August Horch Museum

Experience the glittering history of the automobile up close!

When A. Horch & Cie. Motorwagenwerke established its operations in Zwickau in 1904, it laid the foundation for an industry that, over more than a century of development, earned the city its reputation as the “Automobile City” of Western Saxony. 

The August Horch Museum, located in the building complex of the former Audi factory, brings history and stories to life across approximately 6,500 square meters. It impressively preserves a rich history marked by deep-rooted traditions and a well-established automotive identity. Eighty large-scale exhibits and numerous small automotive artifacts offer visitors unique insights. 

For example, a 1920s gas station and a 1930s exhibition stand provide the setting for the prestigious Horch cars, the renowned Audi vehicles, and the Wanderer models, which are linked to Zwickau’s history through the Auto Union alliance. The racing successes of the Silver Arrows, which carried the name of Zwickau around the world, are honored. In a street scene, DKW compact cars are on display, which played a significant role in the widespread motorization of Germany.

The production processes of the early decades are illustrated by a transmission workshop and an engine test bench. Bodywork construction and the design aesthetics of the era are impressively showcased. The elegant image of Zwickau cars comes to life in a pre-war hotel scene. In the circular cinema, history is brought to life on film.
A glimpse into the study of automotive pioneer August Horch and the villa where he lived evokes a sense of a grand past.

The post-1945 era was initially dominated by commercial vehicles and pre-war models. The late 1950s ushered in the Trabant era, which comes to life once again in a typical garage. Prototypes and models of cars that never made it into production in the GDR bear witness to the region’s constant innovative spirit.

VW models document contemporary local automotive manufacturing.