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Welcome to Mylau Castle

The textile industry has shaped the Vogtland region not just since industrialization began 200 years ago. As early as the Middle Ages, trade made a decisive contribution to securing the livelihood of the local population. In the city of Mylau, the development of this branch of industry can be traced exemplarily for the entire Vogtland, from the craft guilds to early modern publishers and manufacturers to large industrial companies.

Sheep and flax served as traditional suppliers of raw fibers. From the second half of the 16th century, cotton was also used, which however had to be imported. The resulting complex trade structures and the expertise required to process cotton inevitably led to a pre-industrial division of labor. The decisive step towards industrialization was taken in Vogtland's textile production from the end of the 18th century by mechanizing the spinning mill. This was the only way to counter the competitive pressure of the new English machine yarns.

In addition, there is the general question of the use of castles as industrial locations, of which there are further examples in Saxony with the Albrechtsburg Meißen, today's cultural palace in Grossenhain, but also with the Osterstein castle in Zwickau. Here, relationships can be established in the Ruhr area, which also connect these two early industrial development centers under these aspects. The influence of changing traffic routes and means of transport in the immediate vicinity of Mylau Castle (Leipzig – Nuremberg railway line with the Göltzschtal bridge) must also be considered in this complex of issues.

Industrial culture 2020 in the Museum Burg Mylau

• Exhibition “Spindles, Looms and Visions. Textile industry in Vogtland ”with virtual insights into the museum collection and the permanent exhibition
• Exhibition “Artistic Work in Textile Tradition. Screen prints by Heidi, Thomas and Michael Petzoldt "
• Exhibition "Industry meets castle wall" Photographs of threatened or disappeared industrial architecture from the network industrie.kultur.ost
• Hiking trails to Mylau industrial culture