The architecture of Chemnitz blends many centuries of eastern Germany’s history. This small city in Saxony mixes iconic communist concrete with beautiful castles, industrial heritage with coloured townhouses that have survived from the 18th century. Known as Karl-Marx-Stadt between 1953 and 1990, Chemnitz is an excellent place to experience the intriguing attractions of both Saxony and old East Germany. Backdropped by rugged mountains, Chemnitz has good connections to the region’s two main cities, Leipzig and Dresden.

The major highlight of the visitor experience is to compare the contrasting architecture. Very little of Chemnitz has been rebuilt since the reunification of Germany, so it’s common to find elegant Saxon stone standing alongside poignant Soviet design. Head into the suburbs and the castles of Wasserschloss Klaffenbach and Burg Rabenstein celebrate an entirely different era. Chemnitz’s icons also come from across the centuries. A mammoth Karl Marx statue is just a few streets from the old opera house on Theaterplatz, which is within walking distance of the artefacts in Industriemuseum.

Buses and trams criss-cross through the city of Chemnitz, spreading out from two squares in the city centre. These are a useful means of exploring the different suburbs, particularly the architecture of the residential neighbourhoods. Most of the centre can be seen on foot while a mixture of trains and buses provide transport to other attractions across Saxony. Dresden is the closest airport, 80 kilometres to the east.

Chemnitz’s oldest landmark is a red-brick tower completed in the early 13th century. It is the last surviving piece of the old city walls and a memory of the city’s medieval boom as a centre for textiles.