Dresden is a city in eastern Germany, which in 1945 was subjected to air strikes by British and American bombers. The center of the city was especially badly damaged; its restoration took about forty years.
Dresden is now a city of culture and art, with many world famous attractions.
The route includes 5 attractions, and its duration is only 1.5 kilometers.
Zwinger
The Zwinger is a Baroque architectural complex. Its construction began in the 18th century. It is a landscaped garden surrounded by museum buildings. The construction of three sides, in which the Physics and Mathematics Salon, the Museum of Porcelain, the Museum of Mineralogy and Geology are located, was completed before the middle of the 18th century. The German architect Matthäus Pöppelman worked on them.
The fourth side, the most recognizable, was built in the next century, according to the project of Gottfried Semper. The most famous art gallery is located in this place, in which there are about 750 works by old masters such as Durer, Rembrandt, Botticelli, etc.
There are also such famous paintings as “The Chocolate Girl” by Jean-Etienne Lyotard and “Sistine Madonna” by Raphael.
Semper Opera
Next to the Zwinger, on Teatralnaya Square, there is a grandiose building made in the Neo-Renaissance style – the Semper State Opera. It was also designed by Gottfried Semper, which is why it got its name from him – Semperoper.
This luxurious building is impressive not only on the inside, but also on the outside. The top is decorated with a quartet with Dionysus and Ariadne, and near the main entrance, visitors can observe sculptures by Schiller and Goethe. The side recesses contain figures of Moliere, Shakespeare, Euripides and Sophocles.
After the war, almost ruins remained of the opera, but they were not dismantled, and even, on the contrary, the walls were strengthened.
Brühl’s Terrace
Brühl’s Terrace or “Balcony of Europe” is a half-kilometer embankment near the Elbe, located between two bridges, Augustus and Karola. It got its name from the name of the count of that time – Heinrich von Bruhl. By his order, a palace and a gallery were built here, a belvedere and a library were erected, and a garden was planted.
At the beginning of the 19th century, by order of Nikolai Repnin-Volkonsky, a grand staircase was built to the terrace, which made it accessible to the common people. Over time, all the buildings were replaced and, at the moment, the Saxony Regional Court is located here. There is a tunnel under the terrace that leads to the Frauenkirche.
Frauenkirche
The Frauenkirche is the “Church of Our Lady”, a baroque Lutheran church. One of the most visited tourist destinations in Dresden. The entrance is free, if you wish, you can leave a donation.
The Frauenkirche differs from other buildings in the color of the stone, it is light and modern. Indeed, unlike the same Zwinger, where, after the bombing, at least some fragments were preserved, the church was completely destroyed.
The authorities did not allocate funds for its restoration, and until the end of the last century, these ruins simply reminded of what happened in the winter of 1945.
Panel “Procession of Princes”
The Procession of Princes panel is a 100-meter long panel in the world, made of Meissen porcelain, depicting the millennial reign of Saxony. The equestrian procession consists of 94 people. These are counts, and electors, and kings; there are also soldiers, artisans, scientists here. The procession is completed by the artist Walter, who created this picture.
Also in the old part of the city is the Residence Palace – the oldest building in the city, which has existed since the 13th century.
There is also a “cholera fountain” – a Gothic building erected in gratitude for the fact that the cholera epidemic did not affect Dresden in the 19th century.
In the same part of the city there is the Academy of Arts – the oldest university in Saxony and the Cathedral, in the underground of which there are the remains of 49 representatives of the Wettin dynasty.
For one day this is quite enough, no one will be bored, although even a week will not be enough for Dresden. Booking online a guided tour in Dresden will let you save your money and time https://excurzilla.com/en/germany/dresden