Discover Plauen: History, Lace and City Experiences

If you are planning an overnight stay in Plauen, you can tailor your stay to the topics that interest you: historic buildings, textile history, viewpoints or activities for different age groups. The city offers specific places to visit for all of these.

City history and Plauen lace

The historic centre includes the Renaissance-gabled town hall, St. John’s Church, dating from the 12th century, the Old Elster Bridge, the weavers’ houses and the Craftsmen’s Courtyard. The Vogtland Museum, the Erich Ohser House, the Malzhaus and the Vogtland Theatre also shape the city’s cultural offerings. These varied buildings and institutions offer several ways to explore the city’s history.

The Vogtland Museum is the regional and local history museum of the Vogtland. It offers visitor experiences for tourists, children, families and residents. If you are interested in the history of the region, you will find a different focus here than in the historic centre’s buildings. Check the current exhibitions before your visit.

The Factory of Threads is dedicated to the history of the Vogtland’s textile industry. This history is presented in a museum experience covering 1,200 square metres at the Weisbach House. Behind the listed façade at Bleichstraße 1 is an innovative interactive exhibition. One room is dedicated to the development of Plauen lace and also explains the technologies associated with it. The focus is therefore on both the history of the textile industry and a specific product, as well as the technologies behind it. The exhibition is a possible complement to a visit to Plauen’s historic buildings and collections.

Walks and views

The Tourist Information Office organises walking tours, sightseeing trips and public city and tower tours. A public tour of the town hall tower leads up 230 steps to an observation platform 42 metres high. From there, you can enjoy views across Plauen and the Vogtland. Check the current tour programme in advance, as availability may change.

The Castle Terraces offer two more ways to experience the city: the observation platform overlooks Plauen’s old town, while the reconstructed official gardens invite you to stroll and linger. You can combine the viewpoint with time in the gardens rather than focusing your visit solely on the view from above.

Those wishing to focus on nature and biodiversity can follow the Natura Trail at Großer Weidenteich. It passes through habitats with particularly diverse flora and fauna. Which animals you may see also depends on the season; opportunities for wildlife watching change throughout the year.

More activities for your stay

The Ewiges Leben visitor mine offers a guided tour of Plauen’s historic alum mine lasting around one hour. The approximate duration helps you plan how much time to allow for the visit. Check the current booking conditions for the tour before making plans.

At the Syratal leisure complex, there is a miniature railway with an electric overhead line. Its route is 1.1 kilometres long. The complex also includes a 5,000-square-metre traffic training area where children aged six and over can drive mini cars. The two activities offer different experiences: a ride on the miniature railway and practice on the mini-car course.

Plauen Municipal Baths offer a sports pool with a divisible 50-metre pool. Younger visitors can also enjoy a paddling pool with a slide. If you are planning a visit to the baths, check their current operating status beforehand. It is also advisable to check the current operating dates for the attractions at the Syratal leisure complex.

Discover more destinations: Neuensalz, Pausa-Mühltroff, Neumark, Elsterberg, Zwoschwitz, Oelsnitz/Vogtland, Tirpersdorf, Bergen.

Back to the main travel overview: Vogtland.