This Saxon city has deep roots in automobile manufacturing as the birthplace of Audi, with 800-year-old architecture in its medieval center and local beer traditions.
Zwickau, a city of 88,000 in Saxony, played a key role in German automotive history. You can visit the birthplace of Audi at the August Horch Museum, explore the Gothic St. Mary's Cathedral with its rare double spiral staircase, or watch a performance at the 16th-century Gewandhaus theater. Walking paths along the Zwickau Mulde river lead you past the Art Nouveau Johannisbad spa and through several parks.
Getting to Zwickau
You can reach Zwickau by train through the main station (Hauptbahnhof) with regular connections to Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz. The city sits near the A4 and A72 autobahns, making it easily accessible by car. The nearest major airports are Leipzig/Halle and Dresden, both about 1.5 hours away by train or car.
Walking Through the Old Town
Start your exploration at the market square, the center of Zwickau's old town. Here you'll find the 15th-century town hall and Robert Schumann's birthplace. Inside St. Mary's Cathedral, look for the 1479 winged altar and climb the unique double spiral stone staircase. The Gewandhaus, built between 1522 and 1536, began as a cloth merchants' hall and now hosts theater performances throughout the year.
Museums and Culture
At the Robert Schumann House, you can see the composer's original instruments and personal items from his life in Zwickau, where he was born in 1810. The Max Pechstein Museum displays art collections from the medieval period to modern times. The Johannisbad, an Art Nouveau building from 1869, includes a swimming pool and wellness facilities open to the public.
Automotive Legacy
Walk through 100+ years of automotive history at the August Horch Museum. You'll see how August Horch established his first company here in 1904, which evolved into Audi. The museum displays vehicles from every era, including the GDR-period Trabant cars that were manufactured in Zwickau. Today, you can spot Volkswagen's modern factory where electric vehicles roll off the production line.
University Life
The West Saxon University of Applied Sciences operates across four campuses throughout Zwickau. Its 4,000 students focus on automotive engineering and technology programs, working closely with local car manufacturers. In summer, you'll see students relaxing at the Schwanenteich lake near the city center, creating an active atmosphere in the surrounding cafes and parks.
