Aue: Mining History, Art Nouveau and Miniature Animals

Aue combines mining history with Art Nouveau, a connection to porcelain and a distinctive animal world. Those who want to bring different interests together during one stay will find opportunities for historical discoveries, walks and active experiences.

Mining history at Heidelsberg and the town museum

The mining trail at Heidelsberg starts at the town museum and leads to the Huthaus of the Weiße Erdenzeche St. Andreas mine. Display and information boards, along with objects from historic mining operations, provide insights into mining from the 17th to the 19th century. Once, more than 200 mines at Heidelsberg produced tin ore. Walking the trail is considered an impressive nature experience, combining historical themes with views of the landscape.

The town museum presents local history and the area’s historic mining industry in a reconstructed Huthaus dating from the 17th century. It is located in the middle of a former miners’ settlement. The museum is just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre, heading towards St. Nicolaikirche and the Eichert residential area. This makes it easy to combine a visit to the museum with exploring the area on foot, while the mining trail offers a separate route with its starting point and destination at named mining sites.

Aue’s history of raw materials extends beyond mining: kaolin from Aue, a particularly pure clay, formed the basis for J. F. Böttger’s first production of white porcelain in Europe. This connection offers another perspective on the town’s history and its links to porcelain production.

Art Nouveau and walks around town

Friedenskirche Aue-Zelle was designed and built according to plans by Dresden building councillors Schilling & Gräbner. It is considered an outstanding example of Art Nouveau in religious architecture. It was consecrated on Sunday Laetare, 22 March 1914. This precise date places its architectural history in a specific historical moment.

A walk through Aue takes in numerous bridges and the façades of old town houses in the Gründerzeit and Art Nouveau styles. Architecture enthusiasts can draw connections between the façades around town and the Art Nouveau style of Friedenskirche. Mining and kaolin, meanwhile, tell other sides of the town’s history: Aue offers several themes that you can make part of your stay according to your interests.

Miniature animals and nature activities

Aue’s Zoo der Minis specialises in miniature and dwarf animals and is considered the only zoo of its kind in the world. Tiergarten Aue is home to more than 400 miniature animals representing over 70 species, including rare miniature forms from the wild and the world’s smallest domestic animal breeds. These numbers may change. The zoo also has a playground.

The miniUNI at Zoo der Minis offers seminars, workshops and activities for meeting others under the motto “Following nature’s trail”. In these activities, you can observe small or larger animals, look for tracks and gather herbs under the guidance of trained specialists. Alongside viewing the animals, you can also choose guided nature observation and hands-on discoveries.

Ice sports and lane swimming

Icehouse Aue is located in the former workshop of the Wismut mining equipment company BBA. It offers an ice rink measuring around 22 × 56 metres for recreational skating and endurance sports.

The Aue district is also home to Schwimmhalle Aue, a sports pool where visitors can swim lengths. Ice sports and lane swimming appeal to different interests in physical activity. Together with the historic sites, town walks and nature activities, they offer a range of options for shaping your days around what interests you most.

Plan your trip and accommodation in Aue

You can travel to the Aue-Bad Schlema region by regional train via Zwickau or Chemnitz; bus services within the region connect to major attractions. By car, the region is accessible via the B93, B101 or B169.

If Aue is the main focus of your stay, you can tailor your accommodation search to your preferred mix of interests: mining and local history, architecture, wildlife or physical activity. Consider which experiences you want to include and whether you plan to travel to the region by train or car. This way, you can start choosing your accommodation with the travel plan that best suits your interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Krumhermersdorf, Olbernhau, Mildenau, Schwarzenberg/Erzgebirge, Großolbersdorf, Thalheim/Erzgebirge, Neukirchen/Erzgebirge, Wolkenstein.

Back to the regional travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.