Dresden

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Dresden

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Dresden: An Ancient City Rebuilt

The ‘Jewel Box’, due to its baroque and late-baroque style of architecture. ‘Elbflorenz’ or ‘Florence of the Elbe,’ on account of its oceanic climate, convenient placement, and its imperial-cultural heritage. Not only is it the capital of the Free State of Saxony, but it is also the venue of uncountable museums, galleries, and other attractions showcasing German history since the Saxon period. This pleasurable conurbation is none other than Dresden!

Location:

At a latitude of 51˚02’55,” N  and 13˚44’29” E, Dresden is located in the south-eastern part of the Free State of Saxony in the Elbe valley in the former German Democratic Republic, also known as the East Germany, near the Czech Republic boundary.

Weather:

Dresden experiences a climate varying from moderate to continental, being mildly humid at times. The cold season starts from November and ends in February, while the months from May to September are relatively warm. February, being the driest month, has an average temperature of -1.7 degrees Celsius. With a temperature of 18.1 degrees Celsius on an average, July faces the most amount of rainfall. June and August are the months during which the city experiences usually pleasant weather conditions.

History:

The name ‘Dresden’ is procured from ‘Drežďany’, or ‘people of the forest’.  Dresden’s history, dating back to the New Stone Age or the Neolithic Era, is quite a long one. Beginning with a few Slavic settlements, Dresden turned into the margraviate’s seat in the period following 1270. During the reign of King Augustus II the Strong, Dresden started becoming prominent as a leading political, cultural and educational center. This city has had a long military history as well. Starting from the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) and the Napoleonic Wars during which Napoleon won the 1813 Battle of Dresden, Dresden has seen the German Revolutions, the First and the Second World Wars at the cost of its destruction spanning over an extended period, during World War II in February 1945, the UK Royal Air Force and the US Air Force battered Dresden with bombs, as a result of which, almost 75 percent of the city was reduced to ruins. Many of the buildings and structures have since been reconstructed. After being declared as a World Heritage Site in 2004 by UNESCO, Dresden lost this status in 2009 and became the second place in the world to have done so.

 

 

The city:

With more than 500,000 citizens, Dresden is one of the ten cities in Germany to have exhibited population growth. After Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne, it is Germany’s 4th largest city, covering an area of 328.31 square kilometers and having a city boundary of 139.65 kilometers long. One of the greenest cities in Europe, it consists of 115 hotels and three camping spots.

On the right bank of the Elbe River is the Neustadt or New Town. After a fire broke out in 1685, destroying this former quarter (Altendresden) of the Altstadt or Old Town, it was rebuilt in Baroque style according to the wishes of Augustus the Strong, and renamed as the ‘New King’s Town’.

Due to its location in the former German Democratic Republic, classic architecture dating from that time, including the ‘Prager Straβe’ and the ‘Kulturpalast’ (Culture Palace) can be perceived in Dresden. Most of the designs of the historical buildings in and around Dresden represent Baroque and Classicist styles. The architectural planning is thought to have been influenced by Historism, postmodernism, and the Renaissance periods.

Travelling in the city:

With 12 train routes and 29 bus routes, Dresden operates a good transport network. The Elbe ferries are available for those who wish to experience a romantic sail across the river. There are railway stations downtown, the Dresden Central Railway Station to the south of the Elbe River, and the Dresden-Neustadt to the Elbe’s north. You can take a walk through the city, especially the Bohemian Quarter, or rent a bicycle. Pedicabs or bike taxis offer guided tours through the city, mostly in the Old Town. Horse carriages have also been in operation since 2007.

Why visit?

Dresden in Germany is the site of many festivities. It boasts of hosting the International Dixieland Festival, Europe’s biggest jazz festival, usually in May every year, along with the Dresden International Jazz Gala, which presents 40 concerts with 30 musical bands from different parts of the world.  You can also go for the film nights or Filmnächte, which take place on the banks of the river Elbe from June to August. People can watch movies on a huge screen, and attend concerts of famous stars. It is Europe’s biggest event of this kind!

Germany’s oldest Christmas market, known as the Striezelmarkt, hosts the famous Stollen festival from November to December annually. During the Stallhof Advent Festival in the Dresden Royal Palace, jugglers display their skills, and tourists can enjoy quality time in the public bathhouse. In front of the Frauenkirche at the traditional Christmas market, lace, pottery, and glassware are sold. During Christmas, the Striezelmarkt, along with the ten other Christmas markets, become a sight to behold with their winter lights as they invoke a Christmassy feeling.

 

 

Major Attractions:

  • Frauenkirche or the Church of Our Lady – A Protestant church built by George Baehr between 1726 and 1743, it is the most prominent symbol of Dresden.
  • Neumarkt Square- Located around the Frauenkirche, this had been destroyed in the Seven Years’ War but was reconstructed in late-Baroque design.
  • Semper Opera House or SempOper– Germany’s most famous opera house, it was built between 1838 and 1841 by Gottfried Semper and rebuilt in 1985 after being damaged during the Second World War. One of the world’s oldest orchestras known as the Saxon State Orchestra, and the Semper Opera Ball, are associated with this place.
  • The Zwinger Palace– Initially designed for court entertainments, it was used to set up exhibitions. It houses the Old Masters Picture Gallery or the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, the Porcelain Collection or Porzellansammlung, and the Museum of Mathematics and Physics or the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon.
  • The Dresden Royal Palace– Constructed in the 15th century, it was once the seat of princes and kings of Saxony. With around 500 rooms and halls, it consists of several museums such as the Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs (Kupferstich-Kabinett), the New Green Vault, the Haüsmann Tower, the English Stairway, the Coin Cabinet, the Turkish Chamber (Türkische Cammer) and numerous other things of interest.
  • The Dresden Fortress or Festung Dresden- Situated below the Brühl’s Terrace, it is one of the oldest structures in Dresden dating from the Renaissance.
  • The Dresden Zoo- Germany’s 4th oldest zoo and Dresden’s biggest scientific, educational institute contains approximately 2000 animals of more than 300 species.
  • The Japanese Palace or Japanisches Palais– With the Ethnological Museum (Museum für Völkerkunde Dresden) this palace hosts exhibitions temporarily.
  • Pfunds Dairy- The most beautiful milk store and dairy shop in the world were founded in 1880 by the Pfund brothers. It consists of paintings in neo-Renaissance style as well as hand-painted decorations on its floors and walls.
  • The Museum of Military History– Constructed by Daniel Libeskind, this museum, Dresden’s largest, provides valuable information on the causes and impacts of war by focusing on German military history over 800 years.
  • The Art Courtyard Passage or Kunsthof Passage– Connecting Alaunstrasse with Gölitzer Strasse, it comprises five differently-themed courtyards, including the Metamorphosis Courtyard where you can watch the conversion of pieces of paper, the Elements Courtyard where downpipes on the walls transform into musical instruments under the impact of rain, and the Mythical Creatures courtyard.

 

What Else is Around?

  • The Lusatian Granite Uplands
  • The Lingner Palace
  • The Vogtland region
  • The Bastei Rocks and the Koenigstein Fortress in Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz)
  • The Yenidze

 

If you’re looking forward to visit Europe this year, Dresden should definitely be on your travel list. With great places to explore, you can enjoy visiting Dresden with your family and friends. So, plan your trip and visit Dresden, you won’t regret it; we promise!