In 2019 the readers of Condé Nast Traveller magazine voted Dresden as one of the “Best Cities in the World” and, in fact, put it in second place. Risen from the ashes of World War II and neglected for many years, Dresden has made an impressive comeback as a beautifully restored city in the east of Germany. It reclaims its position in the elite of European capitals of art, culture and architecture.
Known as the “Florence on the Elbe”, Dresden’s major growth took place in the 18th century under the reign of August the Strong. Unfortunately, a few months before the end of WWII, on the night of 13-14 February 1945, the city became the target of one of the most destructive air raids of all time. The air raid destroyed 75 per cent of the city. But the restoration of the historic sites and the rebuilding of residential areas have given the city a special quality and unique atmosphere. The Elbe River divides Dresden into two parts. South of the river is the Old Town (Altstadt) with the historic centre, and in the north is the New Town (Neustadt).
Zwinger
The best time to take a walk around the historic centre of the city is the afternoon. Then the light is soft and the traffic gradually calms down. Start your walk from Zwinger, one of the most important buildings of the Baroque period in Germany. It is a palatial complex with magnificent gardens. Augustus the Strong, having returned from seeing Versailles, wanted to build something similar for himself. Primarily a party palace for royals, the Zwinger has impressive portals that lead into a vast courtyard with fountains, framed by buildings lavishly adorned with sculptures. Walk around the courtyard and admire the elegance of the construction. The buildings house three very interesting museums nowadays.
Semperoper
Leave the courtyard through the Glonkenspiel gateway, turn left and follow Sophienstrasse until you reach Theaterplatz. Although this is a replica of the original building, the Semperoper (Semper Opera House) is a breathtaking building with an important artistic history. The building incorporates many stylistic elements from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. At the same time, its Corinthian-style pillars are typical of Greek classical revivalism. It first opened in 1841, and numerous operas premiered here, including Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss. Only six sculptures survive from the original structure, which represents famous theatrical writers, like Sophocles and Shakespeare.
Hofkirche and Residenzschloss
Cross Theaterplatz and reach Hofkirche. The Ehemalige Katholische Hofkirche (Former Court Cathedral) is an enormous 18th-century basilica and the largest church in Saxony. The building is dominated by an 86-metre bell tower, and it is decorated with numerous statues. Many kings and members of Saxony’s royal families are buried in the crypt. From the church, head east. First walk along the external buildings of Residenzschloss (Dresden Castle). It was the Royal Palace, the oldest building in Dresden. Today it is a museum complex with various collections. At the end of the road, turn right and continue walking along Augustusstrasse.
Furstenzug
The south side of the street is paralleled by an immense mosaic covering one of the palace facades. Furstenzug (Procession of the Princes) is a 102-metre-long ceramic mural hand-painted onto 24,000 Meissen porcelain tiles (see here our related article about the town of Meissen). The mosaic pictures Saxon rulers from 1123 to 1904. It was originally painted between 1871 and 1876 to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Wettin Dynasty. However, in order to make the work weatherproof, it was replaced with porcelain tiles between 1904 and 1907. It is the largest porcelain artwork in the world.
Neumarkt and Frauenkirche
Turn right and follow Augustusstrasse until Neumarkt Square. Due to its location on a slight rise above the Elbe River, Neumarkt was one of the first areas of Dresden’s old city to be settled but was almost completely destroyed by the air raid during WWII. The spectacular Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) dominates the square. Built during the 18th century, this Dresden landmark was left to ruins for decades.
After Germany’s reunification, the citizens of Dresden raised funds from around the world to finance the resurrection of this wonderful church. The church opened again for the public in 2005. The most impressive feature of the building is its massive dome. During its construction, there were strong doubts about its stability, which turned out to be wrong. Actually, according to tradition, in 1760 during an attack by the Prussian army, the dome was hit by more than 100 cannonballs, which bounced off, and the church survived.
Brulhsche Terrase
Just opposite the church, follow Munzgasse, probably the most picturesque street of the city with many restaurants and cafes, and head towards the Elbe River. At the end of the road, go up the stairs and reach Brulhsche Terrase (Bruhl’s Terrace). The so-called “Balcony of Europe” is a wide riverside promenade built on ancient fortifications and offers a fantastic view of the Elbe and Neustadt.
Neustadt
During your walk along the terrace, near the monument for Johann Friedrich Böttger, if you look closely at a guard rail of the terrace garden, you might notice a fingerprint. This dactylogram is said to be proof of August’s strength, who, according to tradition, left the mark. At the end of your walk, sit at one of the benches and enjoy the peacefulness of the river and the sight of riverboats passing below Augustusbrucke (Augustus Bridge), which connects the Old and the New parts of the city. Especially during sunset, it is an unforgettable spectacle.
Two other buildings that are worth a visit are located south of Neumarkt at Altmarkt square. The first is the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) with a golden statue of Hercules on its top, and the second is Kreuzkirche (Holy Cross Church), which is the oldest church of the city and home to the famous Kreuzchor Boys’ Choir.
A top city-break experience
An afternoon walk in the historic centre of Dresden is one of the top city-break experiences we have had during our travels. The atmosphere, the grandeur of the reconstructed buildings, the elegance, the feeling of happiness and fulfilment for a successful comeback, and the heavy history of the city will turn your visit into a unique and valuable memory.
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