Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in Saxony, Germany. It is located on the river Elbe, approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Dresden. …Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in Saxony, Germany. It is located on the river Elbe, approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Dresden. 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.