Hohenstein-Ernstthal

Hohenstein-Ernstthal (German pronunciation: [ˈhoːənˌʃtaɪ̯n ˈɛʁnstˌtaːl] ⓘ) is a town in the Zwickau rural district, Saxony, Germany. The towns of Hohenstein and Ernstthal were united in 1898,[3] and the town is either known by its hyphenated form, or simply called Hohenstein.

Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Town
Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Coat of arms of Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Coat of arms
Location of Hohenstein-Ernstthal within Zwickau district
Hohenstein-Ernstthal is located in Germany
Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Hohenstein-Ernstthal is located in Saxony
Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Coordinates: 50°48′N 12°43′E
CountryGermany
StateSaxony
DistrictZwickau
Government
 • Mayor (2019–26) Lars Kluge[1] (CDU)
Area
 • Total18.33 km2 (7.08 sq mi)
Elevation
355 m (1,165 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-31)[2]
 • Total14,142
 • Density770/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
09337
Dialling codes03723
Vehicle registrationZ, GC, HOT, WDA
Websitehohenstein-ernstthal.de

The town grew in the 15th century after silver mines were established nearby. Ernstthal was named in honor of August Ernst von Schoenburg.

Physicist Gotthilf Heinrich von Schubert and inventor Christoph Gottlieb Schröter were born in Hohenstein.[3] The writer Karl May was born in Ernstthal. The house of his birth is a museum.

Furthermore, Hohenstein-Ernstthal is especially famous for the Sachsenring racing circuit.

History

In the 15th century, the town of Hohenstein was established after silver was found and mined there. The name is said to be derived from the phrase ″uff dem hohen Stein″ (on the high rock), that the first settlers used when they saw the Pfaffenberg mountain. In 1680 some people from Hohenstein moved to the forest near the town to escape the dangers of the plague. That settlement was later named Ernstthal (Ernst valley) after August Ernst von Schönburg. Both town united in 1898, thus becoming Hohenstein-Ernstthal. During 19th and 20th century silver mining became less efficient, so the textile industry became more important. In 1999, Wüstenbrand became a part of Hohenstein-Ernstthal.[4]

Geography

Hohenstein-Ernsthal is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) west of Chemnitz. The Ore Mountains rise south of the city. The highest point of Hohenstein-Ernstthal is the Pfaffenberg north of the town with an elevation of 479 metres (1,572 ft).

Lord Mayor
  • 1994-2012 Erich Homilius
  • since 2012 Lars Kluge (CDU), he was elected in September 2012 with 91.9% of the votes, and re-elected in 2019.

Transport

Hohenstein-Ernstthal is adjacent to the Bundesautobahn 4. There are 2 railway stations, the Hohenstein-Ernstthal station and Wüstenbrand station, both on the Dresden–Werdau railway.

Notable people
Gotthilf Heinrich von Schubert
Karl May in 1907

References
  1. Wahlergebnisse 2019, Freistaat Sachsen, accessed 10 July 2021.
  2. "Bevölkerung des Freistaates Sachsen nach Gemeinden am 31. Dezember 2021" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen. 2022.
  3. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hohenstein" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 575.
  4. Gebietsänderungen vom 01.01. bis 31.12.1999, Statistisches Bundesamt
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