In our article we want to talk about one of the cities in Germany, which is the cultural center of the country. The German city of Dresden is interesting for tourists with its stunning architecture. In addition, its museums contain magnificent collections of art objects. The city is incredibly beautiful and of interest to tourists.
Where is the city of Dresden?
The ancient city, founded in the thirteenth century, is located on the Elbe, just twenty kilometers from the border with the Czech Republic. Dresden is the center of Saxony and has long been the cultural capital of Germany. In addition, at present, the city can safely be called an important transport and industrial center of the country. Its population is about 530 thousand people, but still Dresden occupies an important place among other cities.
History of Dresden
The history of the city of Dresden begins in 1206. It was this year that the first mention of him in the sources dates back. According to legend, the city arose on the site of a fishing village. The heyday of the city begins around 1485. It was during this periodthe city of Dresden becomes the seat of the Saxon dukes of the line of the House of Wettin. The greatest flourishing occurred during the reign of King Friedrich August I of Saxony. It was under him that the Zwinger, the Catholic Hofkirche Church and the Frauenkirche Church were erected.
August I restored the city of Dresden, which was almost destroyed in a fire in 1685. With his light hand, the city was filled with baroque buildings, which are currently the pride of "Florence on the Elbe". In addition, during the time of August I, Dresden acquired the title of the capital of Saxon porcelain. An ancient legend says that the king always needed gold for the treasury, and therefore locked the alchemist Bettger in the castle so that he would find a way to obtain the precious metal. However, the scientist did not receive gold, but he discovered the amazing secret of making high-quality porcelain, thanks to which the entire region became famous in the future.
The German city of Dresden reached a significant flourishing in the eighteenth century. At this time, it becomes the universal center of the European economy, politics and culture. And already in the nineteenth century, industry began to develop very actively in the city. Until the middle of the twentieth century, Dresden was considered one of the most beautiful cities in the country, thanks to its artistic we alth and magnificent architecture.
Artistic Heritage
The main repository of art treasures is located in the famous Dresden Art Gallery, created in the sixteenth century by Frederick the Wise. In the eighteenth century, under Augustus II, the institution reached its presentheyday, since his storerooms were regularly replenished not only with individual canvases, but also with entire collections at once. Of greatest interest is Italian painting of the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries. These are, first of all, the works of Veronese, Giorgione, Titian, Correggio, Raphael, Tintoretto. There are also works by famous representatives of Dutch painting - Ruisdael, Vermeer, Rembrandt and Hals. In addition, there are paintings by the Flemish school - Snyders, Van Dyck and Rubens. All these wonderful works could have perished at the end of World War II. Therefore, the Germans hid we alth in damp limestone mines. Subsequently, it took several decades to restore them.
In February 1945, Dresden was bombed by the armed forces of the United States and Great Britain, as a result of which the Zwinger was completely defeated. Its pavilions housed a library, a collection of engravings and porcelain. The ensemble was completely destroyed. Architects and scientists restored the complex according to archival drawings. And now there are exhibits of the Dresden Gallery in the Zwinger.
Description of the city
Description of the city of Dresden should start with its structure. It spread out on both sides of the Elbe River. On the left coast is the "Old" city of Dresden - more precisely, its historical part. Most of the attractions are located on its territory. Despite the severe destruction that befell the historical center during the Second World War, it was possible to restore it, while maintaining the appearance of the city as it iswas earlier. In the historical center there is the famous Zwinger, the Frauenkirche Church, the Sepmer Opera House, the Neumarkt Square, the Cathedral, the Residence Castle, the Stable Yard, the Academy of Arts and other buildings.
The most favorite bridge of the townspeople is the bridge of August the Strong, which connects the two parts of the city of Dresden - the New and the Old. The New Town also has many beautiful buildings and historical monuments. Immediately behind the bridge rises the monument "Golden Horseman", dedicated to Augustus the Strong. Royal Street is one of the main ones in the new part. There are exhibitions, boutiques, galleries and other interesting establishments on it. But in the center of the Baroque quarter you can see the Church of the Three Kings. This building is one of the oldest representatives of the late Baroque in Germany.
Zwinger Palace
The city of Dresden is best known for its sights and art treasures. The most famous and significant is the Zwinger Palace, which is considered the highest degree of Baroque in Germany. The buildings of the palace form a courtyard with fountains and flower beds, where all tourists and guests of the city can walk around.
Zwinger was built from Saxon sandstone, which was often used in construction. The stone allows you to perform carving elements of any complexity. In addition, over time, sandstone tends to darken, which makes the buildings mysterious. It is worth noting that the Zwinger is the most amazing attraction of the city of Dresden (the photo is given in the article). The splendor of its decoration, the building resembles a palace. But in fact, August the Strong conceived the complex as a place to store armor, weapons, porcelain, collections of paintings, silver and exotic plants, and not as a residence for the royal couple. One can only imagine how much money it took to build such a large-scale repository of art objects. This speaks of a great love for art and everything beautiful, as well as a desire to demonstrate the greatness and power of monarchs.
