Riesa

Riesa
Riesa
Town
	Coat of arms
	Location of Riesa within Meißen district
Country	Germany
State	Saxony
District	Meißen
Subdivisions	16
Government
• Mayor	Gerti Töpfer (CDU)
Area
• Total	58.70 km2 (22.66 sq mi)
Elevation	109 m (358 ft)
Population (2022-12-31)
• Total	29,076
• Density	500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	01587, 01589, 01591, 01594
Dialling codes	03525
Vehicle registration	MEI, GRH, RG, RIE
Website	www.riesa.de

Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located on the Elbe River, 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.

During the 1980s, Riesa was the headquarters of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany's 9th Tank Division.

Population history

The city 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 32,000.

Historical Population of Riesa
Year	1575	1834	1849	1875	1880	1900	1933	1939
Population	350	1,631	2,679	5,707	6,259	13,491	26,248	29,963
Year	1946	1950	1960	1981	1995	2000	2005	2010
Population	34,406	36,150	36,769	51,857	42,429	39,367	36,221	34,013
Year	2012	2013
Population	32,733	32,099 ^[2]

Sights

Riesa has a 25m tall, 234 tonne, iron (GGG 40) sculpture of an oak trunk, named "Elbquelle", by Jörg Immendorff erected in 1999. There are many other names for the Elbquelle, for example "Rostige Eiche", which means "rusty oak". Many inhabitants of Riesa call the sculpture "Rostige Eiche", because it looks rusty.

In the city of Riesa there are two famous churches. The minster St. Marien arose in the year 1261 in addition to the Benedictine Abbey. The Trinitatis Church was constructed later, completion in the year 1897.

Riesa is also known locally for the Erdgas Arena, a large hall which hosted the European Sumo Wrestling Championship in October 2003 and the World Sumo Wrestling Championship in October 2004.

Culture

Riesa is well known locally for its pasta, which is produced in the Teigwaren Riesa . Another symbol of Riesa are the "Riesaer Zündhölzer", the matches which were traditionally manufactured there.

Very famous is also the steel production in Riesa.

Notable people from Riesa include the former footballer Ulf Kirsten. 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. League).