Chemnitz, formerly (1953–90) Karl-Marx-Stadt, city, Saxony Land (state), eastern Germany. The city lies along the Chemnitz River, at the north foot of the Ore Mountains, southwest of Dresden. It began as a trading place on a salt route to Prague, was chartered in 1143, and fell to the Wettin margraves of Meissen in 1308. It was granted a monopoly in textile bleaching in 1357, which thus promoted the development of the linen industry there and increased trade. In the 19th century a machine-construction industry began in Chemnitz, stimulated by the development of the coal and lignite fields of middle Saxony.