Germany - Saxony - Zwickau

Places in Zwickau in Saxony, Germany.

Sent by Kerstin from Lichtentanne in Saxony, Germany.

Zwickau (German pronunciation: [ˈtsvɪkaʊ]) is the fourth-largest city of Saxony, Germany, after Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz, with around 88,000 inhabitants.

The West Saxon city is situated in the valley of the Zwickau Mulde (German: Zwickauer Mulde; progression: Mulde→ Elbe→ North Sea), and lies in a string of cities sitting in the densely populated foreland of the Elster and Ore Mountains stretching from Plauen in the southwest via Zwickau, Chemnitz and Freiberg to Dresden in the northeast. Zwickau is the seat of the Zwickau District, the most densely populated district in the new states of Germany.

Zwickau is the seat of the West Saxon University of Zwickau (German: Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau) with campuses in Zwickau, Markneukirchen, Reichenbach im Vogtland and Schneeberg (Erzgebirge). The city is the birthplace of composer Robert Schumann (read more).

Germany - Saxony/Brandnburg - Upper Lusatia

Sent by Stephanie from Saxony, Germany.

Upper Lusatia (German: Oberlausitz, pronounced [ˈoːbɐˌlaʊzɪts]; Polish: Łużyce Górne or Milsko; Upper Sorbian: Hornja Łužica, pronounced [ˈhɔʁnʲa ˈwuʒitsa]; Lower Sorbian: Górna Łužyca; Czech: Horní Lužice) is a historical region in Germany and Poland. Along with Lower Lusatia to the north, it makes up the region of Lusatia, named after the Slavic Lusici tribe. Both parts of Lusatia are home to the West Slavic minority group of the Sorbs.

The major part of Upper Lusatia is part of the German federal state of Saxony, roughly comprising Bautzen district and Görlitz district. The northwestern extremity, around Ruhland and Tettau, is incorporated into the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district of the state of Brandenburg. The eastern part of Upper Lusatia is in Poland, east of the Neisse (Nysa) river, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship. A small strip of land in the north around Łęknica is incorporated into Lubusz Voivodeship, along with the Polish part of Lower Lusatia.

The historic capital of Upper Lusatia is Bautzen/Budyšin, while the largest city in the region is Görlitz/Zgorzelec, halved between Germany and Poland since 1945. The name Lusatia superior was first recorded in a 1474 deed, derived from the adjacent Lower Lusatian lands in the north, which originally were just called the March of Lusatia. The Upper Lusatian territory was previously referred to as Milsko in contemporary chronicles, named after the local West Slavic Milceni tribe, later also called Land Budissin (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Brühl's Terrace

A winter evening view of Brühl's Terrace, in Dresden, a historic architechtural ensemble nicknamed the "Balcony of Europe". The prominent building with the large dome is Hofkirche (Cathedral of the Holy Trinity), the Catholic Court Church of Saxony.

Sent by Tabea from Dresden, Germany.

The Brühl Terrace is also affectionately known as the "Balcony of Europe". It stretches over a length of about 500 metres between the Augustus Bridge and today's Carola Bridge and was built in the 16th century as part of Dresden's fortifications.

In the 18th century the terrace was extended by the so-called "Brühl's Glories" (gallery, library, Belvedere, palace and gardens) and thus lost its fortress-like character.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Brühl Terrace was opened to the public. Today, as an architectural ensemble, it is an important sight in the city (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Mining in Saxony, Headframes and Towers

Technical Monuments in Saxony

Mining in Saxony, Headframes and Towers

... for ilver, cobalt, and bismuth mining :  Türkschacht near Schneebergfrom1887/1888 (left), 

... for uranium mining : Wismuth Shaft 371near Hartenstein from 1956 (center), 

for tin mining : Arno-Lippmann Shaft in Altenberg from 1961(right), 

Sent by Jörg from Lower Rhine, Germany.

