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KARL-MARX-STADT'84
The sunset promenade into the secrets and miracles of the GDR's model city
with a special soundtrack. 


Chemnitz, Saturday June 7, 17:30 
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Badge & tshirt per gli iscritti

VELONOTTE KARL-MARX-STADT'84

Back to the GDR’s model city, historical immersive promenade — by night, by bike with music

Welcome to the first ever bicycle-powered time machine!

Velonotte International invites you to cycle from 2025 to 1984. Just one night to feel the rhythms, explore stunning architecture and top-secret stories of the city of Chemnitz in the times of Karl-Marx-Stadt.

 

Fasten your brain, hold tight, and keep mum  – as  you will be guided by an official person from the Reisebüro der DDR. This epic 14km long journey will wrap up in the garages, favorite pastime place for men those days.

 

You will need a bike and a smartphone to participate in this evening bike tour. You are encouraged to dress like it's 1984.

 

Created by historian Sergey Nikitin-Rimsky and curator Martin Düspohl.

 

Velonotte is an international series of nighttime cycling promenades that combine historical and cultural storytelling, music, and performances. It has swept through Rome, London, Verona, Berlin, New York and other cities.

 

Supported by 3000 Garagen Festival/European Culture Capital, Architectuul and Museum für Sächsische Fahrzeuge

 

Saturday June 7, 2025

In English, with German translation

VeloNotte Botanica

PLEASE BRING WITH YOU:

 • Padlock to park the bicycle in safety during site visits

 • Bell on your bicycle

 • Front and rear lights on your bicycle

 • Fully-charge smartphone with headphones to be able to listen to the audio streaming from your cell phone 

VELONOTTE KARL-MARX-STADT'84

Ein Zeitreise mit Fahrrad und Musik in die Modellstadt der DDR

 

Willkommen in der ersten fahrradbetriebenen Zeitmaschine der Welt:

am 7. Juni 2025 (Pfingstsamstag) in der Kulturhauptstadt Europas: Chemnitz/Sachsen!

 

Velonotte International lässt Sie die Welt von 1984 nachzuerleben. Einen Abend lang tauchen Sie ein in den Rhythmus der 1980er, erleben atemberaubende Architektur und hören streng geheime Geschichten.

 

Halten Sie den Mund weit offen und die Hände am Lenker fest: Sie werden von einem offiziellen Stadtbilderklärer des Reisebüros der DDR geführt! Die 14 Kilometer lange Reise führt zu Perlen der DDR-Architektur und endet in der einzigartigen Chemnitzer Garagenlandschaft beim Eröffnungsfest des Festivals #3000-Garagen.

 

Sie benötigen ein Fahrrad und ein Smartphone, um an dieser vierstündigen abendlichen Fahrradtour mit 10 Stops teilzunehmen. Es wird empfohlen, sich wie im Jahr 1984 zu kleiden.

 

Velonotte ist eine internationale Reihe von Radtouren mit großem Publikum, bei denen spannende Orte, historische Erzählungen, Musik und Performances ein Gesamtkunstwerk bilden. Geleitet und begleitet wird Velonotte von ihrem Gründer Sergey Nikitin-Rimsky und kurator Martin Düspohl.

Weil Velonotte Karl-Marx-Stadt'84 Teilnehmende aus allen Staaten Europas erwartet, wird die Hauptsprache englisch sein.

 

Unterstützt vom #3000Garagen Festival, Architectuul und dem Museum für Sächsische Fahrzeuge Chemnitz

 

Samstag, 7. Juni, 2025 / 16.00 Uhr

In Englischer Sprache, mit Übersetzung ins Deutsche

BITTE MITBRINGEN:

• Vorhängeschloss zum sicheren Abstellen des Fahrrads während der Besichtigung

• Klingel an Ihrem Fahrrad

• Vorder- und Rücklicht an Ihrem Fahrrad

• Vollständig aufgeladenes Smartphone mit Kopfhörern, um das Audio-Streaming von Ihrem Handy hören zu können

 

Audience

 

Age appropriate for age 6 to eternity. 

For history and architecture enthusiasts, bike and nature lovers, people who love to explore the place they live in.

 

Velonotte is a non-commercial non-government association of scholars, architects and artists which mission is to inspire people with urban legacy. You can donate to encourage our work. If you like to know more about how to support us, please write to us .

​​


 

 

Thanks to experts and advisors of Velonotte KMS'84
Dirk Schmerschneider 
Thomas Flierl
Valentin Diakonov
Gradolievna
​​​
Velonotte Karl-Marx-Stadt Team
Martin Duespohl
Sergey Nikitin-Rimsky
Manuela Merlo
Sergey Kamensky
cvbetto design
​​
712tsPxinCL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg
What is VeloNotte?

 

We explore cities by night and by bike.

We have a generous selection of scholars and architects to guide us.

VeloNotte has a scenario – beginning, middle and the end, like a good piece by Shakespeare.

From ghosts to bricks we weave it all into a compelling story.

More than 100.000 people joined our events worldwide.

Velonotte speakers featured Richard Rogers, Peter Ackroyd (London), Peter Eisenman, Cinzia de Lotto, Stefano Aloe (Verona), Ken Jackson (Columbia), Jean-Louis Cohen (New York University), Franco Cardini (Normale di Pisa), Carlo Blasi, Pier-Ostilio Rossi e Vittorio Vidotto (La Sapienza, Roma), Anna Bronovitskaya, Natalia Dushkina (Markhi).

The project is created and curated by Prof. Sergey Nikitin, urban historian, activist and educator.

Good books to read before and after Velonotte
 
Schmuhl, Yvonne. Als Chemnitz noch Karl-Marx-Stadt war: Ein Führer zu Bauwerken und Kunst der DDR. 2025. 

Barth, Ernst. Karl-Marx-Stadt /Werte unserer Heimat/ 1979

FAQ

​​ 

-- How long it will be?

The Velonotte journey will take 3 hours. No steep hills. 

 

-- Will we have to ride fast?

Never. It is a non-competitive ride.

 

-- What do I have to take with me to listen to the guides?

We will have a streaming of speakers comments, so please bring a smartphone  to follow Velonotte, a battery and headphones. 

​​

-- Can we rent a bike in Chemnitz.

Yes, you can rent with our partner directly with us.

 

If you have further questions, please contact us

 
Video: Velonotte Olimpica in London in 2012 was wrapped up by unforgettable concert by Trinity Laban string orchestra at 4 o'clock in the morning

Created by Velonotte International

velonotte-logo_edited.png
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About Us

Since 2007 we have established a series of international Grand-tours in the greatest cities all over the World. Created by Sergey Nikitin & Velonotte International. Read more.

Contacts

You can write email at:

velonotte#gmail.com (please replace # with @)


Meet us in Social networks: ​www.Facebook.com/Velonotte
www.twitter.com/velonotte

www.vk.com/velonotte


www.instagram.com/velonotte

Velonotte, Velonoch, Velonight, Velonuit, Velonaecht, History is cycling are registered trademarks of Sergey Nikitin & Moskultprog, 2007-2017. The concept of the Velonotte as an event and our visual identity have been protected under Common Law since 2007.

RIDE WiTH THE STARS, VELONOTTE!

 

Velonotte, Velonoch, Velonight are registered trademarks © 2007-2013 by Sergey Nikitin and VELONOTTE INTERNATIONAL. All rights reserved

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