Mylau

Stadtteil of Reichenbach im Vogtland in Saxony, Germany

Coat of arms

Location of Mylau

50°37′N 12°16′E / 50.617°N 12.267°E / 50.617; 12.267CountryGermanyStateSaxonyDistrictVogtlandkreis TownReichenbach im VogtlandArea

• Total4.73 km² (1.83 sq mi)Elevation

305 m (1,001 ft)Population

(2014-12-31)

• Total2,585 • Density550/km² (1,400/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)Postal codes

08499

Dialling codes03765Vehicle registrationVWebsitewww.mylau.de

Mylau is a town and a former municipality in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany with about 2600 citizens. Since 1 January 2016 it is part of the town Reichenbach im Vogtland. It is situated in the valleys of the river Göltzsch and the Raumbach, a stream flowing from Reichenbach im Vogtland that is locally known as the Soap Stream (German: Seifenbach) because of the textile painting factories that had been built by its banks. The town lies 6 km southeast of Greiz, and 20 km southwest of Zwickau. Mylau has the smallest area of any town ("Stadt") in what was formerly East Germany, although there are 10 towns in what was formerly West Germany that are even smaller in area.

History

In the 14th century, a settlement was built at the foot of Mylau Castle (1180). Emperor Charles IV granted town privileges in 1376. Until late in the 17th century, the town was reasonably insignificant; in 1650 it was composed of only 24 houses. It then grew rapidly because of a rise of manual weaving craftsmanship in the area, which facilitated the rapid development of the textile industry in the 19th century.

Population growth (as of 1960, the poll date is December 31):

1706: 900
1834: 2393
1871: 4449
1890: 6353
1910: 7957
1925: 7166
1933: 7375

1939: 6986
1946: 7562
1950: 7234
1960: 6668
1964: 6393
1971: 6087
1990: 3658

1998: 3364
1999: 3328
2000: 3316
2001: 3202
2002: 3119
2003: 3080
2004: 3013

2005: 2979
2007: 2889
2008: 2878
2009: 2858

Data before 1998: Digitales Historisches Ortsverzeichnis von Sachsen
Data since 1998: Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen

Sites of interest

Mylau Castle was built in 1180 at the place where the Raumbach flows into the Göltzsch river, and is still intact. One kilometer to the northwest of the town the world-famous Göltzsch Viaduct crosses the Göltzsch valley. Also worth visiting is the city church St. Wenzel established in 1890, which includes a Gottfried Silbermann organ built in 1730/1731).