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When thinking about tourism in Germany, almost everyone immediately pictures Berlin with its historical landmarks, Frankfurt with its towering skyscrapers, Hamburg with its bustling port city, or Munich with its world-famous traditional beer festival. Yet, almost no one thinks of Dresden, the capital of Saxony, located in eastern Germany, only about a 3-hour bus ride from Berlin.
Perhaps because it's not a particularly large city targeted by tourist tours, most people are unaware of its existence. Even I was quite surprised when I first heard the name Dresden. I spent an entire afternoon searching online for information about the city before my trip. Although I had gathered a fair amount of information and viewed many images on travel websites, when the bus slowly rolled across the Carola Bridge into Dresden Altstadt, I was truly astonished. My eyes widened, and I gasped in excitement at the exquisite beauty of the city and its ancient architecture lining the picturesque Elbe River.
Because Dresden was once the residence and workplace of the Saxon kings, it is not only a city with picturesque natural scenery but also boasts a rich history of culture, architecture, and painting. Dresden consists of two main areas: Altstadt (the old town) and Neustadt (the new town), separated by the gently winding Elbe River. While Altstadt retains its ancient charm with many old architectural structures and historical relics from the reigns of various kings, on the other side of the river, Neustadt is adorned with a vibrant, bustling atmosphere, symbolizing a modern, youthful, and dynamic life.
Stepping out of the car and taking a deep breath, I began my leisurely stroll, visiting interesting landmarks showcasing the distinctive Baroque architecture of the old town - Altstadt.
Frauenkirche Church
This is the tallest building and also a symbol of the city of Dresden. The cathedral was destroyed during World War II, but it was rebuilt with donations from people around the world starting in 1994. It wasn't until 2005 that Notre Dame Cathedral reopened to visitors.
Zwinger Palace
Also known as the Royal Palace or Summer Palace, the Zwinger is one of the world's most exquisite Baroque and Rococo palaces. Today, it houses several of the city's art museums.
Semperoper Theatre
Located right next to the Zwinger Palace, the Semperoper is one of the world's most famous opera houses, built in 1878. Inside, much of the decoration is exquisitely gilded. Notably, it has been rebuilt three times after being destroyed twice due to war.
Großer Garten
Located in the heart of Dresden, this Baroque-style park covers an area of approximately 1.8 km². It was once a popular summer holiday destination and venue for banquets hosted by royalty and dukes.
Dresden Zoo
Dresden Zoo, located south of Großer Garten, opened in 1861 and is the fourth oldest zoo in Germany. Approximately 3,000 animals belonging to nearly 400 species from around the world are housed and cared for there.
Dresdner Residenzschloss Palace
As the workplace and residence of the Saxon kings, the palace is known as one of the oldest buildings in the city. Despite suffering significant damage during the war, it has now been restored and renovated. It is home to many museums and art galleries in the city.
Grünes Gewölbe Museum
The museum houses over 4,000 valuable artifacts, making it one of the largest treasure museums in Europe. Among them, the most notable is the "Golden Coffee Set," crafted by the renowned court goldsmith of the time, Johann Melchior Dinglinger.
The Fürstenzug Wall
One of Dresden's most famous landmarks, the Fürstenzug wall was built to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Wettin dynasty. It is the world's largest porcelain mural, covering nearly 1,000 square meters, measuring 100 meters in length, and utilizing 23,000 pieces of Meissen porcelain. This masterpiece depicts the images of 35 Saxon kings (from 1127 to 1873).
Saxon Switzerland National Park
Located just a 40-minute train ride from Dresden, the vast Saxon Switzerland National Park spans approximately 36,000 hectares. It boasts forests and strangely shaped sandstone formations dating back to the Cretaceous period. Additionally, the Bastei stone bridge and Königstein fortress are popular tourist attractions in this expansive area.
Moritzburg Castle
Located about 15 km northwest of Dresden, the symmetrically designed castle sits nestled within an artificial lake. With its stunning scenery in all four seasons, from spring to winter, the castle was once chosen as a filming location for the movie "Three Nuts for Cinderella".
After the trip, Dresden, which had initially seemed like a stranger, instantly became one of the most impressive cities I've ever had the chance to explore. Rarely does a city in Germany offer such a harmonious blend of contemplative (Altstadt) and bustling (Neustadt), of vast natural landscapes and sophisticated, modern man-made architecture, as Dresden does!
