GLAUCHAU  , a

town of Germany, in the kingdom of Saxony, on the right bank of the Mulde, 7 M . N. of Zwickau and 17 W. of Chemnitz by rail . Pop . (1875) 21,743; (1905) 24,556 . It has important manufactures of woollen and half-woollen goods, in regard to which it occupies a high position in Germany . There are also dye-works, print-works, and manufactories of paper, linen, thread and machinery . Glauchau possesses a high grade school, elementary schools, a weaving school, an orphanage and an infirmary . Some portions of the extensive old castle date from the 12th century, and the Gottesacker church contains interesting antiquarian relics . Glauchau was founded by a colony of Sorbs and Wends, and belonged to the lords of Schonburg as early as the 12th century . See R . Hofmann, Riickblick fiber die Geschichte der Stadt Glauchau (1897) .