What if this lush valley could whisper tales of battles and mills? This is the Zschoner Grund. It is a landscape conservation area in western Dresden. The Zschonerbach flows through it.
The Zschoner Grund begins in Zöllmen. It passes through Ockerwitz and Briesnitz. It ends in Kemnitz. Here, the stream flows into the Elbe near the A4 autobahn bridge. Its meadows and forests make it a beloved local recreation area.
The Zschoner Grund saw economic use as early as the Middle Ages. Farmers from nearby farms harvested hay in its meadows. Wine grapes once grew on the hillsides. Later, fruit trees replaced them. The Zschoner Grund even served as a hunting ground for the crown prince.
A key moment in history unfolded here. The Zschoner Grund was the site of the Battle of Kesselsdorf on December 15, 1745. Prussians under Prince Leopold of Dessau decisively defeated the combined forces of Saxony and Austria. This victory led to the end of the Second Silesian War.
Three former watermills once operated along the Zschonerbach. A mill was mentioned as early as 1324 but its location is now unknown. The Weltemühle in Kemnitz was built in 1566 as a grist mill. It was short-lived. Foresters feared for the wild game. Elector August ordered its demolition the same year. In 1608, Nikolaus Fehrmann received permission to build a mill on the Zschornbach. The Welte family later owned it. August the Strong tried to take away their milling rights to use the area for hunting. The Weltes used the mill as a tavern from about 1870. They sold it in 1899. Under new owners, it became a popular Dresden destination. It added a ballroom and a large beer garden. During World War II, it housed an air raid shelter school. It was a restaurant again until 1954. Later, a synthetic leather factory moved into the buildings. After commercial use ended, the buildings decayed. After 1990, parts were demolished. The remaining buildings were rebuilt as a hotel and restaurant. It is scheduled to reopen in the summer of 2024.
The Zschonermühle likely dates back to the 15th century. In 1570, the miller stated that his late wife’s family had owned the mill for over 150 years. The current buildings were likely rebuilt after a fire in 1730. The Kunze family acquired the mill in 1812. The Zschonermühle became a popular destination in the late 19th century. August Bebel spoke in the beer garden. Milling ceased in 1917 but the machinery remained. The restaurant closed after World War II. The last miller left a dilapidated property in 1984. Restoration began in the 1980s. A new overshot water wheel was installed in 1991. The reconstructed mill began operation in 1994. Today, it is a summer restaurant, a museum, and a venue for events.
The Schulzenmühle near Steinbach was first mentioned in 1540. It may have belonged to the abandoned village of Zschon. Georg Pietzsch owned it in 1719. A windmill was built west of the mill in 1819. It was torn down in 1880. A new mill pond was built in 1844. A water wheel was installed in 1851. The Schulze family acquired the mill in 1860. Besides milling, they operated a bakery, a farm, a distillery, and a restaurant. The mill became a popular restaurant. Milling stopped in 1927. The restaurant closed in 1962. The Schulze family began modernizing the buildings in 1979.
Silver mining occurred in the Zschoner Grund. In 1763, the Gabe Gottes Erbstolln mine was established. Rock samples showed no ore content. In 1768, Elias Unger reported that 7 hundredweight of rock yielded silver and gold. Officials doubted this claim. They suspected the rock samples came from elsewhere. The mine was shut down after another failed smelting attempt in 1778. The mine reached 120 meters long. The “Silberloch” or “Silbergrube” recalls this mining attempt. The sealed entrance can still be seen.
Several Pläner stone quarries and Rotliegend stone quarries existed. A syenodiorite quarry was located between the Schulzenmühle and the Zschonermühle. The Licht- und Luftbad Zschonergrund opened in 1927 near Kemnitz. It had a swimming pool. It also featured a diving tower and sunbathing lawns. The bath closed in 1988 due to structural defects. Private investors planned to build tennis halls or houses. The city transferred the bath to IG Briesnitz for reconstruction after a petition. It reopened as a natural pool in 2015. In 2018 and 2021, it received top ratings.
A hiking trail runs through the valley. Orchards and vineyards attracted walkers. A tram line was considered in the 1920s but not built. A protest camp existed from 1997 to 1999 against the A17 autobahn. The Zschonerbach area is part of several protected areas. These areas provide habitats for various species.
The Zschoner Grund, with its blend of history, nature, and recreation, offers a tranquil escape. It is a testament to the enduring appeal of this Dresden landscape.