Chemnitz

Nowadays, the "City of Modernity" has far more to offer than just factories and residential districts from the "Gründerzeit" period. Chemnitz was once known as the "Manchester of Saxony" and was a major location for the manufacturing of tools, textile machinery and locomotives for a long time. Nevertheless, despite, or maybe even because of, fluctuations in high-tech manufacturing, the former industrial metropolis north of the Ore Mountains was inspired by the muses. This led to Chemnitz with its Wagner performances gaining a new nickname: the "Bayreuth of Saxony". Make the most of the sport and leisure activities on offer in this green city…

The Ore Mountains ("Erzgebirge")

The classic nutcrackers, traditional "Räuchermann" incense smokers and other handicrafts from the Ore Mountains are famous all over the world. Nevertheless, this mountain range, which is situated south of Dresden, also reaches heights of up to 1200m, enabling it to offer surprisingly good conditions for winter sports! You should also ensure that you don’t miss out on the Erzgebirge/Vogtland National Park and don’t forget to pay a visit to one of the many old mines and discover the course of the “Silver Road”…

Dresden

Practically no other city has a history that combines such splendid moments with such tragic times like that of Dresden, which was the royal residence of Dukes, Prince-electors and Kings from as early as the 15th century onwards. The current capital city of the German Free State of Saxony was, however, reduced to rubble during the Second World War.

Nevertheless, the reconstructed Baroque "Frauenkirche" ('Church of Our Lady') has been standing tall above the skyline of Dresden, which is also known as the "Elbflorenz", the Florence of the River Elbe, since 2005. The city also boasts a number of other attractions, for example the "Semperoper" opera house, the "Zwinger" palace and the nearby Ore Mountains.