The 2025 Capital of Culture year has brought an immense boost in visitor numbers to the architectural jewel Villa Esche in Chemnitz. Last year, there were 435 guided tours - more than three times as many as in the previous year (124), according to the city's event management company C3. Demand was so high that tours were sold out long in advance and additional dates were offered. Chemnitz was European Capital of Culture last year - together with Nova Gorica in Slovenia.
The villa is considered an architectural monument of European importance. It was built by the Belgian designer Henry van de Velde in 1902/1903 on a hill in the south of the city for the textile manufacturer Herbert Esche and his wife Johanna. It was van de Velde's first architectural commission in Germany. The Belgian - an important representative of Art Nouveau and pioneer of the Bauhaus - not only designed the villa. He also designed the interior: Furniture, lights and wall coverings through to the dining service.
According to the figures, visitor numbers reached record levels in 2025. In total, more than 7,200 guests visited the villa on guided tours, and more than 21,600 visited the museum without a guided tour. The visitors came from 16 countries, mainly Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria and Belgium. The momentum will continue this year: A number of tour operators are planning excursions to the Art Nouveau villa, it said.
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