Zwinger consists of six pavilions, which are connected by galleries. On its territory you can see the Armory, the Bell Pavilion, the German Pavilion, Porcelain, which houses the Royal Collection of magnificent porcelain. It is also interesting to look at the Crown Gate, the French Pavilion and the Physics and Mathematics Salon. No less beautiful is the Bath of the Nymphs. But the Dresden Picture Gallery was erected later, but now it very harmoniously complements the overall ensemble. Initially, the most significant celebrations were held in the Zwinger. Even now, open-air celebrations and concerts are held in the palace.
Residence Palace
The Residence Palace is one of the oldest buildings in the city of Dresden. It was built in the Neo-Renaissance style. In 1940, on the site of a beautiful palace, there was a city gate and a wall. And already in 1548, the first palace was erected in their place, in which the Saxon dynasties of kings lived. In the future, the building was repeatedly completed and altered, supplementing with various architectural elements. The greatest interest intourists are called by the Hausmannstrum tower, its height reaches one hundred meters. It is equipped with an observation deck from which you can admire the beauty of the city of Dresden.
The courtyard of the residence is also very beautiful. Two openwork suspension bridges connect the building with the Cathedral. On the territory of the beautiful palace there are two museums that deserve the attention of the guests of the city of Dresden in Germany. One of them is called "Green Vaults". Its exposition is divided into two parts - "New Green Vaults" and "Historical Green Vaults".
In total, the museum has more than four thousand beautiful exhibits, among which you can see unique jewelry with sapphires, diamonds and emeralds. All of them are stored under the glass of anti-reflective showcases, allowing you to appreciate their beauty. A real masterpiece of the exposition is a small cherry pit, on which 185 faces are carved.
Royal Porcelain Collection
The city center of Dresden in Germany houses the finest and richest porcelain collection in the world. It is called "white gold". The collection impresses with painting and beauty. And this is not surprising, because historically it turned out that Saxony became the real homeland of all European porcelain. The value of Meissen porcelain is recognized all over the world. August the Strong greatly appreciated such products. That is why he regularly replenished his collection not only with beautiful examples of Meissen production, but also with interesting porcelain products from China and Japan. Currently, the Dresden Museum houses Chinese and Japanese exhibits from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Semper Opera
The city of Dresden (photos are given in the article) is impossible to imagine without the famous Saxon State Opera, which is one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe. It is made in the Neo-Renaissance style. The building has become a real decoration of the Theater Square. It is decorated with stunningly beautiful sculptures. The history of the Semper Opera dates back more than 450 years. The first theater building on this site appeared in 1648. In the future, eight more theaters were erected nearby, which is why the square became known as the Theater Square. In 1841, Semper erected a new building, which burned down in 1869. Therefore, the question of restoring the opera arose again.
Then Zemper and his son built a brand new structure that looked exactly as we see it today. However, all the twists and turns of the story did not end there. During the bombing of 1945, almost the entire building was destroyed. It was possible to restore it based on the surviving drawings of the Semper family.
Church of Saint Mary
The history of St. Mary's is incredibly mysterious. Its roots go back to the eleventh century. It is believed that the first building on this site was built in the era of the Slavic tribe of the Sorbs, who lived on the Elbe coast even before the advent of Dresden. And in 1142, a church in the Romanesque style appeared on the same spot. Currently flaunting hereProtestant church in the city of Dresden (photo is given in the article). The height of the temple is 91 meters. It was erected by order of the same Augustus the Strong. The Protestant Church was supposed to outshine the Catholic cathedrals available at that time with its beauty.
Construction was carried out for seventeen years. But a temple of stunning beauty was erected with many artistic elements. However, not only the appearance of the building is striking, but also its interior decoration. The dome and vaults of the church are painted with gold. It is worth mentioning that during the construction the dome was completely made of stone, which is unusual for architecture. But, due to the fact that there are windows in its upper part, one gets the impression of lightness of a massive structure.
Brühl Terrace
Walking around the city, you should definitely walk along the famous Brühl terrace of Dresden. What other country's city can boast of such a large number of attractions in a relatively small area?! Along the embankment, opened in 1814, there are numerous historical architectural works that should definitely become an object of attention for curious tourists. The heritage of the Renaissance makes the center of Dresden completely mysterious and special. Here, behind every turn, there is another beautiful building with its long and sometimes tragic history.
Japanese Palace
The Japanese Palace is considered a very unusual place in Dresden. It was built in the Baroque style. Currently, the palace houses three museums: primitive history, ethnology and a collectionscience.
The building was built in 1715, but later became the property of Augustus the Strong, who began to organize festivities in it. But the palace got its name because of the creation of an oriental-style roof. Asian style is also present on the outer facade and inside the courtyard. In the eighteenth century, the building acquired the status of a museum, which later housed the library. And in the nineteenth century, the architect Semper was engaged in the reconstruction of the palace. But during the 1940s, the library's collections suffered greatly. And the building itself was restored until 1951. Later, the palace housed three museums.
