Zwickau

Zwickau is the fourth-largest city in Saxony, Germany, after Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz, with around 88,000 inhabitants. It is located in the valley of the Zwickau Mulde River and lies in a line of cities stretching from Plauen in the southwest to Dresden in the northeast.

The city is home to the West Saxon University of Zwickau, with campuses in several nearby towns, and is the birthplace of the famous composer Robert Schumann. Zwickau has a long history in the automotive industry. It was the original home of Audi and its predecessor Horch, and later became the production site for the Trabant, East Germany's most popular car. Today, a large Volkswagen plant operates in the area.

The Zwickau Mulde River runs through the city from south to north, crossed by many bridges. The Silver Road, Saxony's longest tourist route, connects Dresden to Zwickau. The city can be reached by car, train, or bicycle along the Mulderadweg path.

History

The region around Zwickau was settled by Sorbs as early as the 7th century AD. The name Zwickau likely comes from a Sorbian word linked to an old Slavic sun god. By the 10th century, German settlers arrived, changing the area’s culture. In 1118, Zwickau was mentioned as a trading place, and it became a town in 1212. The city grew in importance during the 15th and 16th centuries because of silver discoveries nearby.

Zwickau became known for its churches, including St. Mary’s, which has a very tall tower. The city played a role in early printing and held important documents. It was also where important religious changes began, supporting the Lutheran Reformation. Today, Zwickau is known for its automobile industry, with factories making cars for Volkswagen and Audi.

Boundaries

Zwickau is surrounded by several nearby places, including Mülsen, Reinsdorf, Wilkau-Hasslau, Hirschfeld, Lichtentanne, Werdau, Neukirchen, Crimmitschau, Dennheritz, and the city of Glauchau. These towns and cities form a close network around Zwickau, making the area a busy and connected place to live.

Incorporations

Zwickau has grown by including nearby areas over time. It began in 1895 with Pölbitz and continued through the years with many others. Some notable incorporations include Marienthal in 1902, Brand and Bockwa in 1939, and several areas in 1993 and 1996, such as Hartmannsdorf and Rottmannsdorf. By 1999, even more areas like Cainsdorf and Mosel became part of Zwickau.

Population

Bergparade in Zwickau, a Christmas tradition

Zwickau is a city in Saxony, Germany, with about 88,000 people living there. It is the fourth-largest city in Saxony, after Leipzig, Dresden, and Chemnitz. The city sits in a valley along the Zwickau Mulde river, which eventually flows into the Elbe and then the North Sea. Zwickau is part of a line of cities that stretch from Plauen in the southwest through Zwickau, Chemnitz, and Freiberg to Dresden in the northeast. It is also the seat of the Zwickau District, which is the most crowded district in the new states of Germany.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1462	3,900	—
1530	7,677	+96.8%
1640	2,693	−64.9%
1723	3,753	+39.4%
1800	4,189	+11.6%
1840	9,740	+132.5%
1861	20,492	+110.4%
1871	27,322	+33.3%
1875	31,491	+15.3%
1890	44,198	+40.4%
1900	55,825	+26.3%
1905	68,502	+22.7%
1910	73,542	+7.4%
1925	80,358	+9.3%
1933	84,701	+5.4%
1939	85,198	+0.6%
1946	122,862	+44.2%
1950	138,844	+13.0%
1960	129,138	−7.0%
1972	124,796	−3.4%
1981	121,800	−2.4%
1990	122,979	+1.0%
2001	101,726	−17.3%
2011	93,081	−8.5%
2022	87,020	−6.5%
Source: Census data for 1875 to 1939

Education

Zwickau has the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, which has around 4,700 students and two campuses in the city. There is also a grade 1–4 school called Dr. Martin Luther School, which belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church.

Politics

Zwickau has had many mayors over the years. The first freely elected mayor after Germany reunited in 1990 was Rainer Eichhorn, who served until 2001. Since 1994, the mayor has been directly chosen by the people. Dietmar Vettermann served from 2001 to 2008, followed by Pia Findeiß until 2020. In 2020, Constance Arndt became the mayor.

The most recent city council election was held on June 9, 2024. The city council helps make important decisions for Zwickau.

Historical mayors

1501–1518: Erasmus Stella
1518–1530: Hermann Mühlpfort
1800, 1802, 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1812, 1814: Carl Wilhelm Ferber
1801, 1803, 1805, 1807, 1809, 1811, 1813, 1815, 1817, 1819: Tobias Hempel
1816, 1818, 1820, 1822: Christian Gottlieb Haugk
1821, 1823, 1825, 1826: Carl Heinrich Rappius
1824: Christian Heinrich Pinther
1827–1830: Christian Heinrich Mühlmann, Stadtvogt
1830–1832: Franz Adolf Marbach
1832–1860: Friedrich Wilhelm Meyer
1860–1898: Lothar Streit, from 1874 Lord Mayor
1898–1919: Karl Keil
1919–1934: Richard Holz
1934–1945: Ewald Dost
1945: Fritz Weber (acting Lord Mayor)
1945: Georg Ulrich Handke (acting Lord Mayor)
1945–1949: Paul Müller
1949–1954: Otto Assmann
1954–1958: Otto Schneider
1958–1969: Gustav Seifried
1969–1973: Liesbeth Windisch
1973–1977: Helmut Repmann
1977–1990: Heiner Fischer
1990–2001: Rainer Eichhorn
2001–2008: Dietmar Vettermann
2008–2020: Pia Findeiß
2020 until now: Constance Arndt

Sports

Main article: FSV Zwickau

Zwickau has a strong tradition in sports, especially through its football club, FSV Zwickau. The club has been a part of the city's history and brings together many people who enjoy watching and playing sports. Over the years, it has contributed to making Zwickau a lively and active place for athletes and fans alike.

Transport

Zwickau is close to the A4 and A72 motorways, making it easy to travel by car. The city has a main train station, Zwickau Hauptbahnhof, which is on a busy rail line connecting Dresden and Nuremberg. There are also trains going to Leipzig, Karlovy Vary, and Cheb in the Czech Republic. Zwickau has its own tram system, which is a model for other cities. The nearest airports are Leipzig/Halle Airport and Dresden Airport, offering many flights to different places.

Museums

In the city centre of Zwickau, there are three interesting museums. Near St. Mary's church, you can find an art museum from the 19th century and the old houses of priests from the 1300s. Nearby is the Robert-Schumann museum, which celebrates the life of the famous composer who was born in Zwickau in 1810. His birthplace, now called the Robert Schumann House, is also a museum dedicated to him.

Another museum, the August Horch Museum Zwickau, tells the story of the Audi and Horch automobile factories. It is an important stop on the European Route of Industrial Heritage. All these museums offer collections about the city's history, art, and natural sciences from the area and the nearby Ore Mountains.

Notable people

Born before 1900

Zwickau was the birthplace of many interesting people. There was Nicholas Storch, a weaver and preacher, and Robert Schumann, a famous composer. Other notable figures include August Horch, an automotive engineer, and Fritz Bleyl, an Expressionist painter.

Born after 1900

Many well-known individuals were also born after 1900. Gerhard Küntscher invented a modern method to treat bone fractures. Gert Fröbe became a famous actor, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf served in a leadership role in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other famous people include footballer Jürgen Croy and athlete Lutz Dombrowski.

Twin towns – sister cities

Zwickau is twinned with several cities around the world. These include Jablonec nad Nisou in the Czech Republic since 1971, Zaanstad in the Netherlands since 1987, Dortmund in Germany since 1988, Volodymyr in Ukraine since 2014, and Yandu (Yancheng) in China since 2014. These partnerships help cities learn from each other and work together.