Remember when this was Bautzner Platz? The Albertplatz in Dresden has seen several name changes. It reflects the city’s turbulent history. Today it is a vital transport hub. It sits at the edge of Innere Neustadt.
The Albertplatz’s location was carefully chosen. Important roads extend from it over Elbe bridges. Nine roads converge here like spokes on a wheel. Antonstrasse and Bautzner Strasse touch it to the north. To the south, it connects to Jorge-Gomondai-Platz and Hauptstrasse.
Before becoming Albertplatz, this area was outside the city walls. In 1812, the Black Gate was torn down. It had stood on the square’s southern edge. The area was developed from 1817. In 1829, it became Bautzner Platz. In 1871, it was renamed Albertplatz. This honored King Albert of Saxony. After 1945, it was briefly called Platz der Roten Armee. Then it became Platz der Einheit. Finally, in 1991, it reverted to Albertplatz.
Several notable buildings surround Albertplatz. The Erich Kästner Museum celebrates the famous writer. The Villa Eschebach shows off neobaroque style. It was built in 1901 for a kitchenware maker. For decades, the Hochhaus am Albertplatz housed the Dresden transport authority. It was one of Germany’s first steel-concrete high-rises.
Locals meet at the DVB-Häusl. This small building houses a ticket stand. Until 2007, the Nudelturm restaurant stood here. Its neon sign featured a noodle logo.
The Artesian Fountain marks the square’s north end. Hans Erlwein designed its tempietto in 1906. Rolf Roeder created the drinking fountain. The actual well is down Antonstrasse. It is over 240 meters deep. Its water remains at 16 degrees Celsius year-round. The tempietto is a neoclassical gem. The modern drinking fountain features Oberlausitzer granite.
Two twin fountains stand in the square’s center. They are Stürmische Wogen and Stille Wasser. Robert Diez designed them. They were inaugurated in 1894. Stürmische Wogen depicts a storm with sea monsters. Stille Wasser shows a dreamy nymph with lilies. The bronze figures were displayed at the 1900 Paris World Exhibition. During the DDR era, the Soviet Memorial stood where Stürmische Wogen had been. The fountain was rebuilt by 1994 for the fountain’s centennial.
The Albertplatz and its surrounding avenues form a protected historical ensemble. This includes green spaces and individual monuments. The Stillen Wasser and Stürmische Wogen fountains are protected.
A large plane tree on the traffic island is a natural monument. Nearby, the Wurzelwerk installation was created in 2005.
A bronze figure honors Erich Kästner. It depicts him as a boy sitting on a wall. Another Kästner monument stands near Alaunstrasse. It shows him with a stack of his books. A large Schiller monument stands in a green space. Reliefs on its marble wall depict scenes from his works. A memorial stone commemorates Jorge Gomondai. He was the first victim of a xenophobic attack in Dresden after reunification. Since 2006, the area has been named Jorge-Gomondai-Platz.
Today, the Albertplatz is more than just a transport hub. It’s a place filled with history and art. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of stories beneath your feet.