ZWICKAU, a town of Saxony, capital of the circle of the same name, on the left bank of the Mulde, here crossed by three bridges, 60 miles S.W. of Dresden. It is a picturesque situated town, and contains many fine buildings. Among these are the beautiful church of St Mary, begun in 1464, and very judiciously restored in 1839, with some fine paintings; that of St Catharine, in which Münzer the anabaptist leader was at one time a preacher, three other churches, the fine old town-hall and exchange, and the handsome new government buildings. The town has also a gymnasium, an hospital, and a large old castle, now used as a house of correction. Weaving, dyeing, bleaching, tanning, iron-founding, machine-making, and other manufactures, are carried on here, and in the vicinity there are important coal-mines. Zwickau has markets for corn and wool, and an extensive trade. It is one of the most ancient commercial towns of Saxony. Pop. (1853) 14,293.