“Teufelsdorf” or “Srsa’s people?” That is the question of what the name Zschertnitz truly means. Zschertnitz. It is more than just a district in southern Dresden. Today, let’s delve into the story of Zschertnitz.
Zschertnitz was first mentioned in 1308 as Scherschiecz. This name has Slavic roots. Some say it means “Teufelsdorf” or “Teufelsort”. This translates to “Devil’s Village”. Others believe it means “people of Srsa.”
In 1418, the M\u00fcnzmeister family acquired the Zschertnitz estate. Two family members even became mayors of Dresden.
The Battle of Dresden in 1813 nearly destroyed Zschertnitz. General Jean-Victor Moreau suffered severe injuries here. He died a few days later. A monument near R\u00e4cknitzh\u00f6he commemorates this battle and Moreau’s death.
Until 1880, agriculture dominated Zschertnitz. Later, brickyards and clay pits emerged. One clay pit became a landfill after World War II. Today, a community garden thrives on this site. One brickyard building still exists. It now houses an upholstery factory.
From 1886 until World War II, Zschertnitz was home to Dresden’s famous Paradiesgarten. It translates to Paradise Garden. The motto was “Z bleibt Z”. The events were popular among Dresdeners. In 1945, air raids destroyed the Paradiesgarten. It then served as a warehouse. In 1977, it burned down completely.
In 1967, the Motel M\u00fcnzmeisterstra\u00dfe was built. It was the first of its kind in the GDR. Today, only a replica of the Saxon post milestone remains. It once stood at Dresden’s Wilsdruffer Tor.
Zschertnitz officially became part of Dresden on July 1, 1902. A monument marks this event since 2002. It is in the form of a Saxon quarter-mile stone. It stands at the exit of Paradiesstra\u00dfe.
Today, some buildings showcase the area’s rural and suburban past. A three-sided farm is among the protected monuments.
From 1971 to 1976, Zschertnitz transformed into a new residential area. Architects Kurt R\u00f6thig and J\u00f6rg B\u00f6sche led the urban planning. Sybille Kriesche was the complex architect. In 1973 and 1974, the historic village center was sacrificed for this project. It included old farmhouses and 20 apartments.
The new buildings included 3,048 apartments. They ranged from five to 17 stories high. A 17-story high-rise group stood on S\u00fcdh\u00f6he. Two high schools, four kindergartens, a department store, and a retirement home were also constructed.
Since 1990, the district has continued to develop. The remains of the Paradiesgarten became a shopping center and the motel was torn down. New residential buildings now occupy those spaces. The school buildings on Paradiesstra\u00dfe were renamed Vitzthum-Gymnasium Dresden in 1994. After these buildings were demolished in 2007, the new project was put into operation in August 2010.
Today, Zschertnitz presents a mix of old and new. Modern buildings stand alongside historical monuments. Despite its transformations, the spirit of Zschertnitz endures. From its intriguing name to its layered history, Zschertnitz offers a unique glimpse into Dresden’s past and present.