Wiener Straße

From horse-drawn carriages to the hum of the CarGoTram, Wiener Straße in Dresden has witnessed a fascinating transformation. Wiener Straße, laid out in 1858, initially connected the former Böhmischer Bahnhof with the then-elegant villa suburb of Strehlen. Imagine strolling down this very road in the late 19th century, passing by grand villas like the one at number 11, designed by Ernst Lottermoser with an addition by Manfred Semper, son of the renowned Gottfried Semper. This particular villa, sadly destroyed in 1945, once hosted Mathilde Wesendonck, the muse who inspired Richard Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder. Wiener Straße’s development continued into the early 20th century, reaching its current length around 1912. A planned extension towards the Seidnitz racetrack never materialized, leaving Wiener Straße to end near a peaceful residential area by the Basteiplatz. The street hasn’t been immune to the tides of history. The impressive Reichsbahndirektion building at Wiener Platz 4, once a prominent landmark at the start of Wiener Straße, met its demise in 1952, not by bombs, but by deliberate demolition. Similarly, the English Church, designed by August Pieper and James Piers St. Aubyn, was destroyed in 1945 and later dismantled. Yet, traces of the past remain. The former Reichsbahndirektion’s extension building at Wiener Straße 5b, although in need of restoration, still stands as a silent witness to the street’s history. Today, Wiener Straße pulsates with modern life. Trams 9, 10, and 11 traverse its length, connecting various parts of Dresden, while the CarGoTram reminds us of the street’s original purpose – connecting the city with its surroundings. As you stand here, on Wiener Straße, remember the villas, the railway connections, and the stories that have shaped this vibrant artery of Dresden.