go back

The famous panorama of the Elbe River with the Old Town (Altstadt) has been reconstructed and behind this facade, progress is now also being made. Once again, you can admire Baroque buildings such as the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), the Taschenberg Palace and the Catholic Court Church (Hofkirche). In the castle and the Zwinger you will find masterpieces of art. A large part of the exhibits come from the period of Elector Augustus the Strong, King of Poland. The absolutist monarch is, as no other, a symbol of the Saxon zest for life which can still be felt everywhere in Dresden. But there is much more to Dresden than the Old Town. The Baroque inner New Town (Neustadt), north of the river, mostly survived the bombing raids and is a popular place to shop and eat. The outer New Town dates from the 19th century and has many boutiques, galleries, cafes, bars and an exciting night-life. The Blue Wonder (Blaues Wunder), a magnificent example of bridge architecture, stretches over the Elbe River at Loschwitz. There, the oldest suspended railroad in the world takes you up to the residential area. Traveling through old wine villages along the Elbe, you reach Pillnitz, where you will be captivated by the Baroque summer residence with its magnificent park. And from there you can make your way back to Bruhl's Terrace (Bruhlsche Terrasse) by historical steamer and reach the middle of Dresden, from where you started your trip. Entertainment has a special place in Dresden. The Semper Opera is one of the best opera houses in the world. The worldfamous choir, the Kreuzchor, has its home in the Church of the Holy Cross (Kreuzkirche). Both the Sachsische Staatskapelle and the Dresden Philharmonia are excellent orchestras. And in theater and cabaret, Dresden also has a long tradition. If you still long for Florence when you're in Dresden, you have only yourself to blame.