Ever wondered how many stories a single bridge could tell? Here at the Steinbruch Mordgrundbrücke, the tales are etched in stone and whispered by the wind.
The Steinbruch Mordgrundbrücke is no ordinary bridge. It is located on the Bautzner Straße, a part of the B6 highway, crossing the Mordgrundbach at the edge of the Dresden Heath. The Mordgrundbrücke is a cultural monument of great technical and traffic-historical importance. It also has remarkable design and construction.
Our story begins in 1420. A bridge over the Mordgrund was first documented then. By 1587, it was already a stone bridge. After a collapse, it was rebuilt as a wooden bridge in 1784. Finally, in 1828, it was permanently rebuilt in stone. Master mason Donath executed the construction. It cost 3000 talers and was 6.2 meters wide.
But let’s rewind a bit further. Imagine the landscape before the stone. Picture Prussian troops in 1758. They were constructing a redoubt during the Seven Years’ War. This would later be known as Napoleonschanze. In August 1813, Napoleon himself used it as an observation post during the Battle of Dresden. From this vantage point, the Mordgrundbrücke was strategically important. It was part of the trade route between Silesia and Dresden.
Look closely at the bridge’s construction. Notice how the arch tapers in steps upstream. This stone arch bridge is not just functional. It’s a testament to the craftsmanship of its time. The area around the Mordgrundbrücke has seen many changes. Before the bridge was a toll station. It collected duties on imported goods. In 1910, the building served as a refreshment hall. Sadly, it was later destroyed.
The Mordgrundbrücke has been closely linked to transportation. The horse-drawn streetcar line was electrified by 1889. It was extended towards Bühlau. The Mordgrundbrücke stop was built for the line that opened on August 22, 1899. Since the Räcknitz line closed in 1933, the section from the Mordgrundbrücke to Weisser Hirsch has the steepest gradient in the Dresden streetcar network at 77 per mille.
The area around the Mordgrundbrücke is perfect for hikers. Many use Line 11 to get here on weekends. From here, one can hike to the Teichgrundquelle, the Kentauer, the Wolfshügel tower, the König-Albert-Obelisk, the Waldpark am Weissen Hirsch, or even the barbecue area at the Forsthaus Bühlau.
Until the mid-1990s, there was also a track triangle for the streetcars at the Mordgrundbrücke. It was mainly used to turn streetcars during construction work. However, during severe winters in GDR times, streetcars sometimes had to turn there unexpectedly due to ice and snow.
Today, the Mordgrundbrücke stands as a link between the city and nature. It connects Dresden’s urban life with the tranquility of the Dresdner Heide. The Mordgrundbrücke continues to carry the weight of history. It also allows us to explore the beautiful surroundings.