One of the oldest buildings of Oelsnitz/Vogtl. is the Katharinenkirche. The Church is situated outside the city walls directly in front of the former “Egerer Tor“. This remote location was the reason why its constructions from1612 to 1617 survived all fires and war devastations.

The transmission from the chapel to a spital or hospital church has to do with its close neighbourhood to the old hospital, which as Siechenhaus was located outside the densely populated city centre. The description “Todtenkirchlein“ reminds of the grave yard, which was located next to it and way used from 1538 to 1891.

The protected location was not only an advantage: starting in year 1789 the Katharinenkirche was a catering camp and it was used for the military. In 1813 a military hospital for the injured of the Battle of Leipzig was established. In 1818 it was used as storage, for example for hay. Because of the damages it could not be rebuilt until the Russian Tsar Alexander gave 1000 thaler for the restoration in 1819. In 1820 the church was newly sanctified and after the announcement of  the former deacon  Arthur Däberitz (1875-1939) from Oelsnitz, it was first worshiped every three weeks, later every Sunday. The usage of the church increased in the time of the GDR. From the 1960s on St.Katharina was used for storage again. Finally, there were cosiderable restorations after 1990.

On 7th July 2007 a wish of the people of Oelsnitz born long ago came true: With a gala concert of the Cureure Saxon Philharmonic Orchestra Bad Elster the new community and event centre Katharinenkirche was inaugurated. In the following years the house was also used as a church for its original reason by the Evangelical-Lutheran chuch community and by the town Oelsnitz/Vogtland. The restoration and modernization cost nearly one million Euro. In the sanctuary and the nave the historical pattern was obtained, a first planned false ceiling was relinquished. The gallery preserved an arrangement with metal and glass, a flexible applicable seating arrangement has room for 196 visitors. As an annex you can find the function building with a multifunctional room, an artist cloakroom, facilities and a heater room. The old and the new building are connected by a glass breaker. For more than three years now the Katharinenkirche has been location for concerts, readings and exhibitions. In the year 2010 the acoustics were improved a lot by the town Oelsnitz/Vogtland.