The Art Courtyard Passage (Kunsthof Passage) links Alaunstrasse 70 with Görlitzer Strasse 23-25 The five courtyards are named „Courtyard of animals“ (with giraffes, monkeys and a buffalo on the walls), „Courtyard of metamorphoses“, „Courtyard of light“ (with mirrors at the wall to lighten the courtyard), the „Courtyard of mythical creatures“ and – my favorite! – The „Courtyard of the elements“...
Brühl’s Terrace is often called the “Balcony of Europe” – some claim that the ubiquitous German poet laureate Goethe had invented the term, but others say that the many guests from all over Europe, who are strolling along the 500 meters and enjoy the views of the Elbe and the opposite river bank have the copyright. Brühl’s Terrace is named...
The Cathedral (Hofkirche) is Saxony’s largest Catholic church – and the last great Baroque building in Dresden. In the crypt the heart of August the Strong is buried – the body of the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland rests in Kraków (Poland). Next to the heart are 48 sarcophagus of the other Saxon kings and dukes and their...
The Church of Our Lady (Dresdner Frauenkirche) is a Lutheran church. featuring one of the largest domes in Europe. Built in the 18th century, destroyed in the bombing of Dresden during World War II and rebuilt after the reunification of Germany. The challenge that the craftsmen had to face sounds paradox: would they be able to build it the way they would have done it in former times? They were...
The Statue “Golden Horseman” shows Augustus the Strong (Elector of Saxony and King of Poland). It is the prelude to Inner New Town (Innere Neustadt) at New Town market(Neustädter Markt) – since 1736. The monument is covered with gold leaf and shows August the Strong in a Roman armor on his break to the Kingdom of Poland to the east. He...
This museum is world famous. For serious reasons (you will read about them in a few seconds), but even if you are not at all interested in fine arts, you will certainly know the the winged angels – from dog collars, umbrella stands, bedding, cookie jars, umbrellas and of course poetry albums. The cheeky cherubim have their own legends –...
Modesty sounds different: The most beautiful dairy in the world! But honestly: Do you know a dairy that is more beautiful. Or do you even know another dairy? I don’t – neither. You still can buy milk and cheese in the shop, but customers today are normally tourists and not people from the neighborhood – so be prepared to enter something like...
The house of Wettin is a family with a history. 34 Mark counts, dukes, princes and kings of the lineage of the royal house of Wettin. The are portrayed on an artwork that is 102 meters long. It is believed to be the largest porcelain picture of the world and represents the ruling in Saxony, from Konrad d. Große (1127) and ending...
This opera house shines into the world! It’s the second one that Gottfried Semper built in this spot. The first one opened on April 21, 1841 and was a three-story sandstone building. It was referred to as the “most beautiful theatre in the world”. Theatre and opera were played in the house with space for a total of 1,750 attendances. On September...
On first sight it’s hard to tell how delicate this building is: 3,000 heavy blocks form the 80 feet high cube (well…near-cube) of the building. The massive stones remind of sand stone – and of the wailing wall in Jerusalem. The tower is warped – 2 inches per stone row. That way the inner room of the synagogue can be...
In German, the room between inner and outer defense wall of a city is called “Zwinger”. The Zwinger in Dresden started this way too – until August the Strong decided that this would be the right place for an orangery that could protect the plants that couldn’t survive the cold Dresden winter. The Military had their doubts: “That’s not what you...
Right in front of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), the Advent at Neumarkt beams you back 100 years. Tradition, charm and the romanticism of the location are unique, the faithfully recreated market booths offer only high-quality, handmade products – from aromatic soaps to chocolate specialities and glass art all the way to puppets and cheese. Of course, we tried...
The Striezelmarkt claims to be the oldest Christmas market in Germany (others do so, as well. But they aren’t, of course!). It started as a one-day market in 1434 to provide the citizens of Dresden with the meat for the Christmas meal after the pre-Christmas period of fasting – and is now not only one of the oldest Christmas markets,...
The Christmas market in Loschwitz near the Blaues Wunder (blue wonder bridge) is my favourite in Dresden. The cosy, bright booths are of the highest quality. You can buy handicrafts, not always (actually: almost never) cheap, but mostly worth the price. And of course, those who believe that they are starving and dying of thirst for the rest of the year...
Quaint, rustic and relaxed – that is the Medieval Christmas market in the Stallhof. Here you will find hearty traders loudly praising their hand-made wares while jugglers, jesters and minstrels guarantee wonderful moments whichever way you turn. Very special: a hot bath in a traditional tub. At the weekends bands play medieval music, surrounded by fire-eaters, fortune tellers, knights and...
The Christmas market Altkötzschenbroda is very comfortable, compared to the tourist-flooded Striezelmarkt in nearby Dresden. But the offers are nonetheless unbeatably good – both for those who want to buy wool hats against the sudden cold air and for those who expect something different in music and entertainment (and, of course, especially for those who like to drink good mulled...