Chemnitz 2025
Saxony's industrial hub of Chemnitz together with 38 municipalities from Central Saxony, the Ore Mountains and the Zwickau region have been named European Capital of Culture 2025. Chemnitz and it's surrounding region are linked by a vibrant shared cultural and industrial heritage. The title is an invitation to all to come and discover the history of the eastern German area at the heart of Europe.
The unseen becomes visible
"C the Unseen" - the motto for Chemnitz 2025 is both an invitation and a program. The aim is to make the previously unseen and undiscovered visible. The title "European Capital of Culture" shines a spotlight on people, places and activities that have not yet been the focus of tourist attention. They want to show themselves and warmly welcome their guests.
A year full of experiences and encounters
January 18, 2025 marks the start of a year with countless events and opportunities to get involved. There will be festivals, exhibitions, theater, performances, but also sports, culinary delights, workshops and events. Many local actors are involved, as well as renowned national and international artists. The program creates experiences and encounters. It conveys the past and present of the people who live here. New places are created as well as opportunities for active participation.
Places of making and change
Chemnitz locates itself as an Eastern European city in a West German state. It is characterized by great tradition and many upheavals, most recently the end of the GDR and the renaming of Karl-Marx-Stadt back to Chemnitz. A pronounced doer:in mentality and the ability to constantly reinvent oneself are deeply rooted in this region. Social change has always been a catalyst for innovation.
Industrial culture, then and now
Chemnitz, Zwickau and the surrounding region have contributed significantly to Germany's industrial development, particularly in the textile, mechanical engineering, railroad and automotive industries. Mining in the Ore Mountains once made the region an economic stronghold and the traditional arts and crafts are still known worldwide today. The Erzgebirge/Krušnohorí mining region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.
Industrialization brought wealth and prosperity as well as a heyday of art and culture. Top-class museums and unique architecture bear witness to this. The region is characterized by a high density of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque castles as well as theater, music and art collections. There are also a variety of hiking, cycling and water routes.