Aue

Aue is a German placename that means floodplain or meadow by a river. The name is used for several settlements in German-speaking areas, reflecting the common geographic feature near which they were founded.

The most prominent Aue is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located in the western part of the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), in the Erzgebirgskreis district, near the border with the Czech Republic. The town sits in a river valley and is connected to regional centers by road and rail, serving as a local service and transport hub.

Historically, the Aue area developed around mining and metalworking, with the Ore Mountains shaping its economic and cultural character. In the modern era, the economy diversified from heavy mining toward manufacturing, services, and regional commerce, while tourism related to the mountain landscape and historic town centers remains a factor.

Administrative changes in recent years center on the municipal merger with the spa town of Bad Schlema. On 1 January 2019, Aue merged with Bad Schlema to form the municipality of Aue-Bad Schlema, with the administrative seat in Aue. The municipality is part of the Erzgebirgskreis district in Saxony.

In addition to the Saxony town, the name Aue appears in other locations as a toponym in German-speaking regions, typically indicating proximity to a river or floodplain.