Discover History
Photo: Kristin Schmidt
Photo: City of Chemnitz
Photo: City of Chemnitz
History revealed in the cityscape
Anyone who journeys back in time through Chemnitz’s history will discover major changes, great ideas and key turning points. Not all of them can be seen in the Chemnitz cityscape today. But the information boards project aims to bring stories from the past to life again:
From the oldest building in Chemnitz city centre, the Red Tower, to buildings that have almost been forgotten, such as the Paulikirche (St. Paul’s Church) and important squares such as Falkeplatz. We invite you to take a tour of the city’s former gates.
Market Square
West-facing view of the market with the Town Hall, arcades and Gewandhaus linen hall, painting circa 1820
Photo: City of Chemnitz
Photo: City of Chemnitz
Former city gates
Chemnitzer Tor / Moritzhof
View from Annaberger Strasse towards the Old Post Office and city centre around 1965
Photo: Stadtarchiv Chemnitz, Schenkung Walter Feig
Photo: Stadtarchiv Chemnitz, Schenkung Walter Feig
Klostertor - Theaterstraße
What is known as Schloßbergmuseum and Schloßkirche today used to be a Benedictine monastery. The road that led there from the town went through the Klostertor gate and the monastery district. This watercolour by A. Gottschaldt shows the Klostertor gate around 1820, and is taken from a lithograph by W. Flemming from around 1900.
Photo: Kunstsammmlungen Chemnitz - Schloßbergmuseum
Photo: Kunstsammmlungen Chemnitz - Schloßbergmuseum
Pforte - Paulikirche
Getreidemarket was reached by going through the gate past the new St Johanniskirche (Church of St. John). Illustration by L. Sommerschuh, around 1840.
Photo: SLUB / Deutsche Fotothek
Photo: SLUB / Deutsche Fotothek
Nikolaitor - Falkeplatz
Viewed from Falkeplatz, the destruction of Chemnitz city centre in World War II is clear to see. View from Zwickauer Strasse around 1950
Photo: Stadtarchiv Chemnitz / Schenkung: Walter Feig
Photo: Stadtarchiv Chemnitz / Schenkung: Walter Feig
Other locations
Schillingsche Figuren - The four times of day
Schillingsche Figuren
Photo: Stadt Chemnitz, Pressestelle
Photo: Stadt Chemnitz, Pressestelle
Rosenhof
Ab Ende der 1960er-Jahren macht der Rosenhof mit seinen zahlreichen Rosenstöcken seinem Namen alle Ehre.
Photo: Veronika Leonhardt (Privatarchiv)
Photo: Veronika Leonhardt (Privatarchiv)
Schloßberg
Der Schweizer Maler und Grafiker Adrian Zingg hielt im Jahre 1774 die Ansicht von „Schlos und Kirch bei Kemniz“ in einer lavierten Federzeichnung fest. Sie zeigt den Komplex des ehemaligen Klosters und späteren Schlosses kurz vor dem Abbruch des Abtsbaus (Bildmitte).
Photo: Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz – Schloßbergmuseum
Photo: Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz – Schloßbergmuseum
Alter Flughafen
The AERO 45 of the GDR’s Deutsche Lufthansa is a symbol of the economic prosperity of the airport in the 1950s. In the peak year of 1959, 18,470 passengers passed through the airport. On 31 October 1962, regular services were permanently discontinued.
Photo: Karl-Marx-Stadt Airport, promotional shot around 1958, photographer: Horst Hempel, Source: Chemnitz City Archive, location Q 01 image archive, sign. II_014043
Photo: Karl-Marx-Stadt Airport, promotional shot around 1958, photographer: Horst Hempel, Source: Chemnitz City Archive, location Q 01 image archive, sign. II_014043
Alte Synagoge
The large synagogue was inaugurated in 1899 and was considered as adornment of the Kaßberg.
Photo: Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Schloßbergmuseum
Photo: Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Schloßbergmuseum
Theaterplatz
A view from 1918 shows the ensemble of museum, theater and church.
Photo: Stadtarchiv Chemnitz (Verlag Martin & Fischer, Chemnitz)
Photo: Stadtarchiv Chemnitz (Verlag Martin & Fischer, Chemnitz)
Morgenleite
Morgenleite today, with forests and the shopping centre north of Wladimir-Sagorski-Strasse
Photo: Source: Stadtteilmanagement Chemnitz Süd | Fotograf / chemnitz-von-oben.de
Photo: Source: Stadtteilmanagement Chemnitz Süd | Fotograf / chemnitz-von-oben.de
The Fritz Heckert residential district
Feierliche Grundsteinlegung, Oktober 1974
Photo: Stadtarchiv Chemnitz
Photo: Stadtarchiv Chemnitz
