Zwickau lies about 60 miles south of Leipzig, in the Eastern German state of Saxony,
from where it is easily reached by rail or road. Situated on the
river Mulde, Zwickau has been an important trading centre for nearly 1000 years. More
recently its industries have been coal mining (Zwickau-Chemnitz coal field), automobile
production (home of the famous East German Trabant car), machinery and cloth, though much
heavy industry has declined since German reunification.
Robert Schumann was born in Hauptmarkt 5 on 8th
June,1810, and lived there until 1828, when he moved to Leipzig.
The house was the home of his father's publishing and book-selling business - which
provided a perfect atmosphere to stimulate a life-long love of literature in the the young
Schumann, and which was to form such an important ingredient to his subsequent musical
career. Today the house is a museum commemorating his life and works, as well as being the
international centre for research into composer's life and music.
