Bischofswerda | |
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 Coat of arms | |
Location of Bischofswerda within Bautzen district  | |
 Location of Bischofswerda | |
  Bischofswerda  Bischofswerda | |
| Coordinates:51°7′39″N14°10′47″E / 51.12750°N 14.17972°E /51.12750; 14.17972 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Saxony |
| District | Bautzen |
| Municipal assoc. | Bischofswerda |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2022–29) | Holm Große[1] (Ind.) |
| Area | |
• Total | 46.21 km2 (17.84 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 304 m (997 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 10,648 |
| • Density | 230.4/km2 (596.8/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 01877 |
| Dialling codes | 03594 |
| Vehicle registration | BZ, BIW, HY, KM |
| Website | www.bischofswerda.de |
Bischofswerda (German:[bɪʃɔfsˈvɛʁda]ⓘ;Upper Sorbian:Biskopicy) is a small town in eastern Germany at the western edge ofUpper Lusatia inSaxony.
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The town is located 33 km to the east ofDresden 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 thedistrict of Bautzen, the town is 18 km west ofBautzen itself.Großdrebnitz is among its quarters. The riverWesenitz flows through the town.
The first documentary evidence of the existence of Bischofswerda dates from 1227.[3] Nominally the town was founded by the Bishops ofMeissen, 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 toAugustus, Elector of Saxony, who introducedProtestantism. The city arms are based on a 14th-century seal and consist of two crossed bishop'scroziers and four stars. The significance of the stars is not known.[4] One of two main routes connectingWarsaw andDresden ran through the town in the 18th century and KingsAugustus II the Strong andAugustus 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 theWar 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 ofFrederick 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 SovietSS-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:
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Among the most impressive buildings are the town hall and theChristuskirche. Both are examples ofneo-classical architecture and were designed byGottlob 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 byJosef Goller. In the interior one can find a painting byOsmar Schindler, who grew up in the town. The Catholic church is named afterSaint Benno of Meissen, who is said to have founded Bischofswerda in the 11th century.[8]
Before thereunification of Germany in 1990, Bischofswerda was a significant industrial location.[9] The companyFortschritt 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]
New industries began to settle in Bischofswerda in recent years.Roth Industries, a German enterprise from theenvironmental technology sector, has a subsidiary here. The Canadian producer of solar cells,ARISE Technologies, came to the town, but has closed.[citation needed]
The town is situated on theBundesstraße 6, which connectsDresden andGörlitz at the Polish border. TheBundesautobahn 4 bypasses the town 6 km north, enabling easy access toDresden Airport. The road traffic bypasses the town in the west.[clarification needed] ViaBischofswerda railway station, direct access by rail is possible to Dresden, Görlitz,Zittau as well as to CzechLiberec.
The little town became known nationally when the local football clubBSG Fortschritt Bischofswerda, sponsored byFortschritt, twice reached theDDR-Oberliga, the highest football league in East Germany. Today, a modern open air bath and Saxony's littlestzoo can be noted. Regularly, the local festivalSchiebocker Tage and aKarl May festival are organized.
Bischofswerda is twin town of:
Moreover, a long-term partnership exists between organizations for the disabled in Bischofswerda andEggenfelden.
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