What's the easiest way to get there?

You can easily reach the area between Wettiner Platz and Könneritzstraße on foot (walking time approx. 10 minutes if you take your time). To do this, simply follow Ostra-Allee starting at the pond behind Dresden Zwinger, away from the city center (towards the "mosque" Yenidze, but not all the way there) and turn left at the “Orangerie an der Herzogin Garten”. Now follow the street of the same name and continue straight ahead on Schützengasse and you'll be at your destination. On the way you can discover the Karl Maria von Weber University of Music with its great concert hall, which I will introduce to you in another article.

A short history

The 39,000 square meter site was used to supply gas and light with the old town gasworks and the lightworks, which opened 50 years later. The lightwork also supplied Dresden's trams with electricity. The oldest building on the area is the villa on Wettiner Platz (at the back of the gatehouse and today's bistro T1). The architect was probably Semper's student Th. Friedrich, who was a city architect in Dresden and continued the Neo-Renaissance style preferred by Semper. What is astonishing is that the villa is almost completely original inside and out and is therefore one of the few architectural monuments from Dresden's early industrial period. Update: The villa has been restored over a period of 2 years untill 2024 and it's original look and design concept has been completely destroyed. They put an abomination of a modern glas roof/level on top, which contradicts the original design concept one hundred percent. They call it modern harmonization, but It's ugly, unfitting and it just should not be there. In 1900, the West power plant was added to the light plant and the two were later combined to form a thermal power plant. Both buildings are in the historicist style. The New Objectivity is also represented with the boiler house from 1928, which combines different styles from more than 100 years in a small space - an absolute rarity! 

After 99 years, the thermal power plant was shut down in 1994 and, starting with an initiative by the then mayor Ingolf Roßberg, was put into cultural use. Fortunately, plans to use it as a shopping mall never came true and after a fundamental renovation, the State Operetta and the Theater Junge Generation (TJG) found a new home here in the heart of the city from 2016. The architects paid attention to a symbiosis between new and old. The (intentionally) rusty facade decorations of the operetta building are intended to reflect its original industrial use. You should definitely pay a visit to the entrance foyer, as many industrial structures such as tracks and girders have been preserved inside. A very exciting and successful contrast.

If you want to orient yourself a little better during your visit, I definitely recommend clicking on the Kraftwerk Mitte website. There you will not only find clear and interactive maps that will help you orientate yourself, but also a lot of additional information about the history and image sources are listed there. I have provided you with the link to the interactive map here:

https://www.kraftwerk-mitte-dresden.de/entwickeln/gebaeude-flaechen.php

T1 - Bistro and Cafe at the old gate house

The second reason to definitely pay a visit to the Mitte power plant is the bistro and cafe T1, which was set up in the old gate house in 2016. Like all of my recommendations, it is a highlight in Dresden city center that is rarely visited by tourists and not only invites you to feel good and relax with its unique location and atmosphere, it also impresses with its wide range of delicacies and drinks. Those with a sweet tooth will definitely get their money's worth here.

Food & Beverages

As already mentioned, the old gatehouse has been converted for catering use and was thus saved from the wrecking ball by the operator René Kuhnt. Today the bistro has a very special industrial charm, but is struggling with another problem. Due to space constraints, there is no real kitchen! A problem that was solved very simply. Instead of offering food a la carte, you may choose from a constantly changing selection of cakes, tarts, soups and various finger foods.

In the summer, savory dishes include venison sausage for €3.50, homemade quiche (mostly vegetarian) for €5.30 and various soups. These can be easily prepared and heated before consumption. On my last visit, for example, a tomato and almond chutney soup, vegetarian spinach soup with shepherd's cheese and game goulash with potatoes were on the menu. The large selection of homemade cakes, brownies, milkshakes and ice cream round off the offer. In addition to various fizzy drinks and sodas, you will also find alcoholic drinks, such as Aperol Spritz and everything that pleases the barista's heart.

The location - tiny but impressive

The admittedly small interior only offers space for 20 guests, but it has a very cozy living room atmosphere. The beautiful summer garden has space for some further 50 guests, is landscaped with lots of flowers, small trees and palm trees and is an excellent place to relax with friends, move a little home office outside or simply read a book.  However, caution is advised on operetta performance days. Since many of the operetta visitors have already discovered the T1 for themselves, it is usually very busy before the performance begins. It is therefore advisable to reserve a place between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

If you're running short on time, you can easily order coffee, beer, ice cream and cake to take away from the window. Directly opposite, on Wettiner Platz, there is a green area with lots of deck chairs where you can make yourself even more comfortable. An offer that has been readily accepted by students at the nearby music college.

T1 Bistro und Café im Kraftwerk Mitte

https://www.kraftwerk-mitte-dresden.de/einziehen/wir-sind-hier/t1-bistro-cafe.php