Gliding swans grace Carolasee’s surface. Its tranquil waters reflect the sky. This picturesque lake in Dresden’s Großer Garten holds a fascinating history.
Carolasee wasn’t always a serene lake. It began as a gravel pit. In the early 1870s a new pit was needed. The old one near Pirnaische Straße had run dry. The area remained barren until a visionary Gartendirektor stepped in.
Friedrich Bouché took charge in 1874. He secured funding to revamp the Großer Garten. His plans for the former gravel pit included a lake. The Royal Finance Ministry approved his vision in 1881. Hundreds of men toiled for months. They dug and leveled the land. They created a smooth bottom for the future lake. The short winter of 1881-1882 aided the work. Footpaths were created. Trees were planted. Bridges spanned the developing lake.
The most expensive part was waterproofing. 2200 cubic meters of clay from Cotta were used. It formed an 18-centimeter-thick layer. A layer of gravel and then larger stones covered the clay. Since groundwater was very deep a 205-meter-long clay pipe was laid. This connected the lake to the Kaitzbach stream. Water was carefully rationed. It was also needed for the Palaisteich.
By June 1882 the lake was full. Existing trees were carefully preserved as islands. The lake covered 13200 square meters. It reached a depth of 1.7 meters.
The cost 17500 marks. This was mostly covered by M and P Gasse. They leased Carolasee for seven years. The Dresdner Anzeiger praised the lake’s beauty. Carp were added. Trout were planned. Boats soon appeared. A small buffet opened. A building for a winter ice rink was under construction. The lake was easily reached by horse-drawn tram.
Carolasee expanded in 1886. It gained its current shape. The old buffet building was replaced in 1895. The new Carolaschlösschen restaurant was built in the Neo-Renaissance style. A fountain was added the same year.
After World War II a smaller fountain existed. A floating pontoon was added in 1992. This allows for ice skating in winter. The current fountain has a 13-meter central jet. It also has seventeen 4-meter jets and ten 100-watt spotlights.
The Dresdner Parkeisenbahn added a station at the Carolaschlösschen. The level crossing gates are still manually operated. The Carolaschlösschen was rebuilt after being damaged in 1945. It reopened in 1999 after renovations. It was expanded in 2003/2004.
Flooding in 2002 and 2013 damaged Carolasee. Extensive cleanup took place in 2014. The lake was desilted. The fountain was repaired. The banks were reinforced. The work lasted longer than expected due to unexpected amounts of silt.
Today Carolasee offers boating in summer. It provides ice skating in winter. It continues to be a beloved place in Dresden. It’s a beautiful spot in the Großer Garten reflecting its rich history.