Once called Rushenwalde, Rauschwalde has a unique story to tell. Today, we explore this part of Görlitz. It is a district that blends historical roots with modern living.
Rauschwalde became part of Görlitz in 1925. Before that, it was its own village. Around 1310, Rauschwalde was first documented. It was known as Rushenwalde back then. The village centered around a post mill built around 1780. Sadly, this mill was torn down between 1904 and 1907.
However, a replica reminds us of its past. You can easily spot this replica from Karl-Eichler-Straße, especially during Christmas time. At the start of the 20th century, Rauschwalde had about 800 residents. By 1914, the population nearly doubled. This growth was due to the opening of the Schlauroth freight and marshalling yard.
In 1915, Rauschwalde established its own Protestant parish. Before this, it belonged to the Kunnerwitz parish. Before Kunnerwitz, it was part of the Jauernick parish. By 1921, Rauschwalde connected to Görlitz’s tram network. This improved local transport significantly.
When Rauschwalde joined Görlitz in 1925, it had 3,063 residents. Görlitz invested in Rauschwalde. They expanded local schools. The city also built a central sewage system. Roads were improved to offer urban comforts.
After becoming part of Görlitz, redevelopment became a priority. The plan focused on both sides of Reichenbacher Straße and Reichertstraße. World War II stopped this project. Only the Landskronsiedlung was completed. It sits on the border with Biesnitz.
The St. Carolus Hospital opened in 1927. In 1938, the Protestant community built its own church. Christuskirche opened on June 17, 1938.
During World War II, a forced labor camp existed in Rauschwalde. From 1942/43, it was between Johanna-Dreyer-Straße and Heinrich-Heine-Straße. After the war, it housed refugees. These refugees came from areas east of the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers.
In 1968, Rauschwalde gained its first Roman Catholic church. A new building replaced it in 1997. Tram services stopped in 1986. Buses replaced them due to the tram network’s disrepair. Repair costs were too high.
In 1999, the Stadtgrabensiedlung became part of Görlitz. This area was north of the former marshalling yard. The 479-hectare area joined Rauschwalde. In late 2007, the new Rauschwalde sports hall opened. It replaced the Ulberhalle, which was torn down in 2006. Handball player Lars Kaufmann attended the opening.
Today, Rauschwalde offers a mix of old and new. You will find Gründerzeit buildings next to IW64-type apartment blocks from the DDR era. Single-family homes also dot the landscape. Between 1975 and 1977, five-story apartment blocks were built west of Karl-Eichler-Straße. These blocks around Kopernikusstraße offered roughly 1,500 apartments. It was Görlitz’s second-largest new housing development.
As we conclude our tour, remember that Rauschwalde showcases Görlitz’s blend of history and progress. It is a reminder that even the smallest villages can evolve and contribute to a city’s larger story.