Picture this: rolling hills dotted with charming three-sided farmsteads. This is Volkersdorf a village nestled near Dresden. Volkersdorf boasts a history stretching back to the Bronze Age. A settlement existed on its southwestern edge long before its official founding. Then in 1378 Volkersdorf first appeared in records. It received its name from its founder Volkmar. Volkersdorf’s growth likely occurred during the German eastward expansion in the latter half of the 13th century. The village’s layout and name clearly indicate its German origins.
A significant landmark in Volkersdorf’s past was a water castle. Located at the lower village exit it sadly fell into ruin by the 16th century. This castle was the center of a knight’s estate. A free estate with a manor house existed until modern times. Another water castle existed east of Volkersdorf. It belonged to the Knapsdorf Outpost. Volkersdorf acquired the outpost’s fields from the Moritzburg office. Excavations reveal this water castle dates back to the 13th century.
Even in the 17th century a substantial farmstead stood near a brickyard. This brickyard closed in 1890. A mill operated in Volkersdorf until 1958. This mill had been in operation since the 15th century. The mill pond and other ponds also served fish farming. Viticulture played a role in the early 19th century. This was partly due to the inn established in the 15th century. This inn known as an “Erbkretzscham” offered convenient opportunities for refreshments. The new schoolhouse which is now a kindergarten was built in 1913 replacing the 50-year-old school building. Later it served children from Bärnsdorf and Berbisdorf.
South of the kindergarten you’ll find a public playground. A former children’s health resort by the Upper Waldteich deserves a mention. Until 2012 it cared for children with cancer from Chernobyl. This resort highlights the village’s compassionate side. Volkersdorf remained an independent municipality until 1994. That year it merged with Berbisdorf and Bärnsdorf to form Promnitztal. This short-lived municipality ended in 1998. Volkersdorf finally became part of Radeburg in 1999. Volkersdorf’s unique drumlin landscape and its charming village feel is well worth the visit. You won’t regret discovering this hidden gem near Dresden.