Secret Chemnitz.
Ein Wochenende in Karl-Marx-Stadt//
A Weekend in Karl-Marx-Stadt, GDR
Chemnitz, August 22-23, 2026
In English & German
Badge & tshirt per gli iscritti
SECRET WEEKEND KARL-MARX-STADT, DDR
/for English please scroll/
Karl-Marx-Stadt war eine der reichsten Städte der DDR. Warum eigentlich?
Ein Wochenendausflug der besonderen Art: Mit dem Fahrrad und zu Fuß entdecken wir die Geheimnisse von Chemnitz, der europäischen Kulturhauptstadt von 2025. Sie erleben eine ebenso aufrüttelnde wie nostalgische Reise zu weltberühmten Industriestandorten, monumentalen Architekturensembles und erhalten Einblicke in die verborgene Szene von Punk und Underground. Eine kritische Reflexion über das Leben im "realen Sozialismus".
Termin: 22./23. August 2026
Programm:
Samstag, 22.8., 17.00 Uhr
Abendliche Fahrradtour VeloNotte Karl-Marx-Stadt'84
Treffpunkt: Karl-Marx-Denkmal, Brückenstraße 10, 09111 Chemnitz
Sonntag, 23.8.,11:00 Uhr
Eine Perle der Ostmoderne – Spaziergang durch die Innenstadt mit ihrer Symbolik.
Treffpunkt: Vor der Oper, Theaterplatz 2, 09111 Chemnitz
Anschließend ab 13:00
Sozialistische Gastroreise
Spezialitäten aus den Ländern der ehemaligen Sowjetunion, mit Kommentaren von Dr.Sergey Nikitin-Rimsky
Ab 14:30: freie Zeit
Es begleiten Sie der StattReisen-Gründer Martin Düspohl, Sergey Nikitin-Rimsky, der Erfinder von VeloNotte International und eine Stadtführerin des ehemaligen DDR-Reisebüros in Karl-Marx-Stadt.
Kostenbeitrag (inkl. Mittagessen): 89 Euro
Für Inhaber*innen der StattReisen-Card ist die Teilnahme an den Touren kostenlos (zzgl. Mittagessen und Fahrradleihe, jeweils 20 Euro vor Ort)
Anreise und Übernachtung selbstorganisiert. Fahrrad oder Scooter mitbringen oder vor Ort ausleihen (zzgl. 20 Euro)
E-Mail us for questions here
Eine Veranstaltung des Stattreisen Berlin e.V. mit VeloNotte International.
EXPLORE A MODEL CITY OF THE GDR
FULL OF SECRETS /IN ENGLISH/
Karl-Marx-Stadt was one of the wealthiest cities in East Germany. But why?
Join us for an extraordinary weekend excursion. By bicycle and on foot, we will uncover the hidden stories of Chemnitz, the European Capital of Culture 2025. Experience a journey that is both thought-provoking and nostalgic, taking you to world-famous industrial sites, monumental architectural ensembles, and the city's underground punk scene. Along the way, we will reflect critically on everyday life under "existing socialism."
Date: August 22–23, 2026
Programme
Saturday, August 22, 5:00 p.m.
Evening Bicycle Tour Velonotte Karl-Marx-Stadt
Meeting point: Karl Marx Monument
Brückenstraße 10
09111 Chemnitz
Sunday, August 23, 11:00 a.m.
A Pearl of East German Modernism – A guided walk through the city centre, exploring its architecture and political symbolism.
Meeting point: In front of the Opera House
Theaterplatz 2
09111 Chemnitz
From 1:00 p.m.
A Socialist Culinary Journey
Enjoy specialties from the countries of the former Soviet Union, accompanied by commentary from Sergey Nikitin-Rimsky.
From 2:30 p.m. Free time.
Your guides for the weekend are Martin Düspohl, founder of StattReisen Berlin and Kreuzberg & Friedrichshain Museum, Dr.Sergey Nikitin-Rimsky, urban historian, creator of VeloNotte International, and a former guide from the GDR travel agency in Karl-Marx-Stadt.
Participation fee (including lunch): €89
Holders of the StattReisen Card may join the tours free of charge (excluding lunch and bicycle rental, €20 each, payable on site).
Travel and accommodation are not included and should be arranged individually.
Please bring your own bicycle or scooter, or rent one locally (€20).
E-Mail us for questions here
A co-production of Stattreisen Berlin e.V. and VeloNotte International.
Audience
Age appropriate for age 6 to eternity. For history and architecture enthusiasts, bike and nature lovers, people who love to explore the place they live in.
Velonotte is a non-commercial non-government association of scholars, architects and artists which mission is to inspire people with urban legacy. You can donate to encourage our work. If you like to know more about how to support us, please write to us .
Karl-Marx-Stadt weekend team
Martin Duespohl
Sergey Nikitin-Rimsky
cvbetto design
Good books to read before and after Velonotte
Barth, Ernst. Karl-Marx-Stadt /Werte unserer Heimat/ 1979.
Fiedler, Uwe. Aufgewachsen in Karl-Marx-Stadt in den 60er und 70er Jahren.
Wartberg, 2008.
Schmuhl, Yvonne. Als Chemnitz noch Karl-Marx-Stadt war: Ein Führer zu Bauwerken und Kunst der DDR. 2025.
Krasznahorkai, Kata; Sasse, Sylvia. Artists & Agents.Performancekunst und Geheimdienste. Leipzig November, 2019.
Müller, Jutta. Der schönste Sport der Welt: eine Eiskunstlauftrainerin erinnert sich. (ed. Manfred Hönel). Publisher: Das Neue Berlin, 2008.
What is VeloNotte?
We explore cities by night and by bike.
We have a generous selection of scholars and architects to guide us.
VeloNotte has a scenario – beginning, middle and the end, like a good piece by Shakespeare.
From ghosts to bricks we weave it all into a compelling story.
More than 100.000 people joined our events worldwide.
Velonotte speakers featured Richard Rogers, Peter Ackroyd (London), Peter Eisenman, Cinzia de Lotto, Stefano Aloe (Verona), Ken Jackson (Columbia), Jean-Louis Cohen (New York University), Franco Cardini (Normale di Pisa), Carlo Blasi, Pier-Ostilio Rossi e Vittorio Vidotto (La Sapienza, Roma), Anna Bronovitskaya, Natalia Dushkina (Markhi).
The project is created and curated by Prof. Sergey Nikitin, urban historian, activist and educator.
FAQ
-- How long will the bike ride be?
The Velonotte journey will take 3 1/2 hours.
-- Will we have to ride fast?
Never. It is a relaxed ride.
-- What do I have to take with me to listen to the guides?
We will have a streaming of speakers comments, so please bring a smartphone to follow Velonotte, a battery and headphones.
-- Can we rent a bike in Chemnitz.
Yes, you can rent with our partner directly with us.
If you have further questions, please contact us
Video: Velonotte Olimpica in London in 2012 was wrapped up by unforgettable concert by Trinity Laban string orchestra at 4 o'clock in the morning
Created by Velonotte International
About Us
Since 2007 we have established a series of international Grand-tours in the greatest cities all over the World. Created by Sergey Nikitin & Velonotte International. Read more.
Contacts
You can write email at:
velonotte#gmail.com (please replace # with @)
Meet us in Social networks: www.Facebook.com/Velonotte
www.twitter.com/velonotte
