The Free State of Saxony

"We are the people" – 1990 mass demonstration in Leipzig

Saxony was re-founded after reunification in 1990, essentially by merging the former GDR districts of Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz. It is now a Free State, a term used in German to signify “republic”. The first Free State of Saxony came into being in 1918 in the wake of the abdication of Saxony’s king.

Today Saxony is the most populous of the “new” federal states. The Sorbs living in the Upper Lausitz region are a recognised national minority. Since 1991 the Neisse-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion has provided a framework for the close links Saxony maintains with its immediate neighbours, Poland and the Czech Republic.

In the heart of Central Europe

Dresden, the state capital

Saxon companies played a leading role in German industrialisation. After reunification Saxony has also made particularly good headway in redeveloping its economy. The upturn was initially fuelled by the construction sector, crafts and commerce. The industrial sector is also booming now, with growth rates among the highest in Germany. “Silicon Saxony”, Europe’s largest micro-electronics cluster, is emblematic of the forward-looking branches emerging here. The automobile industry also plays a key role, picking up successfully on the innovative tradition initiated by August Horch in 1902.

The state not only has five universities, but also boasts the same number of art colleges and specialised technical colleges, combining solid Saxon knowledge-based academic traditions with innovative new input. As well as the University of Leipzig, the second-oldest German university to have welcomed students constantly ever since its foundation, Saxony numbers various educational institutions established more recently. One example is the Zittau International Graduate School, with students from both Germany and abroad, in particular from Poland and the Czech Republic.

Strong cultural traditions

Saxony’s famous Christmas traditions.

Bach, Baroque and the blue swords of Meissen porcelain are just the most famous examples of a cultural landscape influenced by Saxony’s feudal past yet open to new ideas too. In addition to venerable institutions such as the Semper Opera House, the Saxon State Theatre and the Dresden State Art Collections, other cultural highlights, such as the Leipzig Jazz Festival, are also renowned all over the world.

Vibrant young cultural projects and a lively club scene have also developed, particularly in Leipzig and Dresden. Chemnitz’s Municipal Theatre attracts theatregoers young and old with its bold productions. The Leipzig Book Fair, founded in the 17th century, is the second largest in Germany.

There is a lot more to visit and experience than just the large cities, which boast both magnificent historic buildings and striking contemporary architecture built after the fall of the Wall. Tourists also throng to the glorious landscapes of the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), the Vogtland region, Saxon Switzerland or the Zittau Mountains.

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