Zwickau

Zwickau is a city in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, and the capital of the district of Zwickau. It is located in the western part of the state on the Zwickauer Mulde river and has about 90,000 inhabitants.

Historically, Zwickau developed in the Middle Ages as a mining and trading town in the Saxon Ore Mountains region. It received town rights in the 12th or 13th century and grew through mining, crafts, and later industrial activity. In the 19th century the city became an important industrial center, particularly in vehicle construction. The Horch works and, later, other automotive ventures established Zwickau as a center of Saxon industry. The August Horch Museum in Zwickau documents the origins of the Horch brand and its connection to Audi.

Notable people associated with Zwickau include composer Robert Schumann, born there in 1810; his birthplace is now a museum, the Robert-Schumann-Haus. The city is also home to the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ), offering programs in engineering and business.

Zwickau retains a historic city center with timber-framed houses and several churches. Cultural institutions, parks along the Mulde river, and the aforementioned museums contribute to its local identity.

Transport links connect Zwickau by rail to Chemnitz, Dresden, and other Saxon cities, and the city is accessible via the major Autobahn network via nearby corridors.