Riesa

Riesa is a city in Saxony.



Understand
Riesa is a mid-sized industrial town, about halfway between Dresden and Leipzig. It is known in the region for its pasta production and its sports tradition. The once dominant steelworks have massively lost in importance, depriving many locals of their jobs.

By plane
Riesa is about 50 km from Dresden airport (one hour by train) and 90 km from Leipzig/Halle airport (one to 1½ hours by train).

By train
Riesa has a station on the Frankfurt–Leipzig–Dresden ICE line (two-hourly) and the Cologne–Hanover–Dresden intercity line (two-hourly). Moreover hourly regional (express) trains connect from Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz, two-hourly from Elsterwerda. It is a 30–45 minutes ride from either Dresden or Leipzig, one hour from Chemnitz, 1:20 from Erfurt, two hours from Magdeburg, 2:15 from Berlin (via Leipzig), 3½ hours from Hanover, 3:40 from Frankfurt.

By bicycle
Riesa is located on the Elbe Radweg (Elbe River cycle route), 53 km from Dresden and 48 km from Torgau.

Buy

 * Pasta made by Teigwaren Riesa

Go next

 * Meißen, former residence of the eponymous Margraviate (precursor of the state of Saxony) with impressive medieval castle and cathedral, internationally known for its porcelain, 30 km southeast (on the Elbe cycle route, upriver). On the way between Riesa and Meißen are several pretty wine-growing villages.
 * Torgau, former residence with Renaissance castle and the first newly-built Protestant church in the world, 40 km northwest (on the Elbe cycle route, downriver)
 * Dresden, state capital with opulent Baroque old town, 50 km southeast (30–45 minutes by train; or cycle the Elbe Radweg upriver)
 * Grimma, well-preserved old town in the Mulde valley, 55 km west
 * Leipzig, major trade and cultural city, 70 km west (30–45 minutes by train)