Have you heard about the “Teufelsdorf”? That is one way to describe Zschertnitz. Today we will explore this fascinating part of Dresden. Zschertnitz is a district in the south of Dresden. It is located in the Plauen district. Zschertnitz forms part of the statistical district Räcknitz/Zschertnitz.
Let’s delve into its history. The first recorded mention of Zschertnitz was in 1308. It was then known as Scherschiecz. There are varying opinions about the name’s meaning. Some believe it means “Teufelsdorf” or “Teufelsort”. In Czech, “čert” means devil and “vesnice” means village. Others suggest the name means “people of Srsa”. The name definitely has Slavic origins.
In 1418, the Münzmeister family acquired the Zschertnitz manor. Two family members even became mayors of Dresden.
The Battle of Dresden in 1813 almost destroyed Zschertnitz. General Jean-Victor Moreau was seriously injured in Zschertnitz during this battle. He died a few days later from his injuries. A monument near the Räcknitzhöhe commemorates the battle and Moreau’s death.
Until 1880, Zschertnitz was mainly agricultural land. Afterward, several brick factories and clay pits were established. One clay pit became a rubble dump after the Second World War. Today, a garden colony sits on this site. One of the brick factory buildings still exists. It now houses an upholstery factory.
From 1886 until the end of the Second World War, Zschertnitz was home to one of Dresden’s most famous dance halls. It was called the “Paradiesgarten”. Events took place under the motto “Z bleibt Z” which means “Z stays Z”. The people of Dresden loved it. In 1945, air raids destroyed the Paradiesgarten. It then served only as a warehouse. In 1977, it burned down completely.
In 1967, the Motel Münzmeisterstraße opened. It was the first of its kind in the GDR. Today, only a replica of the Saxon post milestone from the former Wilsdruffer Tor in Dresden remains there as art.
Zschertnitz became part of Dresden on July 1, 1902. A monument marks this event since 2002. It is a replica of the Saxon quarter-mile stone number 1. It stands on the Obergebirgische Poststrasse Dresden to Dippoldiswalde at the exit of Paradiesstrasse.
Several buildings from the original village and suburban development in Zschertnitz are now listed buildings. These include a three-sided farm.
Between 1971 and 1976, a new building area changed Zschertnitz significantly. Architects Kurt Röthig and Jörg Bösche led the urban planning. Sybille Kriesche was the complex architect. In 1973 and 1974, the Zschertnitz village center was sacrificed for this new area. It included historic farmhouses and 20 apartments.
The new buildings included 3048 apartments. They were of types IW 65, WBS 70, IW 66 P2 and WHH 17. The buildings had five, eight, eleven, and seventeen floors. A 17-story high-rise group of the WHH 17 type is located on the Südhhöhe. There were also two secondary schools, four kindergartens, a shopping center, and a retirement home built.
Since 1990, the district has been developed further. The remains of the Paradiesgarten became a shopping center. The motel on Münzmeisterstraße was demolished. Residential buildings now stand in their place. Since 1994, the school buildings on Paradiesstrasse have carried the name Vitzthum Gymnasium Dresden. These buildings were demolished in 2007. A new building project opened in August 2010.
Zschertnitz has seen many changes over the centuries. From a small village to a part of Dresden. It reflects the history of Dresden itself.