From the late18th century to World War II, Saxony was Germany's leading industrial region.The affinity of the Saxons for technology goes back to mining, which started as early as in the 12th century. From Chemnitz, the „cradle of German engineering“, the process spread throughout the whole region and led to a very diverse industry with many world market leaders. Access to the markets was very easy since Leipzig was the leading trade fair location in the world. This golden age ended abruptly after World War II when Saxony had the misfortune of falling behind the Iron Curtain. However, Saxony remained the centre of industrial production in the GDR and one of the key industrial regions in the entire Eastern Bloc.

The German Reunification marked a completely new beginning, which brought an end to many things, but also opened up new opportunities. Important former industrial sites were preserved as museums where historic technology can often still be demonstrated. Other technical monuments, like some of the narrow-gauge steam train lines, the steamboats on the Elbe River or the aerial tram in Dresden, are still in daily operation. But the industrial age produced also other kinds of architecture like the villas of the rich industrialists or Germany’s first city, Hellerau, today part of Dresden. Explore Saxony's industrial history to learn all about traditional industries like mining, car construction, textile manufacturing and many others that are part of this region’s rich industrial history (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Unzeitgemäße Zeitgenossen

Bronze sculpture "Unzeitgemäße Zeitgenossen" by Bernd Goebel in Leipzig, Germany.

Sent by Yvonne from Leipzig, Germany.

Sculpture consisting of a T-shaped base with on the horizontal beam five naked figures, who strictly adhere to their principles. Each figure has a has a small but fine detail set in gold: the city sculptor (laurel wreath), the pedagogue (golden hammer), the rationalist with golden saw, the diagnostician with ear trumpet and a figure with golden nose and golden ears, the art theorist (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Kronentor Zwinger in Dresden

Kronentor (Crown Gate) at the Zwinger Palace in Dresden, Germany.

Sent by Sabine from Landau in der Pfalz, Germany.

Kronentor Zwinger, also known as the "Crown Gate" in Dresden, is a magnificent architectural feature situated in the heart of the Zwinger Palace complex. Located in the Altstadt (Old Town) of Dresden, this iconic gate serves as the main entrance to the Zwinger, a baroque masterpiece that houses some of the city's most renowned museums and art collections.

The Kronentor Zwinger stands out for its exquisite baroque design, characterized by elaborate ornamentation and a strikingly grandiose appearance. Designed by architect Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann and sculptor Balthasar Permoser, the gate is renowned for its impressive crown-shaped sculpture, which gives it its name. The ornate façade includes intricate reliefs and sculptures that embody the opulence and artistic flair of the early 18th century. The gate’s architectural splendor and its role as a symbol of Dresden's former grandeur make it a key attraction in the city (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Chemnitz

Chemnitz from 1953 to 1990 : Karl-Marx-Stadt is the third-largest city in the German state of Saxony after Leipzig and Dresden.

Sent by Silvia from Chemnitz, Germany.

Chemnitz (German: [ˈkɛmnɪts]; from 1953 to 1990: Karl-Marx-Stadt [kaʁlˈmaʁksˌʃtat] (lit. 'Karl Marx City'); Upper Sorbian: Kamjenica [ˈkamʲɛnʲit͡sa]; Czech: Saská Kamenice) is the third-largest city in the German state of Saxony after Leipzig and Dresden, and the fourth-largest city in the area of the former East Germany after (East) Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden.

The city lies in the middle of a string of cities sitting in the densely populated northern foreland of the Elster and Ore Mountains, stretching from Plauen in the southwest via Zwickau, Chemnitz and Freiberg to Dresden in the northeast, and is part of the Central German Metropolitan Region. Located in the Ore Mountain Basin, the city is surrounded by the Ore Mountains to the south and the Central Saxon Hill Country to the north. The city stands on the Chemnitz River, which is formed through the confluence of the rivers Zwönitz and Würschnitz in the borough of Altchemnitz.

The name of the city as well as the names of the rivers are of Slavic origin. Chemnitz is the third-largest city in the Thuringian-Upper Saxon dialect area after Leipzig and Dresden. The city's economy is based on the service sector and manufacturing industry. Chemnitz University of Technology has around 10,000 students.

