Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in Saxony, Germany. It is located on the river Elbe, approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) northwest of Dresden.
History
The name Riesa is derived from Slavic Riezowe. This name, romanised as "Rezoa", appears first in October 1119 in a document from Pope Callixtus II.
The world's first 110 kV power line was installed between Riesa and Lauchhammer in 1912. Between 1952 and 1994, Riesa was the seat of a district.
The town grew from the start of the 20th century due to industrialisation. The population declined after German Reunification in 1989. The local steel works shut and the population fell from 52,000 to 31,000.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1575
350
—
1834
1,631
+366.0%
1849
2,679
+64.3%
1875
5,707
+113.0%
1880
6,259
+9.7%
1900
13,491
+115.5%
1933
26,248
+94.6%
1939
29,963
+14.2%
1946
34,406
+14.8%
Year
Pop.
±%
1950
36,150
+5.1%
1960
36,769
+1.7%
1981
51,857
+41.0%
1995
42,429
−18.2%
2000
39,367
−7.2%
2005
36,221
−8.0%
2010
33,351
−7.9%
2015
31,541
−5.4%
2019
29,754
−5.7%
Sights
Trinitatis Church"Rusty Oak"
Riesa has a 25 m tall, 234 tonne, cast-iron (GGG 40) sculpture of an oak trunk, named Elbquelle, which means source of the Elbe, by Jörg Immendorff, erected in 1999. Local folk call the sculpture by many other names, most notably "Rostige Eiche", which means "Rusty Oak".
In Riesa there are two notable churches. The minster St. Marien was built in 1261 as an addition to the Benedictine Abbey. The Trinitatis Church was completed in 1897.
Culture
Riesa is well known locally for its pasta, which is produced at Teigwaren Riesa GmbH. Another symbol of Riesa are the Riesaer Zündhölzer, the matches which were traditionally manufactured there.
The steel production in Riesa is also well known.
Sport
Riesa has a football club, BSG Stahl Riesa. The club's crest is blue and white, as are the club colours. They play now in the Landesliga Sachsen (6th tier).
Riesa is known locally for the SACHSENarena, a large hall which hosted the European Sumo Wrestling Championship in October 2003 and the World Sumo Wrestling Championship in October 2004.
Riesa railway station is located north of the town's centre, it offers both regional and long-distance services.
Riesa is located on Bundesstraße 169, which ensures access to federal motorways A 14 (close to Döbeln, approx. 25 km) and A 13 (close to Ruhland, approx. 50 km).
Notable people
Dieter Noll
Adolph von Carlowitz (1858–1928), Saxon officer, general of the infantry and war minister
