Chemnitz

Chemnitz
Chemnitz
Coordinates	50°50′0″N 12°55′0″E
Administration
Country	Germany
State	Saxony
Admin. region	Chemnitz
District	Chemnitz
Mayor	Barbara Ludwig (SPD)
Basic statistics
Area	220.85 km2 (85.27 sq mi)
Elevation	296 m  (971 ft)
Population	246,110  (1 May 2006)
- Density	1,114 /km2 (2,886 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	C
Postal codes	09001-09247
Area code	0371
Website	chemnitz.de

Chemnitz is a city in Germany. It is in the state of Saxony. In 2006, about 245.000 people lived there.

During the partition of Germany Chemnitz was in East Germany. From 1953 to 1990 Chemnitz was called Karl-Marx-Stadt. The name was in reference to the social reformer Karl Marx. Now the city has its old name. This name is from the river that flows through it.

The first mention of the city was in 1143. The city had an important role in the Industrial Revolution. In about 1883, the city population passed 100.000 inhabitants.

Geography

Chemnitz is north of the Ore Mountains in the western part of the Bundesland Saxony. It is the 3rd biggest city in Saxony with about 245.000 inhabitants. The area is about 220 km². There is a river that is also called Chemnitz. The average temperature is 8 °C and the amount of rain and snow every year (annual precipitation) is 700 mm.

Sights

The Karl-Marx-Monument has been an attraction of the city since 1971. The 7,10 meter high statue was created by the Russian artist Lev Kerbel. The inhabitants of Chemnitz call it "Nischel", which means head in the dialect of the area.

The Roter Turm (the red tower)is one of Chemnitz's oldest sites; it was built in the 12th or 13th century and was once part of the city wall.

Old and new city hall

The town hall of Chemnitz consists of two buildings. The old town hall was built in the 15th century. The new townhall, on the other hand, was built at the beginning of the 20th century and was designed by Richard Möbius. The new town hall was erected next to the old one.

One of the new attractions of the city is das Tietz. The former department store was constructed in 1912/1913. Today the Museum for Natural History, the public library, an adult education centre, a gallery and the Petrified Forest are here.