Attractions
Dresden - State capital - Florence on the Elbe
Address: Dresden, Germany .The city on the Elbe is an impressive art metropolis of international standing and is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. It impresses with a multitude of architectural gems and is embedded in a picturesque landscape surrounded by wooded hills.
Image source: Antje Knepper / pixelio.de
Chemnitz - European Capital of Culture 2025
Address: Chemnitz, Germany .Chemnitz can tell a unique story - of groundbreaking inventions in automobile construction, mechanical engineering and the textile industry as well as of courageous entrepreneurs such as Richard Hartmann, Carl Gottlieb Haubold and Louis Schönherr. As a modern industrial city, Chemnitz has continued to write this story and is now one of the fastest-growing cities in Germany. The city is a technology location with the main sectors of the automobile and supplier industry, information technology and mechanical and plant engineering.
Going your own way, daring to try new things and living the spirit of invention, this recipe makes the city and its people successful: for example, the thermos flask or the first delicate detergent were invented in Chemnitz, patented ideas like thousands more. Today, excellent machines and production facilities are built here, among other things, which are used to produce all over the world.
Tradition and modernity are also reflected in exciting contrasts in urban development. Unique testimonies of the Bauhaus and New Objectivity or the Kaßberg as one of the largest contiguous Wilhelminian quarters in Europe inspire architecture fans. Just like the Chemnitz city center, which has been redesigned over the past 20 years by internationally renowned architects such as Helmut Jahn, Hans Kollhoff and Christoph Ingenhoven.
The Technical University as an intellectual center, research institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institutes and a successful medium-sized business, mostly family-run companies, create the best conditions for an economic success story. With the future inner-city campus, Chemnitz is bringing education and science into the heart of the city. Centrally located historic quarters such as Brühl are developing into urban and young districts with a high quality of life.
For lovers of the fine arts, there is a lot to discover in Chemnitz: for example, the Chemnitz Art Collections or the Gunzenhauser Museum, which houses one of the most impressive collections of classical modernism. The Saxon Industrial Museum, meanwhile, depicts history and the present. The municipal theaters with the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra attract visitors from all over Germany.
Image source: Sören / pixelio.de
Leipzig - tradition meets dynamism
Address: Leipzig, Germany .Today's Leipzig is a vibrant economic and cultural metropolis in central Germany. The heart of the city lies in the compact centre, which extends over just one square kilometre. The historic trade fair palaces and arcades, which were lovingly restored after 1990, are now home to numerous shops, restaurants and cafés that invite you to stroll and linger.
Image source: Haiko Hertes / pixelio.de
Schloss Augustusburg - The crown of the Erzgebirge
Address: 09573 Augustusburg, Germany .The crown of the Ore Mountains
Augustusburg Castle rises majestically high above the Zschopau Valley on the edge of the Ore Mountains. Over 450 years ago, Elector Augustus of Saxony had this magnificent Renaissance castle built as a symbol of his power. Today it houses unique cultural treasures and exhibitions.
The location of the castle, which was built in 1568, is impressive in itself. The hunting and pleasure palace is enthroned on a 516 metre high quartz porphyry cone, earning it the nickname ‘Crown of the Ore Mountains’. The layout is also reminiscent of a crown: four square corner houses and connecting buildings surround a perfectly square inner courtyard, making the building one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in Europe.
Image source:Jürgen Hoinka / pixelio.de
Schloss Lichtenwalde
Address: Schlossallee, 09577 Niederwiesa-Lichtenwalde, Germany .Baroque splendour and green oasis
Just a few kilometres from Chemnitz, the European Capital of Culture 2025, lies the idyllic baroque ensemble of Lichtenwalde Palace & Park. In the warmer months, the castle park blossoms in all its glory and enchants visitors with its colourful flowers and romantic water features. The castle itself offers spectacular exhibitions and fascinating museums with treasures from all over the world all year round. Concerts and selected open-air events also take place in this charming setting in the summer months, enchanting visitors.
Burg Kriebstein
Address: Kriebsteiner Str. 7, 09648 Mittweida, Germany .The impressive knight's castle of Kriebstein, often described as the most beautiful castle in Saxony, sits enthroned on a steep rock in Central Saxony. It was built more than 600 years ago by Dietrich von Beerwalde. Its outstanding feature is the imposing residential tower, adorned with late medieval oriel turrets and a ridge turret. Inside the castle, the Kriebstein Room and the castle chapel with late Gothic murals are impressive. Visitors can also discover parts of a long-hidden treasure in the treasure vault, which was concealed in the chimney until 1986. Numerous events such as medieval festivals, the ‘Castle of Fairy Tales’, concerts, knights' dinners and mysterious guided tours make a visit to the castle a special experience. Film-makers also appreciate the charm of the castle: it has served as the backdrop for films such as ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’, ‘Snow White’ and ‘The Sweet Porridge’.
Image source: Dietmar Grummt / pixelio.de
Erzgebirge
Address: Erzgebirgskreis, Germany .Christmas land, winter sports region, world heritage site - the Ore Mountains have many euphonious names. But regardless of the time of year and holidays, the Ore Mountains are one thing above all else: a true hERZland. The unique blend of innovation and tradition as well as the idyllic landscapes and villages provide the perfect setting to enjoy life to the full. The people of the Erzgebirge are known for their warmth and ingenuity. They shape their region with great dedication and carry it with pride in their hearts. Here, solidarity counts - whether underground, above ground, every day.
Image source: pogobuschel / pixelio.de
Sonnenlandpark
Address: Zum Sonnenlandpark, 09244 Lichtenau-Ottendorf, Germany .3in1 excursion destination
Amusement park, wildlife enclosure and indoor playground - three of the most popular destinations for families are combined at Sonnenlandpark, directly on the A4 motorway (Chemnitz-Ost exit). Here you can experience everything in one place: Over 50 attractions await in the adventure park, including huge bouncy mountains, rafts, boats, diggers and adventure playgrounds. Thrills are provided by highlights such as the Wave Flyer, BumperBoats, the tube slide paradise, the Nautic Jet, Butterfly and three rollover swings.
The ‘Anton’ tractor ride takes you on a discovery tour through the family park's forest, past the 33 metre high Ferris wheel. In the neighbouring wildlife park, visitors can marvel at over 200 animals such as red deer, ibex and free-roaming mouflons. The petting zoo with goats, donkeys and camera sheep is a special experience for children. A special attraction are the sika deer, which can be fed and stroked up close without a fence.
Image source: Martina Mühlbauer / pixelio.de
Klein Erzgebirge
Address: Gerichtsstraße, 09569 Oederan, Germany .The ‘Little Ore Mountains’ is now one of the oldest miniature parks in the world. With over 200 exhibits, it shows the architecture and economy of the Erzgebirge, but above all tells Erzgebirge stories. The models (now on a scale of 1:25) are made of wood in the style of Erzgebirge folk art and show hand-carved figures and animals as well as landscape designs. The exhibition also includes numerous model railways as well as water-powered moving scenery and groups of figures. Today, the ‘Little Erzgebirge’ covers an area of 17,000 square metres. There are now also several adventure areas for children on the site, such as playgrounds, a miniature Saxon ring as a track for remote-controlled cars and a park railway. The annual highlight is the ‘Night in the Little Erzgebirge’, which is organised every year.
