Zschopau

Zschopau is a town of 12.500 inhabitants in the central Erzgebirge. The city is 15 km in the south-west of Chemnitz in the valley Zschopau, between 340 to 600 meters of altitude.

Based on the " road of the sel" between Leipzig and Prague at the 13th century, the trade always played a big role in the city. Between 1400 and 1650, the exploitation of the mines became important. At the 19th century, Zschopau became a center industrial and famous for the production of textile and motor bikes, produced in the factories of DKW (1910-1945) and MZ (since 1946). In 1922, the factory MZ was the largest factory of motor bikes of the world. Between 1937 and 1942, the management of the firm Auto Union was in Zschopau.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, much of companies went bankrupt and unemployment increased. Today, tourism plays a more important part. Zschopau kept a baroque old city with a whole of buildings of the 13th century around the market and in small the lane of the center. The castle Wildeck is built in the style of the Rebirth. There are several museums (for example a museum of motor bikes) in the castle. The church Saint Martin dominates the silhouette of the city and is famous for its organ of Oertel. Another curiosity is the town hall with a chime of Dresden china which plays 9,10,12,16 and 18 hours each day.

Integrated in the extraordinary culture of the Erzgebirge, of the various festivals are held during the year. The culminating point is the time of Christmas with a market of Christmas in the castle, and much of lights and decorations to the windows of all the houses like everywhere in the area.

The suburbs are full with forests and arouse (?). Many tourists make there trekking and in winter of the ski touring.

Twinning: Ploërmel (Morbihan)

Random links: