How about a journey through time right here in Coswig? This town has a story etched into its very stones. Coswig sits on the Elbe’s right bank. It is about nine kilometers southeast of Meißen. Dresden is thirteen kilometers to the northwest.
Coswig’s history stretches back centuries. Around 3000 BC, people settled here. They were from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. Numerous finds suggest a dense population in the Bronze and Iron Ages around 1500 BC.
The name Coswig comes from the Sorbian word for “blackbird area”. The first recorded mention of Coswig was in 1350. It appeared as “Koczwicz” in historical records. The noble Karras family played a key role in Coswig’s early days. They were first mentioned in connection with Coswig in 1421.
Winegrowing began in Coswig in 1451. Brewing beer started around 1500. The construction of the Old Church finished in 1497. Nikol von Karras donated 750 Rhenish guilder. Today, it is one of Saxony’s loveliest village churches.
Coswig connected to the Leipzig-Dresden railway in 1839. Coswig Station opened on September 16, 1838. Coswig grew significantly after the railway arrived. It became a town exactly 100 years later.
Neucoswig joined Coswig on March 1, 1920. The municipality of Kötitz united with Coswig on April 1, 1935. Brockwitz and Sörnewitz joined Coswig on July 1, 1950. This happened through an administrative reform.
Coswig has seen its share of hardship too. In 1637, Swedish troops set Coswig on fire. The plague killed over a tenth of the population. The Elbe flooded Coswig almost completely in 1845. This was the highest flood ever measured at that time. Large parts of Coswig were also affected by the catastrophic floods of 2002 and 2013.
Emil Nacke built the first motorcar in Saxony in 1900. He started production under the name COSWIGA. Kaiser Wilhelm II and King Friedrich August of Saxony met in Coswig in 1912. They met for a military manoeuvre. A Zeppelin crossed Coswig for the May Day celebrations in 1933.
Coswig maintains partnerships with Ravensburg since 1990 and Lovosice since 1998. Thomas Schubert is the current mayor of Coswig. He assumed office on January 1, 2020.
Coswig is home to the Fachkrankenhaus Coswig. This hospital specializes in thoracic surgery.
The town’s coat of arms features a golden grape. It also has green hop tendrils on a blue background. This symbolizes Coswig’s wine and brewing traditions. The Elbe River is also represented.
So, as you explore Coswig, remember its long and varied past. From its early Slavic roots to its industrial achievements and cultural landmarks. Coswig offers a glimpse into Saxony’s rich heritage.