a walled town of the kingdom of Saxony, circle of Zwickau, is built on uneven ground in a beautiful valley on the W. bank of the White Elster, 61 miles S.W. of Leipzig. On an elevated spot stands the old castle which was anciently the residence of the stewards of the empire (Voigte des Reichs), Plauen having been the capital of the Voigtländer. Among the buildings of the town are several churches, hospitals, and schools. Plauen is one of the most important manufacturing towns in the kingdom, producing cotton goods, muslins, cambrics, lace, hosiery, leather, watches, philosophical instruments, and other articles. Pop. 13,812.