Bischofswerda

The town is located 33 km to the east of Dresden at the edge of the Upper Lusatian mountain country.

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.

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-12 nuclear missiles.

The Catholic church is named after Saint Benno of Meissen, who is said to have founded Bischofswerda in the 11th century.

[citation needed] The town is situated on the Bundesstraße 6, which connects Dresden and Görlitz at the Polish border.

The Bundesautobahn 4 bypasses the town 6 km north, enabling easy access to Dresden Airport.

[clarification needed] Via Bischofswerda railway station, direct access by rail is possible to Dresden, Görlitz, Zittau as well as to Czech Liberec.

Czech Republic Dresden Görlitz (district) Meißen (district) Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge Arnsdorf Bautzen Bernsdorf Bischofswerda Großröhrsdorf Burkau Crostwitz Cunewalde Demitz-Thumitz Doberschau-Gaußig Elsterheide Elstra Frankenthal, Saxony Göda Großdubrau Großharthau Großnaundorf Großpostwitz Großröhrsdorf Malschwitz Haselbachtal Hochkirch Hoyerswerda Kamenz Königsbrück Königswartha Kubschütz Laußnitz Lauta Lichtenberg (Lausitz) Lohsa Malschwitz Nebelschütz Neschwitz Neukirch (bei Königsbrück) Neukirch/Lausitz Obergurig Ohorn Oßling Ottendorf-Okrilla Panschwitz-Kuckau Pulsnitz Puschwitz Radeberg Radibor Räckelwitz Ralbitz-Rosenthal Rammenau Schirgiswalde-Kirschau Schmölln-Putzkau Kamenz Schwepnitz Sohland an der Spree Spreetal Steina Steinigtwolmsdorf Wachau, Saxony Weißenberg Wilthen Wittichenau Brandenburg Polen
Historical view, about 1713
Bischofssitz
Paradise Fountain ( Paradiesbrunnen )
Modern sculpture on the market place, in front the location of the former town hall
Coat of arms
Coat of arms