Theaterplatz and Residenzschloss
(photo by srmurphy)

The city of Dresden in Saxony, South-East Germany, is alongside with Hiroshima, the bitterest example of the enormous destructions caused in the World War II. It was considered one of the most beautiful German and European cities, often called the “Baroque Florence”, until the ominous February 1945 when Dresden suffered the most savage “saturation bombing” performed by the allied American and British air fleets against entirely civilian objectives. Thousands of people were mercilessly killed in these air raids, as the city was overcrowded by refugees running away from the offensive of the Soviet Red Army. The estimated number of casualties varies from 35 to over 100 thousand people. Strange, but with this tragic background, the city managed to adapt to the new economic framework of the reunified Germany more successfully than any other city in the former GDR. The local government has started a very ambitious reconstruction program to return the previous brilliancy of Dresden, which was not stopped even by the horrific flood of the River Elbe in 2002.

The Zwinger
(photo by Harald52)

Dresden was founded a Slavic fishing village on the banks of the River Elbe. During the early Middle Ages it was in the shadow of the nearby Meissen. The glory period of Dresden began in 1485 when it was chosen for a capital of the dynasty of the Albertine Wettins - German counts, dukes and prince-electors. The culmination of this period was reached in the first half of the 18th century, under the rule of the Elector Augustus the Strong (1670-1733), also titled King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. He remained in history as a vile ruler and a feckless politician. In spite of this Augustus managed to gather around him in Dresden a group of very talented architects, artists and various craftsmen who turned the city into one of the cultural capitals of Europe, shining with its splendid architecture in an individual and heavily decorative Baroque style. The extensive art collection of the court was displayed in well organized museums, accessible for everybody. The city also continued to develop its musical tradition, turning into one of the main performance centers in Europe.

The city centre of Dresden is divided into two main parts by the River Elbe. South of the latter is located the Altstadt or the Old Town and north is the Neustadt or the New Town, which in fact is mainly from the 18th century. Most of the sights can be found in the old part of the city, but the Neustadt also boasts a considerable amount of Baroque monuments from the most glorious period of the city’s history. Many grey Communist buildings can be seen in the both parts of the city centre too. Some of the Dresden's suburbs were spared by the bombing attacks in 1945 and now feature some of the most rewarding sights which only hint what the central area looked like before the allied air raids.

Frauenkirche
(photo by srmurphy)

There are two main railway stations in Dresden - the Hauptbahnhof is located in souther direction from the Altstadt and the Bahnhof Neustadt is, as its name suggests, in the new city centre, more exactly in its north-west corner and within walking distance to the maint attractions clustered on the both river's banks. Between the two train station is the Bahnhof Mitte or the middle one, located next to Yenidze - an ancient cigarette gactory, whose architecture resembles a Muslim mosque. Bahnhof Mitte is not more convenient for the central city area than the other two stations. The Airport of Dresden is situated in the northern outskirts of the city, connected to the Hauptbahnhof by a regular S-Bahn line, running in both directions every hour.

The most scenic, romantic and memorable way to approach Dresden is by boat along the River Elbe. The tourist boats, coming from Meissen or from Saxon Switzerland, lay alongside the quay in the heart of the city.