After Lorenz Christof Aecker had founded the first porcelain factory
in 1838, Arzberg, characterized until then by mining, became
Germany’s second largest porcelain town. The plant was taken over
in 1884 by Carl Auvera and in 1918 by C. M. Hutschenreuther. In 1881
porcelain turner Heinrich Schumann started his porcelain production
in Arzberg and after his death this was continued by his family. The
company, until 1994 producing in an impressive plant near the train
station, especially made its mark with hand-cut fretwork.
The traditional brand ARZBERG dates back to a porcelain factory
directed by Christoph Schumann which after sale to Theodor Lehmann, frequent change of ownership (i. a. Schönwald AG, Kahla, Winterling) and relocation to Schirnding was closed in 2000. Not
least thanks to the cooperation with designers like Hermann Gretsch (Form 1382, 1931) and Heinrich Löffelhardt (Form 2000, 1954) the Franconian porcelain producer became a pioneer for functional porcelain for daily use. Since 2013 Rosenthal GmbH possesses the rights and goods in stock of the „good design for every day“.

Theodor Lehmann once founded his porcelain production at Jakobs
Castle in Arzberg. Today, after close down of this plant in 2000, a
factory sales of Arzberg GmbH is located there.

Outside Arzberg, in Bergnersreuth, the Museum for Traditional Rural
Equipment gives an insight into life, living and working in past times.
The property which before was used for agriculture offers a diverse
range of museum educational programmes, a museum garden with
animals and fun for the whole family. Besides interesting equipment
for agriculture, craftsmanship and transport, a nativity scenery called
Weiß’sche Krippe with figurines from the workshops of legendary
ARZBERG potter families is worth seeing. The museum also informs about the regional phenomenon of porcelain as a currency.

Porcelain production and iron ore mining have left traces which can be explored in the town. You can get an impression of the Schumann villa (former company and family site of the Schumann porcelain dynasty in the street leading to the train station), under monument protection, or visit the former home of Alexander von Humboldt who was active for some years as a chief mines inspector in Arzberg. A hiking trail is dedicated to this polymath leading along Arzberg’s historic and cultural sites (start: parking at town hall, nail factory, nature reserve area G’steinigt, nature park info point mine Kleiner Johannes, fortified church with powder tower). Arzberg also is an ideal starting point for excursions to Cheb (Eger) and the Czech spa triangle.