Schillergarten

1730. A bustling tavern serving summer beer. This, my friends, is the humble origin of the Schillergarten. We stand on ground steeped in history. Part of what was once a simple ferry house and tavern is now Dresden’s largest beer garden. The Schillergarten has witnessed centuries of change, laughter, and flowing beer. Imagine Dresden in the 18th century. August the Strong, ruler of Saxony, gifts a hunting lodge to his stoker, Mathie. This lodge, mentioned as an electoral tavern as early as 1683, became the foundation of the Mathie/Matthai family’s legacy. They expanded the tavern and added an ice cellar around 1730. The Schillergarten we know today rests partly on this historic ground. But where did the name come from? A young playwright, Friedrich Schiller, found solace and inspiration within these very walls between 1785 and 1787. He frequented the tavern during his stay at the nearby Körner Vineyard. Here, he met Justine Segedin, the innkeeper’s daughter, affectionately known as Gustel von Blasewitz. Schiller immortalized her in his play “Wallenstein.” He even put her famous words in it: “What? The lightning! That’s Gustel from Blasewitz.” A century later, in 1859, Ernst Litfaß, the inventor of the advertising column, donated a Schiller monument to the garden. This marked the official christening of the Schillergarten. The late 19th century saw the Schillergarten flourish. The construction of the Blue Wonder bridge and the relocation of the noisy shipyard to Laubegast further boosted its popularity. The Schillergarten evolved with the times. In 1920, an old ice cellar was converted into a cinema. Later, it became a warehouse for Progress-Filmverleih. Even a Schiller linden tree, sadly no longer present, once graced the garden. A new one has been planted in its memory nearby. The Schillergarten endured through turbulent times. It became a popular dance hall after World War II, run by Sonja and Klaus Bongers, before falling under state management and eventually into disrepair. After German reunification, the Schillergarten was privatized. It faced new challenges, including the devastating floods of 2002 and 2013. Each time, it was rebuilt and revitalized. Today, the Schillergarten stands as a testament to resilience and a vibrant hub of Dresden life. Savor the atmosphere. Imagine the echoes of centuries past, the clinking of glasses, and the murmur of conversations. The Schillergarten invites you to become a part of its ongoing story.