Aue

Aue's history is closely connected with mining and metalworking in the Ore Mountains. Its deposits included the kaolin used in the early development of Meissen porcelain. Discovered in the late seventeenth century, this white clay reached Johann Friedrich Böttger in Dresden in 1708 and continued to supply Meissen for many decades. Cobalt-blue production and the manufacture of metal goods formed other important strands of local industry.

The town's mining heritage can be explored through its museum and a trail that includes the Vestenburger Stollen and the Weiße Erdenzeche. Cultural activity also takes place in the Kulturhaus and the Art Aue gallery. These institutions connect the preservation of older crafts and industrial history with contemporary exhibitions and events, giving a broader view of a community often identified chiefly with its mines and factories.