Radebeul

Radebeul is a town (große Kreisstadt) in the Elbe valley in the district of Meißen in Saxony, Germany, a suburb of Dresden. It is well known for its viticulture, a museum dedicated to writer Karl May and a narrow gauge railway connecting Radebeul with the castle of Moritzburg and the town of Radeburg. The Meißen area, where Radebeul is located, is one of the northeasternmost areas where wine is grown today.

It is sometimes called "Saxon Nice" for its pleasant landscape and mild climate.

History

A village Radebeul was first mentioned in 1349. In 1905 it absorbed the neighboring village of Serkowitz. On April 1, 1924 Radebeul became a town. Meanwhile, the neighboring village of Kötzschenbroda had taken over Lindenau in 1920 and Naundorf, Zitzschewig und Niederlößnitz by 1924, when it was made a town as well. In 1934 Wahnsdorf and Oberlößnitz joined Radebeul, and on January 1, 1935 the towns of Kötzschenbroda and Radebeul were united under the name of Radebeul ("Kötzschenbroda" having a Slavic root, this name was considered too "ungermanic" at the time). In 1947 Radebeul was made part of the district of Dresden. In 1995 it received the status of a major town inside the rural district (große Kreisstadt); when the rural district of Dresden (Dresden-Land) was dissolved, Radebeul became part of the district of Meißen.