Chemnitz is known for its many industrial age buildings and monuments, and is the European Capital of Culture of 2025 (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Königstein Fortress

Königstein Fortress in Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz), Germany.

Sent by Sophia from Bitterfeld-Wolfen in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Königstein Fortress (German: Festung Königstein), the "Saxon Bastille", is a hilltop fortress near Dresden, in Saxon Switzerland, Germany, above the town of Königstein on the left bank of the River Elbe. It is one of the largest hilltop fortifications in Europe and sits atop the table hill of the same name.

The 9.5-hectare (23-acre) rock plateau rises 240 metres (790 ft) above the Elbe and has over 50 buildings, some over 400 years old, that bear witness to the military and civilian life in the fortress. The rampart run of the fortress is 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) long with walls up to 42 metres (138 ft) high and steep sandstone faces. In the centre of the site is a 152.5-metre-deep (500 ft 4 in) well, which is the deepest in Saxony and second-deepest well in Europe.

The fortress, which for centuries was used as a state prison, is still intact and is now one of Saxony's foremost tourist attractions, with 700,000 visitors per year (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Völkerschlachtdenkmal (The Battle of the Nations Monument)

Greetings From Leipzig

An evening view of the Battle of the Nations Monument (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) commemorates the decisive battle of October 16-19, 1813, which NapoleonBonaparte lost shamefully.

Sent by Rashmi from Nord Herringen, Germany.

The Monument to the Battle of the Nations (German: Völkerschlachtdenkmal) is a monument in Leipzig, Germany, to the 1813 Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of the Nations. Paid for mostly by donations and the city of Leipzig, it was completed in 1913 for the 100th anniversary of the battle at a cost of six million goldmarks.

The monument commemorates the defeat of Napoleon's French army at Leipzig, a crucial step towards the end of hostilities in the War of the Sixth Coalition. The coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden were led by Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg. There were Germans fighting on both sides, as Napoleon's troops also included conscripted Germans from the left bank of the Rhine annexed by France, as well as troops from his German allies of the Confederation of the Rhine.

The structure is 91 metres (299 ft) tall. It contains over 500 steps to a viewing platform at the top, from which there are views across the city and environs. The structure makes extensive use of concrete, and the facings are of granite. It is widely regarded as one of the best examples of Wilhelmine architecture. The monument is said to stand on the spot of some of the bloodiest fighting, from where Napoleon ordered the retreat of his army. It was also the scene of fighting in World War II, when Nazi forces in Leipzig made their last stand against U.S. troops (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Moritzburg Castle

MORITZBURG
Baroque hunting lodge of Augustus The Great.

Sent by Lothar from Annaberg-Buchholz in Saxony, Germany.

Moritzburg Castle (German: Schloss Moritzburg) or Moritzburg Palace is a Baroque palace in Moritzburg, in the German state of Saxony, about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) northwest of the Saxon capital, Dresden. The castle has four round towers and lies on a symmetrical artificial island. It is named after Duke Moritz of Saxony, who had a hunting lodge built there between 1542 and 1546. The surrounding woodlands and lakes were a favourite hunting area of the electors and kings of Saxony (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Leipzig (3)

Greetings from Leipzig.

Sent by Juliane from Leipzig, Germany.

My other two postcards of Leipzig are here and here.

Germany - Saxony - Leipzig Steam Cultural Tour Train

Steam locomotive 52 8079-7 of Leipzig Steam Cultural Tour near Staßfurt.

Sent by Hanko fro Schmelz, Germany. Thanks for the stamp of train on the postcard.

No matter whether you love nature; like to explore buildings of past centuries; want to go hiking, cycling, horseback riding; or just want to be pampered; there will be something for everyone. All visitors planning to explore the landscape of Saxony's castle and heathland region by car, railway or in a different way, will have the chance to make their own discoveries. The warmth of Saxons and the exemplary Saxon cosiness along with the delicious regional cuisine will give your stay a really special atmosphere.

