Dresdner Elbhang

Ein kulturhistorischer Spaziergang über das Blaue Wunder nach Loschwitz

Schillerplatz

The old village was called Blasewitz, as was later the neighborhood, located where originally was the village green. If you look closely, you can still recognise the village’s oval shape, open towards the riverbank. The small streets to the right and left of the square, leading down to the river, remain as remnants of the old structure. Fishermen and winegrowers lived here and anyone wishing to cross the water waved to the ferryman. The royal hunt also rode along here, as there was still a dense pine forest around the village in the 17th century and the house of the electoral overseer was soon converted into an inn. When the neighbouring ferry property came up for sale in 1730, the innkeeper at the time jumped at the opportunity and built a summer tavern there, which was frequented not only by ferry guests.
The idyllic village had become a popular excursion destination for Dresden residents and here — and we finally get to the name—it was where young Friedrich Schiller met the innkeeper's daughter. Her real name was Johanne Justine, the poet later shortened it to Gustl when he made her a character in his drama „Wallenstein“. Justine, who was a respectable girl and later married the Dresden lawyer Renner, was anything but enthusiastic. The Blasewitz inn no longer exists and the summer tavern was replaced by a half-timbered house around 1895. Its name changed to Schillergarten after the poet, and we pass it on the right as we cross the Blue Wonder to the other side of the river.