--- title: "Zwickau Travel Guide – Experience the city of Schumann & Horch" url: "https://www.visitsaxony.com/destinations/cities-and-towns/zwickau" description: "Between Art Nouveau, automotive history, and musical tradition: Zwickau combines culture and modernity – with insider tips in this 48-hour travel guide." language: "en" breadcrumb: "Root > Home > Destinations > Towns and cities > Zwickau" --- Of cars and culture Zwickau ======= Welcome to Robert Schumann's city --------------------------------- With quaint pubs, fine dining, hotels ranging from cosy to classy, shopping, **beautiful parks and museums**, Zwickau has much to offer. It is also closely related to the **history of car manufacturing** as one **August Horch** in 1904 founded a company in town which **later became Audi**. The museum bearing his name provides fascinating insights into the world of cars, including many iconic models such as the Wanderer or Trabant. Zwickau is also home to the **Romantic composer Robert Schumann**, and his birthplace on the market square is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. With a history going back 900 years, Zwickau is also full of architectural treasures, such as the **mighty St. Mary's Cathedral** standing next to some **priests' houses** from the 13th century. The **500-year-old Gewandhaus theatre**, the town hall and the Johannisbad spa are also worth visiting. *Play video*Play external content Please accept all necessary cookies to watch this video. Zwickau Impressions ------------------- - - - - - - - - - ### Zwickau's location in Saxony ### Distances and how to get to Zwickau **In Saxony, you benefit from short distances,** making it easy to explore the region. The three major cities Dresden, Leipzig, and Chemnitz are all a short journey from one another, allowing you to travel quickly and conveniently from one attraction to the next. - Zwickau – : 110 km - Zwickau – : 115 km - Zwickau – : 42 km - Zwickau – : 90 km - Zwickau – : 50 km - Zwickau – : 45 km - Zwickau – Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz: 40 km - - Highlights not to be missed Sights and attractions in Zwickau --------------------------------- August Horch Museum in Zwickau / August Horch Museum in Zwickau Treasures of the automotive industry ### August Horch Museum Immerse yourself in 118 years of automotive history at the August Horch Museum in Zwickau. Here, where Horch, Audi, DKW, Wanderer and Trabant were built, you can experience technology, design, and regional identity up close. Original production facilities, interactive stations, and authentic backdrops make your visit an exciting experience for all the senses. - Charming alleys and historic walls ### Zwickau's old town and Gewandhaus Discover Zwickau’s historic old town with its charming alleys, cafés, and boutique shops, perfect for a leisurely stroll. The Gewandhaus theatre offers a diverse programme of events, from concerts to cabaret. It is the ideal place to effortlessly combine culture and leisure. - Johannisbad in Zwickau / Johannisbad spa in Zwickau A historic pool with Art Nouveau flair ### Johannisbad Zwickau Johannisbad Zwickau is a truly unique architectural gem, combining Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic elegance with touches of oriental bathing culture. Featuring modern pools, a sauna, and a contemporary wellness area, it is the ideal place for families to unwind and enjoy quality time together. - Historische Wohnstube in den Priesterhäusern in Zwickau / Historic living room in the Priests' Houses in Zwickau A journey back in time ### Priests' houses The priests' houses in Zwickau are among the oldest preserved residential buildings in Germany, showcasing how clergymen lived in the Middle Ages. The faithfully restored buildings convey history in a peaceful way, not staged, but with an authentic atmosphere and interesting insights into everyday life in centuries past. - In einem Zimmer im Robert Schumann Haus steht ein großer Flügel. Birthplace of a great composer ### Robert Schumann House At the Robert Schumann House in Zwickau, you can experience the life and work of Robert and Clara Schumann up close. The museum houses the world's largest collection dedicated to this musical couple, including over 4,000 original manuscripts. The birth room is furnished with period furniture. Events are held regularly in the concert hall. - To 48 Hours in Zwickau Unforgettable moments ### 48 hours in Zwickau Zwickau is not called the city of Robert Schumann and automobiles for nothing. If you visit Saxony's fourth-largest city for a weekend, you can expect to find historic cars, a brilliant composer, a great painter, good beer, and lots of culture. - Hidden treasures off the tourist trail Insider tips for Zwickau ------------------------ - Take a stroll through Zwickau and discover the town's stunning historic architecture, featuring Germany's largest Art Nouveau ensemble, the Johannisbad spa, majestic St. Mary's Cathedral, and the spectacular "Neue Welt" ballroom. - , the town’s eminent art