Dresden
The City
Dresden is the capital city of the German state of Saxony. It is located in the East of Germany, about 40 km away from the German-Czech boundary. Dresden lies on both banks of the river Elbe. The city is over 800 years old.
Dresden is internationally renowned for its great cultural heritage.… After an initial heyday during the Renaissance, to which the magnificent interior courtyards of Dresden Castle still attest today, Dresden experienced its most dazzling epoch of cultural history in the baroque “Augustan Age”. It was the time that saw the construction of most of the buildings which forever cemented the city’s place in art history books. Prominent artists from all over Europe had a hand in crafting the architectural and cultural work of Dresden; in addition to brilliant German master builders, the city’s townscape was particularly shaped by the Italians and French.
During World War II, Dresden was partly destroyed by an allied bombing mission. Almost the entire city centre was damaged severely. In the last decades war restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the inner city, combining great historical with contemporary architecture and shaping today’s unique modern but still artistic charm of the city. Today, more than half a million people from all over the world live and work in Dresden.
Sightseeing in Dresden
Dresden is one of the most beautiful German cities. There are many places to visit including the his-toric city center (Altstadt) with the Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady), the Dresden Castle (hosting sev-eral museums), the Semper Opera, the famous baroque garden Zwinger, or the Neustadt on the other side of the river Elbe with its reconstructed baroque quarters and in its outer part, a very lively cultural district with for example the Kunsthof Passage (Art Courtyard Passage, Alaunstrasse 70).
Dresden is filled with cultural treasures. It would go beyond the space here to list all museums, sights and cultural events that are worth to be visited in Dresden. Note that for some museums you need to book specific time slots in advance (e.g., the Historic Green Vault, the restored treasury of Baroque King August the Strong – https://gruenes-gewoelbe.skd.museum/en/).
The website of Dresden Tourism offers an excellent inside to all attractions.
Sightseeing outside of Dresden
Sächsische Schweiz (Saxon Switzerland):
Saxon Switzerland is a hilly national park around the Elbe valley about 50km south-east of Dresden located at the border to the Czech Republic. It’s a famous climbing and hiking area. Together with the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic it forms the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.…
Saxon Switzerland can be easily reached by suburban train or car within about 30 to 40 minutes from Dresden.
Schloss und Park Pillnitz (Pillnitz Palace and Park):
The Saxons royal houses former summer residence is Europe’s largest one. The great park with several different plants from all over the world is inviting for nice walks in summer and winter. Inside the Palace one can find information about the history and former life at the Palace.
Pillnitz Palace and Park can be easily reached by tram or car within about 30 to 40 minutes from Dresden.
For further information on sightseeing outside of Dresden see here.
