Educational trip to the Capital of Culture Region Chemnitz

EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt, together with the European Academy of North Rhine-Westphalia, is offering a citizens' trip to Chemnitz from 19 to 22 November 2025. A stay in Bärenstein, a town on the border with the Czech Republic, is also planned.

The title "European Capital of Culture" draws attention to people, places and activities that have not yet been at the centre of tourist attention. They want to show themselves and warmly welcome their guests.

This year, the Saxon industrial city of Chemnitz was chosen as the European Capital of Culture. The 38 towns and municipalities from Central Saxony, the Zwickau region and the Ore Mountains form the Capital of Culture region together with Chemnitz. The last time a German region was chosen was 15 years ago, when it included Essen and the Ruhr region.

Social change has always been a catalyst for innovation - Chemnitz is characterised by great tradition and many upheavals, most recently the end of the GDR and the renaming of Karl-Marx-Stadt back to Chemnitz. The city is close to the Czech border, and the visit to the border region provides exciting impressions.

Programme (provisional)

19.11.2025

• Arrival from Bocholt by coach at around 7.30 am
• After check-in at the hotel, Anton Götz, speaker at the European Academy, will give an introduction to the conference programme and the subject matter
• The evening ends with a dinner together

20.11.2025

• Visit to the Kaßberg prison learning and memorial site with guided tour and discussion with contemporary witnesses
• Lunch break together followed by a political and historical tour of the city and a city tour
• Time for free exploration of the city of Chemnitz

21.11.2025

• Excursion to the "secret capital of the Ore Mountains" Annaberg-Buchholz, close to the border, where the local EUROPE DIRECT centre will provide information on selected topics
• Short excursion to the Czech Republic
• Return to Chemnitz and discussion with a local stakeholder about the significance of the "Capital of Culture" title for the city and region
• Dinner together

22.11.2025

• Visit to the State Museum of Archaeology, which is housed in the famous former Schocken department stores'
• Return journey with expected arrival in Bocholt at 8 pm
  
  

Further information
The trip is recognised as an educational trip. The price is 345 euros for a double room and 420 euros for a single room if the tour group consists of at least 40 participants.

The tour price includes the following services: coach travel, three nights' hotel accommodation including breakfast, dinner on the first and third seminar days and lunch on the second seminar day, transfers to the excursion dates and the programme including all entrance fees. Drinks during lunch and dinner are not included.

Registration
EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt is accepting registrations until 12 June 2025 and is also available for queries by email at europe-direct(at)bocholt(dot)de.

About EUROPE DIRECTBocholt
EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt is part of the Mayor's Office of the City of Bocholt and is the local point of contact for questions relating to the European Union. Its task is to provide local citizens with information, advice, help and answers to questions about Europe. In addition, EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt aims to promote European involvement and provide information on current European political events.