiors.
The Priesterhäuser offer a glimpse into the peak of Zwickau’s prosperity during the Late Middle Ages, featuring meticulously restored rooms adorned with reproductions of period furniture.
To enhance the experience, visitors can enter the kitchen, characterized by soot-stained brickwork, and enjoy a bowl of bread soup prepared using a medieval recipe.
7. Max-Pechstein-Museum Kunstsammlungen Zwickau
Housed within a splendid building featuring a rotunda, this century-old museum preserves the city’s art collections.
The exhibits encompass several centuries, highlighting styles from the Late Gothic to early 20th-century Expressionism.
Late Gothic artworks created by masters such as Lucas Cranach the Elder reflect the sudden influx of wealth experienced in Zwickau during the 15th century.
This museum bears the name of Max Pechstein, a member of the Die Brücke Expressionist movement, showcasing around 40 paintings, mosaics, and stained glass works by the artist.
The institution also includes a science section, featuring one of Saxony’s largest mineralogical collections, boasting 16,000 specimens.
8. Alter Gasometer
Northeast of the Altstadt, this gasometer stands as a testament to Zwickau’s industrial past in the latter half of the 19th century.
This refined brick structure stored gas until 1900 when it transitioned into a warehouse.
In the late 1990s, plans were implemented to transform the gasometer into a performing arts venue, revitalizing the historic monument.
A diverse schedule of theatrical performances, concerts, comedy shows, and film screenings occurs in this inspiring environment.
9. Galerie am Domhof
In 1977, the esteemed Neoclassical structure of the former Zwickau art association was converted into a multidisciplinary cultural center.
Situated in Domhof, this monument forms a delightful ensemble alongside the Marienkirche and Priesterhäuser.
The primary focus of the gallery is contemporary art, featuring two concurrent short-term exhibitions encompassing a variety of forms from painting to graphic design, sculpture, installation art, and photography.
In addition to exhibitions, it hosts concerts, comedy performances, lectures, and readings, while also offering a shop that sells locally crafted art, jewelry, textiles, and more.
10. Dünnebierhaus
A significant landmark during your exploration of the city, the Dünnebierhaus is a Late Gothic burgher residence constructed in 1480 for the silver merchant and councilman Nicol Römer.
This prominent townhouse is located on the eastern side of Hauptmarkt and is distinguished by its unique window moldings and a five-story stepped gable.
In the 19th century, the building served as a distillery and coffee roasting company managed by the Dünnebier enterprise, from which its name is derived.
Since 1984, the city has owned the property, which is available for hosting wedding ceremonies.
11. Schwanenteichpark
Situated to the west of Zwickau, this park originates from the 15th century when Nicol Römer and fellow silver merchant Hans Federangel received permission from the city to excavate a large pond measuring 555 meters by 300 meters. This pond remains the focal point of the park, which underwent redesign in 19th century by the landscape architect Eduard Petzold.
Swans, introduced in 1850, lent their name to the park, while various recreational amenities were added following World War II.
In warmer weather, visitors may stroll along the trails and observe horses grazing in paddocks, or rent a pedal or rowboat for up to an hour.
12. Johannisbad
Swimming becomes an exquisite experience at this enchanting Art Nouveau pool located in Zwickau’s northern suburbs.
The Johannisbad was established in the 1860s as a bathing and spa facility for the city’s workforce, while the swimming pool was added at the turn of the century.
This pool survived both World Wars intact but fell into disuse by the late 20th century until its grand renovation commenced in 1997. It’s a stunning structure, boasting a cathedral-like ambiance due to its vast skylight and two tiers of galleries adorned with wrought iron balustrades.
An impressive Gothic-revival fountain stands at one end of the pool, and a vintage clock marks the other end.
13. Gewandhaus Zwickau
Originally a guild hall for Zwickau’s cloth manufacturers, the exquisite gabled Gewandhaus was constructed in the early 1520s.
At that time, the ground floor served as a marketplace for shoemakers, skinners, and clothiers to showcase their products.
In the 19th century, the interior transitioned into a theatre, which it continues to be today.
The venue accommodates nearly 400 visitors and offers a wide range of performances, from classical music presentations to contemporary dance productions.
This article notes that as of 2017, the theatre was undergoing a two-year renovation, yet the monument remains worthy of admiration from an external perspective.
14. Daetz-Centrum
Located in Lichtenstein, about 15 minutes northeast of Zwickau by road, this center serves as an international hub for wood carving excellence.
The exhibitions are set within the elegant confines of the Baroque Schlosspalais Lichtenstein, showcasing 550 pieces from 30 different countries across five continents.
To summarize, the artworks originate from regions such as Europe, Oceania, China, Indonesia, the Native American Hopi tribe, Tanzania, and West Africa.
Exhibits include religious sculptures from churches and monasteries, alongside totem poles, masks, shields, drums, furniture, and intricate Arabesque carvings from North Africa.
15. Burg Schönfels
Located less than 10 kilometers from the city, this Medieval hilltop fortress lies at an elevation of 380 meters above sea level.
The Duke of Saxony, Henry the Fowler, commissioned this stronghold in the 10th century to monitor the Via Imperii trade route and protect against the Sorbs to the east.
The namesake Schönfels family controlled the castle from the 13th century onward, and by the 1400s, it had come under the ownership of prosperous silver barons.
The preservation level of the structure is remarkable, with architecture dating back to renovations in the 1500s and 1600s remaining intact.
The complex features an original keep, bastion, and gatehouse, alongside an extraordinary Late Gothic wooden hall.
Visitors can also explore the chapel from the early 1600s, which includes a winged altar crafted by the Renaissance painter Mathias Krodel the Younger.
