City chronicle at a glance

  • 1118
    First documentary mention as Zcwickaw.
  • 1212
    Zwickau is first mentioned in a document as an "oppidum".
  • 1348
    The municipal law is laid down in the Zwickau municipal law book.
  • 1403
    On 20 May the biggest fire in Zwickau's history destroys almost the entire city centre.
  • 1470
    Silver is found on the Schneeberg. The mining entrepreneurs are mainly citizens of Zwickau.
  • 1520/21
    Thomas Müntzer works as a preacher in Zwickau.
  • 1522
    At the request of the council, Martin Luther gives several sermons in the city.
  • 1775
    A prison is established in the Renaissance castle Osterstein. Among the most famous inmates are August Bebel and Karl May.
  • 1810
    On 8 June the composer Robert Schumann is born.
  • 1838/39
    Start of industrial mining of the Zwickau coal deposits.
  • 1881
    On 31 December the expressionist Max Pechstein is born. From 6 May, an electric tram, the first in Saxony, operates between the main market square and the railway station.
  • 1897
    The engineering school is founded, forerunner of the Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau - University of Applied Sciences
  • 1904
    Start of Zwickau automotive engineering with the settlement of A. Horch & Cie. Motorenwerke AG.
  • 1913
    Gert Fröbe is born on 25 February in Oberplanitz.
  • 1954
    On 10 July a devastating flood hits Zwickau.
  • 1956
    Opening of the Robert Schumann House as a museum and research facility.
  • 1957
    On 7 November, production of the passenger car P 50, later known as the Trabant, begins at the Zwickau automotive plant.
  • 1977
    On 30 November, Zwickau's coal mining ends.
  • 1989
    Protest rallies and prayers for peace initiate the period of German reunification in Zwickau.
  • 1990
    The first free local elections are held on 6 May.
  • 1991
    On 30 April, the last Trabant rolls off the production line at the Sachsenring plant. Zwickau automotive manufacturing is continued by VW Sachsen GmbH with its vehicle plant in Mosel.
  • 1999
    On 28 May, the regional railway section Hauptbahnhof-Glück-Auf-Center-Stadtzentrum is inaugurated with the innovative three-rail track.
  • 2003
    The renovated Priesterhäuser open their doors as a museum of the city's history.
  • 2004
    The August Horch Museum is inaugurated at the birthplace of Audi.
  • 2014
    The Max Pechstein Museum is opened in the KUNSTSAMMLUNGEN.
  • 2017
    The VW Group decides to develop the Zwickau location into the largest European e-mobility competence centre.