Riesa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Riesa
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Riesa with the Trinitatis Church near the Elbe River in July 2008
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| Country | Germany | |
| State | Saxony | |
| District | Meißen | |
| Elevation | 109 m (358 ft) | |
| Population
(2022-12-31)
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| • Total | 29,076 | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
| Postal codes |
01587, 01589, 01591, 01594
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| Dialling codes | 03525 | |
| Vehicle registration | MEI, GRH, RG, RIE | |
| Website | www.riesa.de | |
Riesa (which is Ryzawa in the Sorbian language) is a town in Saxony, Germany. It is located on the Elbe River. Riesa is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Dresden, a larger city.
Contents
Exploring Riesa's Past
The name Riesa comes from the Slavic word Riezowe. This name first appeared in a document from Pope Callixtus II in October 1119.
In 1912, the world's first 110 kV power line was built. It connected Riesa to a town called Lauchhammer. This was a big step for electricity!
From 1952 to 1994, Riesa was the main town of its own district. This means it was an important center for the area.
How Riesa's Population Changed
Riesa grew a lot at the start of the 20th century. This was because many factories and industries came to the town. More jobs meant more people moved there.
After German Reunification in 1989, the population started to get smaller. A large steel factory in Riesa closed down. This caused many people to leave the town. The number of people living in Riesa went from about 52,000 to 31,000.
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What to See in Riesa
Riesa has a very interesting sculpture called Elbquelle. This means "source of the Elbe River". It is a 25-meter (82-foot) tall sculpture that looks like an oak tree trunk. It is made of cast-iron and weighs 234 tonnes! The artist, Jörg Immendorff, created it in 1999. People in Riesa often call it the "Rostige Eiche," which means "Rusty Oak."
There are also two important churches in Riesa. The Minster St. Marien was built in 1261. It was added to an old Benedictine Abbey. The Trinitatis Church was finished in 1897.
Riesa's Culture and Products
Riesa is famous for its pasta, which is made by a company called Teigwaren Riesa GmbH. You might also know Riesa for its traditional matches, called Riesaer Zündhölzer.
The town is also known for making steel. Steel production has been an important industry here for a long time.
Sports in Riesa
Riesa has its own football (soccer) club, called BSG Stahl Riesa. Their team colors are blue and white. They play in the Landesliga Sachsen, which is the sixth level of football in Germany.
Riesa is also home to the SACHSENarena. This is a large sports hall. It has hosted big events like the European Sumo Wrestling Championship in 2003. It also hosted the World Sumo Wrestling Championship in 2004.
Riesa's Sister Cities
Riesa is connected to several other cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They work together to share culture and ideas.
Głogów, Poland
Lonato del Garda, Italy
Mannheim, Germany
Rotherham, England, United Kingdom
Sandy, United States
Villerupt, France
Wuzhong (Suzhou), China
Getting Around Riesa
The Riesa railway station is located north of the town center. You can catch both local and long-distance trains from here.
Riesa is also on a main road called Bundesstraße 169. This road helps you get to bigger highways. It connects to the A 14 highway near Döbeln (about 25 km away). It also connects to the A 13 highway near Ruhland (about 50 km away).
Famous People from Riesa
Many interesting people have come from Riesa or have a connection to the town.
- Adolph von Carlowitz (1858–1928), a Saxon officer and war minister.
- Johannes Müller (1864–1949), a theologian (someone who studies religion).
- Rolf Moebius (1915–2004), an actor.
- Dieter Noll (1927–2008), a writer.
- Jürgen Schmieder (born 1952), a politician.
- Monika Zehrt (born 1952), an athlete.
- Olaf Jentzsch (born 1958), a cyclist.
- Heiko Peschke (born 1963), a footballer.
- Ulf Kirsten (born 1965), a famous footballer.
- Rüdiger Heinze (born 1971), a film producer and screenwriter.
- Maximilian Arnold (born 1994), a footballer.
People Connected to Riesa
These people lived in Riesa or had a strong link to the town.
- Walter Fritzsch (1920–1997), a football coach.
- Wolfgang Lischke (born 1947), a footballer.
- Peter Kotte (born 1954), a footballer.
- Harald Czudaj (born 1963), a bobsledder (someone who races in a bobsled).
- Ralf Hauptmann (born 1968), a footballer.
Images for kids
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Dieter Noll
