Considered the oldest of its kind, the Hegereiterbrücke stands as a testament to Dresden’s enduring architectural heritage. This sandstone arch bridge has silently witnessed centuries unfold. Let’s step back in time and uncover its secrets.
The Hegereiterbrücke, also known as Forsthausbrücke, gracefully spans the Weisseritz River. Its story began long before its construction. In the 14th century, a simple river crossing likely existed here. It probably began as just a ford. By 1560, a footpath through the Plauensche Grund was first mentioned. A wooden bridge likely stood here then, the first Weisseritz bridge in Plauensche Grund. It opened up the narrow valley and served as access to Villa Grassi and Buschmühle.
The bridge’s name has an interesting origin. It comes from the “Hege-Reiter.” He was a mounted forester. He lived in the forester’s lodge built right next to the bridge in 1722. Initially, it was called “Brücke am Hegereiter”. That means Bridge at the Hegereiter.
In 1745, the Saxon court approved a request from residents. They wanted to build a road through the Plauensche Grund to Potschappel. Six hundred Freiberg miners then created a roadway. It better connected the mills along the Weisseritz. Soon, it became a postal road. Increased traffic made replacing the old wooden bridge necessary.
From 1779 to 1782, the sandstone bridge we see today was built. It featured separate walkways on the outer sides. This makes the Hegereiterbrücke Dresden’s oldest preserved stone arch bridge. It is 70 years older than the Marienbrücke. It is also 128 years older than the Augustusbrücke. That one was rebuilt until 1910. The construction costs amounted to 18,616 talers.
The Hegereiterbrücke is a sandstone arch bridge. It has three arches. It stretches 40 meters long and just over four meters wide. Two massive piers support it. The bridge is a protected monument. The Hegereiterbrücke is located in Plauensche Grund. This is a narrow part of the Weisseritz valley. It lies between Freital and the southwestern Dresden district of Plauen. It stands between Felsenkeller and Bienertmühle. It is below the Hohe Stein. A railway bridge crosses the Weisseritz a few meters above. The historic Weisseritz weir of the Bienertmühle lies directly below. The southern end belongs to Dölzschen. The northern end lies in the Plauen district.
From 1807 to 1809, the route known as Dresdner Straße was further expanded. The goal was to improve infrastructure for the growing coal mining industry. It was in the Döhlen basin. For the same reason, the Albertsbahn AG built the railway line near the bridge. That happened from 1853 to 1855. An abundant fossil site from the Upper Cretaceous period lay near the bridge. Unfortunately, the railway construction buried it.
Together with the Weisseritz weir, which has existed since 1594, the Hegereiterbrücke formed an ensemble. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was a popular subject for landscape painters.
In 1902, streetcar tracks were laid across the bridge. These belonged to the Dresden Überland-Verkehr line. It ran through the Plauensche Grund from Löbtau to Hainsberg. The northern ramp was significantly flattened for this purpose. Due to frequent flood damage, construction work was repeatedly necessary on the bridge and its approaches. As a result, the road surface in the bridge area became higher. The low side walls barely protruded above the roadway.
In 1921, the old country road, now called Tharandter Straße, was moved. The streetcar line went with it. The road was rerouted to the left side of the valley. It no longer crossed the Hegereiterbrücke. Its importance declined rapidly. From then on, it mainly served as access to the Hegereiterhaus. After it was demolished in 1965, the bridge deteriorated. It eventually became unusable. The flood in 2002 caused further damage. This made its repair even more urgent. In 2006, the Hegereiterbrücke was restored. On March 25, 2007, it was reopened as part of the Bienert hiking trail.
Today, the Hegereiterbrücke invites us to reflect on its past. Its stones hold stories of miners, foresters, artists, and engineers. Take a moment to appreciate this resilient bridge. It connects not just two banks of a river. It connects us to the past.