Is it possible for a place to be both a sanctuary and a symbol of resilience? That place is Kleinwachau Sächsisches Epilepsiezentrum Radeberg. This is a place with a rich and sometimes dark history. It stands today as a beacon of hope.
Kleinwachau is located in Liegau-Augustusbad. This is a district of Radeberg. It sits about 15 kilometers northeast of Dresden. Kleinwachau is more than just a clinic. It is a community dedicated to helping people with epilepsy.
In April 1887, the Inner Mission of Saxony decided to care for people with epilepsy. They purchased land with a small house. The previous owner called it “Kleinwachau.” On October 1, 1889, the facility was founded as an “Institution for Epileptics”. Two deaconesses began caring for twelve children. Karl von Brühl-Renard played a key role in its development. He was a co-founder and chairman.
Over the years, Kleinwachau expanded. By 1910, it had 110 beds in several buildings. These included the Mädchenhaus and the Berghaus. There was also the Waldhaus and the Talhaus. The Brunnenhaus was a representative building.
During the Nazi era, authorities seized Kleinwachau. It was used as a youth detention center. Many residents became victims of euthanasia. A memorial was dedicated on October 19, 1995. It honors the victims of Nazi racial policies.
Regular work resumed in 1949. The “Sonderschule Kleinwachau” opened on October 1, 1950. In 1971, Kleinwachau got its own parish. The Bodelschwinghhaus opened that year. Donations from West German churches made the building possible.
After reunification, Kleinwachau became a modern epilepsy center. It was renamed “Epilepsiezentrum Kleinwachau” on June 15, 1991. A support association was founded. The Wiesenhaus opened on September 15, 1991. The new workshop for disabled people was inaugurated on December 3, 1999.
Today, Kleinwachau has a neurology clinic. It has an intensive monitoring station. There are also workshops and a special school. The “Epilepsieberatungsstelle Dresden” opened on September 1, 2005. Since January 1, 2007, the center has been a non-profit GmbH. The intensive monitoring station began operating on October 6. “paso doble,” an inclusion company, was founded in 2010. In 2016, the “Baumhaus” day care center became part of Kleinwachau. The “Schatzinsel” day care center in Pulsnitz followed in 2024. The new clinic building was inaugurated on March 31, 2017. Kleinwachau opened Saxony’s first medical center for adults with disabilities on January 3, 2018.
Around 640 people live and work at Kleinwachau. The facility includes over 20 buildings. The clinic has 53 beds. About 1,000 patients are treated each year. The workshops provide 210 jobs for people with disabilities. The special school teaches 63 children. About 200 places are available in assisted living.
The Brunnenhaus, Talhaus and the Scheune are under historical protection. These buildings were constructed between 1890 and 1910. Kleinwachau stands as a testament. It is a testament to compassion and progress. It is a place where people find healing and support.