Founded in 1854 by the industrialist and politician Karl Heine, the Plagwitz perimeter, until then a village on the other side of the Elster River, surrounded by fields, quickly became one of Germany's largest industrial districts. Based on the idea of this entrepreneur who was more of a logistician and real estate entrepreneur than an industrialist in the strict sense of the term, the area very quickly combined production sites in various fields (agri-food, textiles, metallurgy, mechanics) with a very good transport infrastructure and housing for workers and bourgeois owners. Fearlessly versatile, the district experienced considerable growth between the second half of the 19th century and the Second World War. It is one of the best preserved districts of this type in Europe. Plagwitz is challenging, exciting to explore. We like to stroll along its shores, in various boats along its canals, in its old factories, and in its period streets. Initially neglected, some sites have regained a new lease of life since the year 2000. Many factories have been transformed into offices, exhibition spaces, modern housing or often unusual commercial spaces. Among the most emblematic places of the industrial Plagwitz are:

Westwerk (Karl-Heine-Strasse 93) was originally (1882) a metal foundry. It has become an art exhibition room.

The Sächsische Wollgarnfabrik (on both sides of Elster, Nonnenstrasse and Holbeinstrasse) was built in 1897. This former wool mill has been rehabilitated into lofts.

The Mey & Edlich paper collar factory (Nonnenstrasse 5) was built in 1907. It now houses residential buildings

The Stelzenhaus (Weissenfelser Strasse 65) is a former sheet metal factory founded in 1937. It now houses offices, workshops and a restaurant.