collections in the Max Pechstein Museum, combine art and natural history collections in an imposing, listed building. - More than 800 years of eventful history have left their mark on Zwickau‘s largest church. Valuable pictures and works of art adorn the interior of , including a winged altar from 1479, a vesper picture from around 1502 and a double spiral stone. The famous preacher and Luther contemporary Thomas Müntzer left his traces during the . Very much worth seeing! Max Pechstein Skulptur im Max-Pechstein-Museum Zwickau // Max Pechstein sculpture at the Max-Pechstein-Museum Zwickau Explore industrial heritage and idyllic landscapes Places to visit around Zwickau ------------------------------ Zwickau is the ideal gateway for exploring the Chemnitz region. Discover industrial heritage at the interactive Coal Mining Museum (KohleWelt) Oelsnitz and Central Europe's remarkably preserved cloth factory in Crimmitschau, now textile museum. Step back in time at the beautiful Blankenhain Castle and open-air museum village, or unwind with a scenic cycling tour along the picturesque Mulde River. Mulde Cycle Route Where historic towns meet idyllic landscapes Blankenhain A historic castle town wrapped in green Your local contact ### Zwickau Tourist Information - - - Unforgettable moments 48 hours in Zwickau ------------------- Zwickau is closely related to the Romantic composer Robert Schumann and the history of car manufacturing, all to be discovered during an inspiring weekend in Saxony’s fourth largest city. ### Day 1 in Zwickau: Friday Check-in, stop by the tourist information and a nice meal – get your bearings on your first day in Zwickau. Check-in Zwickau offers ample accommodation options. Some of the hotels can be found behind historic walls or are set in green spaces outside town, but there are also pretty rooms in the middle of the old town. After check-in, head straight to the tourist office to get all the information you need for your stay! Zwickau Tourist Information Stop by the local tourist information and make some time for a coffee and cake break in one of the charming cafés in Zwickau's old town. Priesterhäuser Priests' houses Zwickau's priests' houses are the oldest residential ensemble still standing in Germany. Interested in a couple more facts? The origins of the buildings go back to the 13th century when the priests and preachers of St. Mary's Cathedral lived there. Visit and get a taste of Zwickau in medieval times. Zwickauer Rathaus Dinner After arriving in Zwickau, your first walk through town and having visited the historic priests' houses, it‘s time for dinner in one of the many restaurants on offer. From "Alte Münze" to "Erzgebirgsblick", from home cooking in "Zum Schluckspecht" to a Schnitzel paradise – Zwickau offers you a wide range of gastronomic options. ### Day 2 in Zwickau: Saturday First a guided city tour, then on to music: Robert Schumann is Zwickau‘s most famous son. Kornmarkt Zwickau Guided city tour The best way to get to know the sights of a city is on a guided tour. Zwickau offers more than 20 different themed tours, including "Time Travel to the Middle Ages" and "Zwickau Winter Magic“. The choice is yours! Robert Schumann Haus, Zwickau Robert Schumann House Time to focus one of the most important people in Zwickau. In the Robert Schumann House, one of Germany‘s most beautiful museums dedicated to music, you can learn all about the life and work of the world-famous composer who was born in Zwickau. Among others, the museum houses over 4000 of the master's original manuscripts. MuldeParadies und Schloss Osterstein Paradise by the Mulde River Time for a walk, preferably in the idyllic Swan Pond Park or the MuldeParadies (Mulde paradise) park. The latter, named after the local Mulde river, is one of the most beautiful public parks in Germany, with a river stage, many quiet zones and some historical elements worth seeing. Ballhaus Neue Welt Cultural Events There's always something going on in Zwickau, be it concerts at the Stadthalle event space or the Neue Welt concert and ball hall. The open-air stage at the Schwanenteich pond or the Gasometer are also good event venues. Get information at the tourist office! ### Day 3 in Zwickau: Sunday You cannot leave Zwickau without having visited the August Horch Museum. Horchmuseum, Zwickau August Horch Museum The August Horch Museum where you can experience the history of 115 years of car manufacturing in Zwickau, is not just for car buffs. The museum is located at the historic birthplace of Audi, the same factory where later DKW and Trabant cars were manufactured. It is the only one of its kind to be housed in a former production site with a huge exhibition space of 6,500 square metres – lots to see including many vintage cars! Café in Zwickau Lunch For lunch, we recommend staying in the museum and stop by the on-site restaurant for a snack or full-on three-course menu. Whatever it might be, enjoy and keep Zwickau in good memory! This might also be of interest to you -------------------------------------