The GDR government never fully rebuilt the centre of Chemnitz following its near total destruction in 1945, but that didn't stop them renaming the city Karl-Marx-Stadt. An enormous monument to Karl Marx, weighing 40 tonnes and standing over seven metres tall in the city centre, is virtually the only remnant of those days. Though the larger-than-life bust of the 'Das Kapital' author attracts many visitors, the city values it at only one euro – which might explain the scowling expression on his face. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, large-scale construction resumed in the heart of the city – including projects by renowned architects such as Helmut Jahn, Christoph Ingenhoven and Hans Kollhoff. A modernist approach and a process of continuous improvement and innovation has given the new centre its distinctive look. Chemnitz's main shopping street has a particular urban charm and blends the historical and the modern to great effect. The High Tower of the Old Town Hall offers the best views over the market square and the rooftops beyond. The tower watchman – dressed in his historical uniform – has served as protector and timekeeper for the city's people since 1488, and today takes visitors on a journey back in time through centuries of Chemnitz history. A captivating contrast to the functional office blocks and residential buildings is provided by the old city centre with its baroque Siegert'sches Haus, the ornamental market hall and the modernist town baths. Thrown into the mix are shopping arcades, restaurants and cafés, leisure attractions and cultural venues. Chemnitz is a destination of international class, and won the DIFA award for Europe's best urban quarter thanks to its blend of industrial heritage, entertainment and nightlife.

However, it's not just the many cathedrals of industry that point to Chemnitz's prosperous past. There are also grand residential properties from the late 19th century, art nouveau villas and an abundance of public and private buildings from the Bauhaus period. The Kassberg district is one of the largest and most beautiful Gründerzeit quarters in Europe. Visitors to Chemnitz can also look forward to a wide choice of culture, with theatres, museums, galleries and the civic hall plus a packed programme of festivals and events, not to mention the much-loved variety theatres of Sachsenmeyer Kabarett and Chemnitzer Kabarett. The distinctive Gunzenhauser Museum, with its fabulous collection of classical modernist works, is worth visiting for its architecture alone. Erected between 1928 and 1930, the building formerly housed the headquarters of the local savings bank, and remains one of the best examples of the New Objectivity style: plain and simple with clean lines. Another attraction notable for its architecture alone is the Tietz arts centre. Once a department store, it is now the city's leading destination for culture and education as the home of the Natural History Museum, the municipal library and the New Saxony Gallery. Just around the corner are numerous restaurants, cafés and clubs that offer a range of entertaining options day or night. Whatever you see or do in Chemnitz, you're guaranteed to have a good time. And along the way you're sure to pass the giant head of Karl Marx. Long may he watch over the city.