Busmannstraße

In 1904, a street in Mockritz received the name Albertstrasse, honoring King Albert. This street, now known as Busmannstrasse, initially connected Wilhelm-Busch-Strasse to Gostritzer Strasse. Busmannstrasse in Dresden is named after Lorenz Busmann, the mayor of Dresden from 1392 to 1406. Busmann, a prominent figure in 14th and 15th-century Dresden, held the mayoral office four times. His influence extended beyond politics. He made significant land purchases, acquiring Quohren, Tolkewitz, and Mockritz. Busmann’s wealth allowed him to establish several charitable foundations. He provided for the Kreuzkapelle with funds from Quohren and Tolkewitz, ensuring the nightly singing of the Salve Regina and O crux. He also established a “Seelenbad” on Schreibergasse, a facility meant for both physical and spiritual cleansing of the poor. Around 1400, Busmann and his wife founded the Busmannkapelle, a side chapel in the Franziskanerkloster church, later known as the Sophienkirche. The chapel housed busts of the couple. Although the chapel was destroyed in 1945, the busts survived. They were preserved in the Stadtmuseum Dresden and later moved to a new Busmannkapelle memorial. Busmannstrasse itself evolved over time. Originally a short road, it extended in the late 1990s. A new housing development on the site of a former garden center at the intersection of Boderitzer Strasse and Gostritzer Strasse became part of Busmannstrasse. The street now ends at Boderitzer Strasse, a testament to Dresden’s changing landscape. Busmann’s legacy lives on. Not only in Busmannstrasse, but also in the memory of his contributions to the city. His name is also associated with the “Busmann’s Brazil” café, which was located near the original Busmannkapelle site until 2009.