Marie-Curie-Gymnasium

Hidden beneath a veil of rubble, the Marie-Curie-Gymnasium in Dresden holds a captivating story. The school stands proudly near Pirnaischer Platz. It’s nestled between the Grunaer Straße high-rise and the GlaxoSmithKline building. The Marie-Curie-Gymnasium wasn’t always a gymnasium. Its story begins in 1955. It started as the 2nd elementary school on Friesenstraße near the Dresden Landhaus. Just four years later, the foundation was laid for the current building on Zirkusstraße. In 1960, it opened its doors as the 2nd Polytechnical High School. Interestingly, the school was built on a three-meter thick layer of rubble left from World War II. By 1965, the school had grown to 1350 students in ten grades. The original building on Friesenstraße became an annex. The school’s name changed several times. In 1972, it was named “Herbert-Bochow-Oberschule” after a resistance fighter. Then, in 1992, it became “Gymnasium Dresden-Mitte.” Finally, in 1996, at the initiative of the student council, it received its current name: Marie-Curie-Gymnasium, honoring the Polish-French physicist and chemist. The Marie-Curie-Gymnasium underwent a major renovation and expansion from 2012 to 2014. This modernized the school while preserving its historic charm. During the construction, a World War II bomb was discovered on the grounds. The discovery led to the evacuation of about 2500 residents before the bomb was safely defused. The school also discovered around 30 soapstone negative printing plates in old cellars. These were remnants of the Friedrich August Wolf printing company that once occupied the site. The Marie-Curie-Gymnasium is more than just a school. It’s a UNESCO project school with a focus on democratic, environmental, and tolerance education. One of its notable projects is the “Rainforest” initiative, which has raised over €100,000 to save hundreds of hectares of rainforest in Ecuador. The school’s innovative spirit is also evident in the Galileo project. This project developed a barrier-free city tour for wheelchair users using GPS technology. The Marie-Curie-Gymnasium stands as a testament to resilience, innovation, and a commitment to education. Its history intertwines with the city’s own story of destruction and rebirth. The school is a vibrant hub of learning, nurturing young minds and shaping future generations.