“Steinbach” or “stony brook.” That is what Kemnitz means. The name comes from the Sorbian word “kamenica.” Kemnitz is a district of Dresden. It lies west of Dresden. Kemnitz sits at the mouth of the Zschonerbach. It is between the Briesnitz and Stetzsch districts.
Kemnitz was first mentioned in 1254. It was a Platzdorf or village. In 1324, the village had six farmsteads. It also included a garden and a mill. That year, Heinrich and Albrecht von Guben became the owners. They were canons of Meissen Cathedral.
The Elbe bridge of the A4 highway shapes Kemnitz. It sits on the west bank of the Elbe. The highway’s construction in 1935 changed Kemnitz. The old village center had to be torn down. A large part of the old farms and the village inn disappeared. This made room for the Dresden-Altstadt junction. The mill mentioned in 1324 was likely located here. It was not the same as the Weltemühle in the Zschonergrund.
Around 1900, Kemnitz saw a population increase. New settlements arose in the upper part of the Elbe slope. They also appeared in the west of Kemnitz. In 1890, the village had 306 residents. By 1910, the population had grown to 1,372. Kemnitz became part of Dresden on April 1, 1921. Briesnitz, Stetzsch, and Leutewitz also joined Dresden at this time.
Today, Kemnitz is known for its Zschonergrund. The Weltemühle is another point of interest. The Flensburger Straße offers a scenic view. You can see Kemnitz well from the right bank of the Elbe.
The Zschonergrund is a local recreation area. It has the Weltemühle and an open-air bath. Merlin’s Wunderland is also located here. It is a theater and adventure restaurant.
Clemens Otto Dürrichen lived in Kemnitz. He was born in Zscheila in 1861. Dürrichen died in Cotta in 1907. He was a product dealer, Freigut owner, and private citizen.
Kemnitz has a railway station. It is called Dresden-Kemnitz station. It is on Meiβner Landstraβe. The station is 108 meters above sea level.