Isn’t it amazing how a place can transform? We are standing at the Unterer Bienertpark. It is also known as Dölzschener Bienertpark or Neuer Bienertpark. This park is at the entrance of the Plauenschen Grund in Dresden. It sits in the Löbtau and Dölzschen districts.
Back in 1448, this area was quite different. There were three small quarries on the Löbtau side of the Weißeritz. In 1740, the city council bought them and used them as Ratssteinbruch. The demand for building materials grew. The council bought the “unteren Forsthausbruch” which had been privately established. They expanded it significantly along the Weißeritz from 1892. The slopes reached the riverbed. Tharandter Straße was only created between 1918 and 1921 after extensive quarrying.
Gottlieb Traugott Bienert bought the quarry area in 1873. In 1874, he built the first gas plant. It was to better light the Bienertmühle at night. The plant was at Paschky-/Ecke Tharandter Straße, now a gas station. It also supplied gas for street lighting in Plauen. This started on October 19, 1874. After Plauen was incorporated into Dresden in 1903, the gas plant was sold to the city for 900,000 Reichsmark.
Theodor and Erwin Bienert were Gottlieb Traugott Bienert’s sons. They owned the Bienertmühle after his death. They wanted to compensate for the industrial areas in Plauen. They aimed to give Plauen’s citizens back some of the natural space lost during industrialization. This was one of the earliest ecological compensation measures. It was funded by Theodor Bienert. It was part of the Bienerts’ commitment to improve Plauen’s landscape.
In 1906, the Bienerts hired garden architect Max Bertram. He was planning the Oberer Bienertpark. They also wanted him to plan this 15,000 square meter area. Implementation only started in 1911 and was partial. Dölzschen benefited from an attractive entrance from the valley. However, it did not want to contribute further. Theodor Bienert financed the implementation with 40,000 Reichsmark.
Bertram designed an extensive network of paths for the quarry area. It included a bridge, artificial grotto, and an indicated pond. A “bastion” similar to the Oberer Bienertpark would have been on Dölzschen territory. This was not realized because of Dölzschen’s lack of interest.
After 1945, the Dölzschener Bienertpark was not well maintained. The open space typical of Bertram’s designs was used for tobogganing in winter. Over the years, its design became overgrown and less recognizable.
The “Café Hohendölzschen” once continued the park’s concept on the Dölzschen side. It was right on the border between Dölzschen and Dresden. In 1949, the HO of the GDR took over the “Café Hohendölzschen”. A few years later, the restaurant became a kindergarten. Around 1980, it moved out. The building was to be rebuilt. After it was vacated, it stood empty for years and fell into disrepair. In 1990, the former owners got it back. It was completely dilapidated. They were only interested in selling the property due to the renovation costs. The building and property were an eyesore for years.
In 1990, the Dölzschener Bienertpark was placed under monument protection. Renovation ideas failed. In the early 2000s, EFRE funds were used to purchase the property of the former “Café Hohendölzschen”. It was completely demolished due to its dilapidated condition. A large part of Bertram’s 1906 concept was implemented in a new form. An extension of the Dölzschener Bienertpark was created on Dölzschen territory. Only then was the name justified. All previous facilities were exclusively on Löbtau territory. Bertram’s “Aussichtsbastion” was also built in a modified form.
In 2010, the vegetation was cleared. Bertram’s concept was largely restored. This considered the upcoming 100th anniversary of its opening.
The entrance to the Plauenschen Grund valley needs further consideration. This also applies to the design of the former Ratssteinbruch along the Weißeritz. It was decommissioned in the 1980s. Part of the former Ratssteinbruch has been a protected natural monument since 1985. The Unterer Bienertpark stands as a testament to the vision of the Bienert family. They wanted to give back to the community.