Gazing at the Maria am Wasser, one might think they’ve been transported to southern Germany. Its Baroque exterior, so unlike the usual Dresden architecture, hints at the church’s rich and layered history. Maria am Wasser stands on the banks of the Elbe in Hosterwitz, once a separate village. A church has existed here since around 1200, shortly after the Christianization of the area. The present Maria am Wasser, however, dates back to 1495. Dionysius von Carlowitz financed the construction of this late Gothic hall church. Around 1500, it received its name, “Maria am Wasser” (Mary on the Water). It served the local fishermen and shippers and even became a pilgrimage site before the Reformation.
The Maria am Wasser we see today isn’t exactly the same as the one built in 1495. In 1704, the church underwent a significant Baroque transformation. It gained its distinctive onion-domed tower, possibly a new sacristy, and an extended altar area. This renovation wasn’t without its drama. In 1702, robbers stole funds set aside for the renovations, delaying the project and necessitating loans. The robbers, led by Lips Tullian, also damaged parts of the church before finally being apprehended and executed in 1715. Further changes came in 1774 when the altar moved to the newly added choir, and the pulpit joined it there.
Over the years, Maria am Wasser continued to evolve. The roof was replaced in 1790, and more restorations followed in 1822 and around 1900. These included painting the altar, adding new stained-glass windows, and, in 1930, installing a wooden baptismal font from 1786. Miraculously, Maria am Wasser escaped the devastating bombing of Dresden in 1945 mostly unscathed, though a firebomb did cause minor damage a few months later. More recently, the Elbe flooded in 2002, submerging the church under two meters of water for days. Thanks to donations and volunteers, Maria am Wasser was restored and re-consecrated the following year. Today, this beautiful church is a beloved wedding venue, a place for regular worship, and a concert hall. It shares its duties with the Pillnitz Weinbergkirche, serving the Protestant community of Hosterwitz and Pillnitz.