In the heart of Saxony's castle and heathland region, you will find the woodlands of Dahlen Heath as well as Wermsdorf Forest offering extensive hiking and biking trails. And where, other than in the heart of Saxony's stunning castle and heathland region, could be a better place for the Saxon STEAM RAILWAY ROUTE to start? You could start your journey through the Free State by taking a ride on the Döllnitzbahn railway. The Döllnitzbahn railway will take you from the town of Oschatz, where restored historic buildings and alleys keep the pulse of a former epoch, out into the country. Passing rivers, meadows and fields, you will reach districts of the commune of Sornzig-Ablass in addition to the commune of Naundorf and the town of Mügeln (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Seiffen

Seiffen in Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony.

Sent by Uwe from Dessau in Saxony, Germany.

Seiffen is a town in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in the central south of Saxony in Germany.

Seiffen nestles in the heart of the Ore Mountains, which are famous for many Christmas traditions. As the silver and tin deposits declined, former miners had to look for new ways to feed their families. In addition to lace making and weaving, the local population turned to wood carving. Nutcrackers, "smoking men", Christmas pyramids (carousels with figures of the Christmas story or from mining) and Schwibbögen (wooden candle arches, displayed in windows, symbolising the opening of a mine) are some of many Christmas goods made in the Ore Mountains. Seiffen is a centre of the wooden toy industry (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Dresden

Multiviews of Dresden.

Sent by Nadine from Dresden, Germany.

Dresden (German pronunciation: [ˈdʁeːsdən]; Upper Sorbian: Drježdźany) is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area with 2.4 million inhabitants.

Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendor. The city was known as the Jewel Box, because of its baroque andrococo city center. The controversial British and American bombing of Dresden in World War II towards the end of the war killed at least 25,000 civilians and destroyed the entire city center. The impact of the bombing ruined the face of the city, as did for other major German cities. After the war Restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, including the Katholische Hofkirche, the Semper Oper and the Dresdner Frauenkirche as well as the suburbs.

Before and since German reunification in 1990, Dresden was and is a cultural, educational, political and economic center of Germany and Europe. The Dresden University of Technology is one of the 10 largest universities in Germany and part of the German Universities Excellence Initiative. (read further)

Germany - Leipzig (2)

Leipzig.

Sent by Ina, a postcrosser from Gräfenhainichen, Germany.

Germany - Free State of Saxony

 

A mapcard of The Free State of Saxony.

Sent by Sven, a postcrosser who lives near Zwickau in Germany.

This is from Wikipedia : The Free State of Saxony (German: Freistaat Sachsen [ˈfʁaɪʃtaːt ˈzaksən]; Upper Sorbian: Swobodny stat Sakska) is a landlockedstate of Germany, bordering Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with (18,413 square kilometres (7,109 sq mi), and the sixth most-populous (4.3 million) of Germany's sixteen states.

Located in the middle of an erstwhile German-speaking part of Europe, the history of the state of Saxony spans more than a millennium. It has been a medieval duchy, an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire, a kingdom, a republic from 1918 to 1952 and then again from 1990.

The area of the modern state of Saxony should not be confused with Old Saxony, the area inhabited by Saxons. Old Saxony corresponds approximately to the modern German states of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and the Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia.

 

Germany - Freiberger Hüttenältester

Freiberger Hüttenältester.

Sent by Georg, a postcrosser from Freiberg, Germany.

Germany - Freiberg - Bergbau-Denkmäler

Bergbau-Denkmäler in Freiberg.

Sent by Stefanie, a postcrosser from Germany.

This is from UNESCO : For more than 800 years and still recognizable today in numerous technical monuments as well as in the physical landscape it has helped transform, mining has not only created a cultural landscape but also influenced the development of mining sciences (e. g. establishment of the Mining Academy in Freiberg). The unity of mining and steel, art and culture and the science of mining - as well as their influence on other countries - marks the historical importance of the Ore Mountains.

Germany - Zittauer Gebirge

The region lies in the most southeast corner of Saxony with the border triangle Poland, Czech Republic, Germany where Europe grows together.

Sent by Norbert, a postcrosser from Germany.