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Zwickau is situated at an altitude of 302 m on the river Zwickauer Mulde in western Saxony. It was first mentioned in a document in 1128, and by 1212 had obtained the status of a town (oppidum). Mining for silver in nearby Schneeberg began at the end of the 15th century and initiated a period of wealth for Zwickau, which lasted until the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) and finally ended with the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). The industrialisation began in the mid 19th century with the mining of coal in the local area (which ended only in 1978). Automobile production in Zwickau began in 1909 (Horch, which later continued as Audi, Trabant from 1958 until 1991, today production for VW).

The most famous sons of Zwickau are the composer Robert SCHUMANN (1810–1856) and the Expressionist painter Max PECHSTEIN (1881–1955).

The Schwanenteich (Swan Lake) [left] was created as a fish pond in 1473.

The Schwanenschloss [background] was opened in 1836.