main logo
The water level of the Elbe in Pirna currently is -- meters
Settings for accessibility
open menu close menu

A brief history of Pirna

1233First reference to Pirna in the records
1245Pirna gets town privileges, the Margrave of Meißen rules over the town
1269First documentary evidence of Pirna castle
1293Pirna becomes part of Bohemia
um 1300 A Dominican monastery is established
1325 King John of Bohemia renews town privileges, especially staple right
1404/05Pirna becomes part of the Margravate of Meißen during the Dohna Feud (Electorate of Meißen from 1423)
um 1465Johann Tetzel, Dominican friar and preacher, is born in Pirna
1502 – 1546St. Marien church is built, an excellent example of late Gothic religious architecture
1539The Reformation reaches Pirna
1629Over 2,000 Protestant refugees come to Pirna following recatholisation in Bohemia
1639Disaster strikes after Swedish soldiers conquer the town
1679Johann Heinrich Stremel sets up a permanent printing works
1719The grand wedding of the Elector and Maria Josepha, daughter of the Austrian Emperor, begins in Pirna
1753/55Bernardo Bellotto, also known under the name Canaletto, paints eleven large vedute of the town
1811The Sonnenstein Royal Saxon mental home and care facility opens
1813Napoleon I visits the town and reopens Sonnenstein as a castle
1848The railway line from Dresden to Pirna opens on 31st July
1875The first bridge over the Elbe is completed
Ende 19. Jh.The town grows larger as industry develops, the population increases and the garrison is expanded
1923Copitz is incorporated and other towns follow 
1940/4113,720 mentally-ill patients and at least 1,031 prisoners are murdered at the Sonnenstein Euthanasia Centre
1945The town is bombed on 19th April and at least 203 people are killed
1965 – 1983Large-scale prefab housing is constructed, forming Sonnenstein residential estate
Mass influx due to Wismut uranium mining
The old town lies neglected
1990Extensive urban redevelopment starts, the historical buildings in the old town are saved 
1997Pirna becomes a major district town (“Große Kreisstadt”)
1999The second bridge over the Elbe officially opens (Sachsenbrücke)
2002Major damage is caused by the worst flooding on record as the Elbe breaks its banks in August
2005Pirna is connected to the A 17 motorway
2017Construction starts on the 172 n bypass to the south of Pirna, moving traffic away from the city centre 

Other interesting topics about Pirna

Twin towns

City of Pirna Group

Town profile

Feedback

Did you find what you were looking for?