The industrial city of Chemnitz (known from 1953 to 1990 as Karl-Marx-Stadt) lies in a wide stretch of the valley of the river Chemnitz, in the Erzgebirge Basin. In the 16th century an important textile center in the Electorate of Saxony, Chemnitz developed in the 19th century into a major industrial town, its economy centered on engineering.
Pre-war Chemnitz had preserved only a few buildings from earlier centuries, and after the war these were carefully rebuilt. Among them is the Roter Turm, the lower part of which dates from the 12th C. In the surrounding gardens are various pieces of sculpture ("Hymns of Praise" after Bertolt Brecht).
The Schlosskirche (founded 1136) of St Mary on Chemnitz's Castle Hill is a Late Gothic hall-church which originally belonged to a Benedictine abbey. It has a main doorway with Late Gothic tracery (by F. Maidburg and H. Witten), Late Gothic wall paintings and a "Scourging of Christ" by H. Witten.
In Chemnitz's northern district of Ebersdorf is the 15th C. Stiftskirche. Originally built around 1400 as a fortified village church, it became a pilgrimage center in the 15th C. The interior has fine sculpture and carving (winged altarpiece on high altar, 1513).
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April 1 to October 31: 11am-5pm; Closed: Mon
November 1 to March 31: 10am-4pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
Hainichen, 22 mk/14mi northeast of Chemnitz, has an interesting Heimatmuseum, with a collection of material on the life and work of the 18th C poet Christian Gellert, who was born in Hainichen.
Lichtenwalde, 10km/6mi northeast of Chemnitz, has a Baroque palace (1722-26; now occupied by a school), with a 15th C. chapel and a Baroque park (1730-37; pavilions, sculpture, fountains).
The New Town Hall (1907-11) in Chemnitz has a fine Art Nouveau interior (P. Perks, M. Klinger, R. König, etc.). In the tower is a carillon of 48 bells.
In Niederrabenstein, in Chemnitz, are the interesting Felsendome ("Rock Cathedrals") - an old limestone quarry with cathedral-like chambers hewn from the rock, magnificent limestone crystals and underground pools. Adjoining are the old lime-kiln and the manager's house.
Oberrabenstein, in Chemnitz, has preserved the remains of an old castle (living quarters, keep), which now houses a collection of Baroque sculpture, old weapons and domestic equipment.
The Sterzeleanum in Chemnitz is a geological collection of international reputation: a "petrified forest" of tree stumps some 250million years old, partly in Theaterplatz and partly in the Museum.
In the Markt stands the Chemnitz Town Church, dedicated to St James (St Jakobi). It is a Late Gothic hall-church (much restored), originally founded about 1165, with an Art Nouveau west front and a 17th C. font.
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Old Town Hall
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