Palace Marcolini
In the historical part of the city there is also the former Marcolini Palace, the building of which was built by Brühl in 1736. Its main attraction was the baroque fountain of Neptune. The complex is known for the fact that Wagner once worked in it and Napoleon lived for a month. But from 1849 to this day, the city hospital has been located on the territory of the palace.
Neighboring cities
To be fair, it should be noted that not only Dresden itself is of interest, but also neighboring cities. The rich heritage of Saxony is not only within the city limits. Therefore, tourists should pay attention to cities near Dresden. 25 kilometers away is Meissen on the high bank of the Elbe. On its territory there is a Gothic cathedral, the famous Meissen porcelain manufactory and Albrechtsburg castle - the main attractions of the town. It's no secret that Saxony is the homelandstunning porcelain. So it was Mason porcelain that glorified the region to the whole world. But the town itself is incredibly beautiful, which attracts the attention of numerous tourists.
It is also worth remembering the Pillnitz Palace, which is located 15 kilometers from Dresden. The castle was the country residence of the monarchs of Saxony. The complex began to be built under Augustus the Strong. And in the middle of the nineteenth century, the palace was reconstructed.
Another beautiful place in Saxony is Moritzburg Castle, which is located 14 kilometers from Dresden. The palace was also built as a country residence. In the eighteenth century, Augustus the Strong transformed a simple hunting lodge into a beautiful baroque palace. Subsequently, the complex became a favorite vacation spot for the nobility. It is located in an incredibly picturesque place - on an artificially created island.
Interesting places in the city
There are many interesting places in Dresden. If time permits, it is worth visiting the world-famous dairy shop of the Pfund brothers, founded back in 1880. The establishment is very different from the shops we are used to. It is decorated with ceramic tiles and intricate mosaics. And on the walls you can see hand-painted. The stunning beauty of this place has allowed it to become the most beautiful shop in the world. An interesting fact is that in 1998 the store even got into the Guinness Book of Records.
Dresden highlights
Where this city is located and what are its main attractions, we have already told readers. But, unfortunately, within the framework of one article it is difficult to tell about all the beauties of Dresden and Saxony. There are many interesting places in the city that have a not so long history, but still attract the attention of numerous guests.
Citizens consider the birthday of their city March 31, 1206. After all, this date is imprinted on Dietrich von Meissen's charter, in which the first mention of Dresden is documented. And yet locals celebrate City Day in August. It was during this period that large mass festivities of the townspeople were organized. As a rule, concerts and theatrical performances are held in the city for three days. On such days, a steamboat festival is held, and the holidays end with fireworks. The program of events is updated annually by the organizers.
To be fair, Dresden is one of the most visited cities in Germany. More than two million visitors visit it every year.
In the city you can see not only historical sights, but also just interesting places. In Dresden, it is worth seeing a completely unusual musical building. It is located in the student quarter. The house is painted in a stunningly beautiful turquoise color. But even this does not attract crowds of onlookers to him. The facade of the building is completely hung with pipes and funnels that resemble wind instruments. In such an unusual way, the drainage system is designed, which, by the way, does an excellent job. In addition, when it rains, it makes beautiful sounds. For this reason, the housecalled musical. According to tourists who visited the building during a downpour, they managed to listen to a full-fledged performance of the orchestra. Gutters make completely different sounds depending on the intensity of the flows. It's hard to say whether this is true or not, you can only visit this amazing place yourself to make sure the reviews are true.
Kitchen of Dresden
When visiting Dresden, you should definitely go to one of the local restaurants or cafes. Most of the dishes offered in catering establishments belong to Saxon cuisine. An incredibly popular food is roast beef. Before cooking, the meat is carefully marinated and many spices are added. You should also try the local potato soup. But for dessert, the townspeople traditionally eat syrniki. It is worth trying delicious cakes with cottage cheese and raisins. On the eve of Christmas, all cafes prepare crispy gingerbread for guests.
The national cuisine of the city is not distinguished by any special delicacies. Cafes and restaurants serve traditional dishes that have their own long-standing cooking traditions. Fruit salads and pastries are popular among locals as desserts. It is worth noting that, in addition to traditional German establishments, the city, of course, has French, Italian or Japanese restaurants. The most interesting gastronomic establishments are located in the Neustadt district. It will be interesting for all gourmets to make an excursion here.
Experienced tourists recommend visiting the Canaleto restaurant, which offers the bestnational dishes of Saxony. Here you can taste tomato soup with croutons, delicious fish delights, fruit desserts.
Instead of afterword
Dresden is a very interesting city with a rich history and an amazing collection of architectural monuments. On its territory and in the suburbs, you can see numerous castles and palaces, which are real works of art and worthy of the attention of tourists.
