“People of the upper mountain road,” they might have said about you back in 1900. Here on Obere Bergstraße in Cossebaude, Dresden, we find ourselves on one of three streets. These streets were laid out around 1900. They sit south of the railway line. All three branch east from Eichbergstraße.
Obere Bergstraße owes its name to its hillside location. It was named alongside Untere Bergstraße and Mittlere Bergstraße. The address book of 1900 already listed them this way. Imagine the families moving in. They were excited about their new homes on Obere Bergstraße.
Not all names last. Political changes in 1933 brought renaming. By 1934, Obere Bergstraße was known as Leo-Schlageter-Straße. The former Untere Bergstraße became Horst-Wessel-Straße. Only Mittlere Bergstraße kept its original name. It was briefly known as Bergstraße.
But history turns. In 1945, the political winds shifted again. Leo-Schlageter-Straße reverted to Obere Bergstraße. Horst-Wessel-Straße was renamed Breitscheidstraße. So, Obere Bergstraße regained its old identity.
Dresden itself boasts a long history. Its name comes from the Old Sorbian word “Drežďany.” This means “people of the forest”. The city emerged as a European center under Kings Augustus II the Strong. He drew artists and thinkers from across Europe.
Dresden became a cultural and political hub after German reunification in 1990. Its economy thrives. High-tech industries dominate. Dresden is sometimes called “Silicon Saxony.”
During the Napoleonic Wars, Dresden was a center of German revolutions. Many Poles sought refuge here after uprisings. The city has seen much turmoil. About 45 percent of Dresden’s stonework is original. It bears the marks of the firestorm of 1945.
Most of Dresden’s sights are a walk from the Altstadt. These include the Zwinger Palace and the Frauenkirche. The Elbe Valley was once a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dresden suffered greatly in World War II. Allied bombing raids devastated the city. Yet, its art treasures survived. They had been hidden away. The Frauenkirche has been restored. A golden cross was donated by Edinburgh.
Today, Obere Bergstraße stands as a testament to time. It reflects Dresden’s resilience. It reminds us of the city’s past. It shows the changes. Obere Bergstraße is more than just a street. It’s a slice of Dresden’s story.