VOGTLAND DISTRICT
AMBITIOUS PLANS IN SAFE HANDS

The Vogtland district is in a lovely, convenient location in the southwest of Saxony, directly bordering Bavaria, Thuringia and the Czech Republic. The gentle heights of the Ore Mountains and Elster Mountains look down on long, green valleys and large stretches of forest. Crystal-clear reservoirs and nature conservation areas make the perfect setting for all kinds of leisure activities. In the winter, the Skiwelt Schöneck ski centre has marvellous pistes and cross-country ski runs; in the summer, it is popular with mountain bikers.

The Vogtland district’s abundant natural assets are coupled with a well-developed tourism infrastructure with various hiking and cycling routes, leisure facilities, fascinating museums and historic castles. The area is well known for Plauen lace, Markneukirchen instrument-making or the impressive Göltzsch Viaduct.

The Vogtland district boasts plenty of art and culture: the key towns of Plauen, Reichenbach, Auerbach and Oelsnitz have highly recommendable exhibitions, busy town festivals and stage productions. Music-lovers are in their element in the heartland of instrument-making, between the towns of Klingenthal and Markneukirchen. And in Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz, the birthplace of Sigmund Jähn – the first German in space – Germany’s only space travel exhibition features a walk-in ISS training module.

If you’d prefer a little rest and recuperation, you can visit one of the Saxon state swimming baths; as you float in the thermal baths in Bad Elster, everyday stresses fade away. More active recreation activities in the Vogtland include hiking, cycling, skiing, climbing, golf or sailing. You can enjoy the latter at the Pöhl reservoir, at the heart of “Vogtland Switzerland”. The town of Schöneck, a focal point for sports and recreation, bears the nickname “Balcony of the Vogtland” with pride. 

What is life like in the Vogtland district?

Housing remains affordable in the Vogtland, with a wide range of homes for sale and rent at moderate prices. This is accompanied by a high concentration of institutions providing early years education and childcare or all-day schooling. The well-developed medical care system in the Vogtland also helps families organise their everyday lives. The 14 hospitals and rehabilitation clinics attract early-career medics via the “Doctors for the Vogtland” programme.

Numerous associations help newcomers find their feet and settle in. However they like to spend their free time, everyone can find a hobby – and new friends – whether they join a local history association, traditional costume society, sports club, choir, amateur orchestra or even the volunteer fire brigade.

The entire Vogtland is connected to the industrial centres, towns and cities of southwest Saxony via a well-developed, modern infrastructure. Almost every single village in the rural district is part of the local public transport network, with road or rail links. 

The region is also well-connected to the Internet thanks to a fibre broadband network with full coverage that puts the Vogtland ahead of all Saxony’s other rural districts.

What is it like to learn and work in the Vogtland district?

The Vogtland district may not have a university with four traditional faculties, but locals still throw themselves into learning and research. One example is the Vogtland children’s university; a joint project by the district council and the university of cooperative education. The little students can learn about all kinds of topics, from nature conservation to new media.

For older students, the university of cooperative education at Plauen’s old courthouse offers a perfect combination of theory and practice. Its graduates are near certain to walk straight into a position with a company in the region. The newly developed course leading to a qualification as a “Physician Assistant” is the only one of its kind in eastern Germany, and the university’s flagship course.

The diverse mix of industries makes work and production in the region very attractive. In particular, the Vogtland district is home to a large number of trade businesses, including traditional companies such as Rohema (the world’s oldest manufacturer of conductors’ batons) or Catgut, one of the best-known producers of surgical suture.

The sectors employing the most workers in the Vogtland are mechanical engineering and steel construction, IT and electrical engineering. There are world-leading companies in the automotive and plastics industries, technical textile production and musical instrument making. Expertise in forestry and agriculture is also currently turning into a trademark of this green rural district. Meanwhile, topics related to sustainability, such as healthy eating or animal welfare, are affecting developments in the food industry. 

Demographic change and globalisation have of course had some effect on the Vogtland district. However, the business world has mounted a carefully considered, vigorous response. A skilled labour alliance has been introduced to create a more up-to-date corporate culture, with greater co-determination, more systematic human resource development and needs-based professional education for workers. The Vogtland district is thus well on track for the future.