Historical view, about 1713Memorial to Frederick Augustus I of SaxonyBischofssitzParadise Fountain (Paradiesbrunnen)Saxon post milestoneModern sculpture on the market place, in front the location of the former town hall
The town is located 33 km to the east of Dresden at the edge of the Upper Lusatian mountain country. The town is known as the "Gateway to Upper Lusatia" – "Tor zur Oberlausitz" in German. Located in the district of Bautzen, the town is 18 km west of Bautzen itself. Großdrebnitz is among its quarters. The river Wesenitz flows through the town.
History
The first documentary evidence of the existence of Bischofswerda dates from 1227.[3] Nominally the town was founded by the Bishops of Meissen, though it may have existed before that point. In 1288 city walls were constructed. The first mention of Bischofswerda as a city is in a document dating from 1361. The town remained under the authority of the Bishops of Meissen until 1559 when power was transferred to Augustus, Elector of Saxony, who introduced Protestantism. The city arms are based on a 14th-century seal and consist of two crossed bishop's croziers and four stars. The significance of the stars is not known.[4] One of two main routes connecting Warsaw and Dresden ran through the town in the 18th century and Kings Augustus II the Strong and Augustus III of Poland often traveled that route.[5]
Like many late medieval towns, Bischofswerda suffered from periodic fires that damaged the town. Fires are recorded in 1429, 1469, 1528, 1583, 1596, 1641, 1671 and 1813. The last fire was the worst.[6] During the War of the Sixth Coalition, Napoleonic forces had occupied Bischofswerda when a fire broke out within the town walls on 12 May 1813, destroying most of the medieval town. However the town was rebuilt on an order of Frederick Augustus I of Saxony in a manner closely following the earlier layout, and this remains to this day.
During the increased tensions of the 1980s between the Western democracies and the Eastern Communist Bloc, Bischofswerda became a base for Soviet SS-12nuclear missiles. A depot for the missiles and their launchers was built just outside town. The missiles were withdrawn in 1988.[7]
The following table indicates Bischofwerda's population at different times:
1834 – 2 434
1880 – 4 778
1960 – 11 350
2004 – 13 104
2005 – 12 962
2006 – 12 732
Source from 2000: Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen (Saxony Office of Statistics)
Sights
Among the most impressive buildings are the town hall and the Christuskirche. Both are examples of neo-classical architecture and were designed by Gottlob Friedrich Thormeyer. The town hall (Rathaus) was constructed in 1818, just off the Altmarkt, the centre of the town. The entrance to the Christuskirche is decorated by a mosaic by Josef Goller. In the interior one can find a painting by Osmar Schindler, who grew up in the town. The Catholic church is named after Saint Benno of Meissen, who is said to have founded Bischofswerda in the 11th century.[8]
Historical Fronfeste (built 1286), entrance at the medieval town wall
Before the reunification of Germany in 1990, Bischofswerda was a significant industrial location.[9] The company Fortschritt produced agricultural machines. This manufacture as well as the glass fabrication has closed.[when?][why?] The textile industry had a centuries-long tradition in the town, but also ended in 2012.[10]
The little town became known nationally when the local football club BSG Fortschritt Bischofswerda, sponsored by Fortschritt, twice reached the DDR-Oberliga, the highest football league in East Germany. Today, a modern open air bath and Saxony's littlest zoo can be noted. Regularly, the local festival Schiebocker Tage and a Karl May festival are organized.
^Heidrun Schäfer; Wolfgang Schmidt: Bischofswerda – als die Schornsteine noch rauchten. Fotodokumente zwischen 1945 und 1989, Edition Damals in unserer Stadt, Verlag für Kulturgeschichte, Leipzig 2005, ISBN3-910143-81-4
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