At this point we would like to present a virtual tour of the baroque city Dresden and to introduce some of the beautiful sights and interesting information.
Größere Kartenansicht
The City Hall and the Cross Church
The beginning of the virtual tour through the Elbflorence city Dresden is the city hall, which was completed in 1910 at the Dr.-Kuelz-Ring. Only few steps away is the Cross Church. The sacred building was built in 1764 and had a construction period of 36 years. It is also the home of the Cross Choir, which is looking back on 700-years of tradition. From the top of the church you have a view on the old city and the Elbtal.
The Old Market Square
After leaving the church through the main entrance on the right side you will find the Old Market Square, which is the oldest and largest square in the city. Several times a year there are many activities, especially at Christmas time, when the “Striezelmarkt”, the oldest Christmas market in Germany, is opening its doors. Meanwhile, the marketplace has been completely renovated with new cobble stone streets and small fountains.
The Palace of Culture and the City Museum
To the north there is the Palace of Culture, which opened in 1969. This banquet hall with 2400 seats is the place for numerous events and concerts. On the right side there is the town museum. The building was built in 1770 in baroque style as a meeting place of the Saxony estates.
The New Market and the Frauenkirche
Crossing the police headquarters we reach the road to the New Market and the Frauenkirche (womens church). The Frauenkirche was built between 1726 and 1743 according to the designs of George Baehr and is the most important Protestant church in Germany. Due to the bomb attack of 15th February 1945 the main part of the church collapsed. After 30 years of reconstruction and with the help of global donations it was finally rebuilt in October 2005.
Coselpalais, Albertinum, Synagogue
The “Coselpalais” next to the Frauenkirche was also rebuilt with an original Baroque facade. On our way we will pass the “Muenzgasse”. It is a pedestrian street with pubs and restaurants. At the end of the street we will go upstairs to the famous “Bruehl’s Terrace”. Between “Albertinum” and “Carola Bridge” a new synagogue was created to remind on the former synagogue, which was destroyed by the national socialist in 1938.
Bruehl’s Terrace and the Epiphany Church
We continue our walk along the Bruehl’s Terrace. If we continue in the direction towards the theatre place, we will pass by many monuments such as by Caspar David Friedrich, Friedrich Boettcher and Gottfried Semper. From there we have also a beautiful view on the river Elbe with its paddle steamers and the “new town” on the opposite side. We follow our walk to the neo-baroque Epiphany Church, which was once the palace of the second-born prince. The “Städtehaus” right next to it, was once meeting point of the Saxon parliament.
Castle Square and the Court Church (Hofkirche)
Going downstairs from the Bruehl’s Terrace, we are arriving directly at the Palace Square with the Court Church. It was built 1738 - 55. The altar painting was done by Raphael Mengs Anton (1751), the Rococo chancel by Balthasar Permoser (1722) and the organ by Gottfried Silbermann (1755). The Pieta is made ??of Meissen porcelain by Friedrich Press (1973).
Italian Village and Dresden Castle
If you look towards the Elbe, you will see the Italian Village, which owes its name to the historical style of Italian construction workers. Next to the Court Church is the Dresden Castle. The tower is the oldest part of the building and is 100 meter high. The palace was also destroyed during the Second World War. The reconstruction as a museum complex of the Dresden State Art Collection with the Cabinet of copperplate engraving and the "Grünes Gewölbe" (Green Vault) began in 1985.
Schinkelwache and Taschenbergpalais
On the other side of the street is the Old Town Guard, also called “Schinkelwache”. In this building you can find the ticket sale of the Saxon State Opera and the tourist information. Directly behind is the “Taschenbergpalais”. This is a five-star hotel, which was also destroyed and was reconstructed from the ruins after several decades. Right hand from the “Taschenbergpalais” is the Semper Gallery of the Dresdner Zwinger. There you can find the painting gallery of the old masters and the Dresden Armory.
Dresden’s Semperoper
The Dresden’s Semperoper was built and named by the architect Gottfried Semper (1871 – 78) and is nowadays one of the most known Operas in Germany, also before the Saxon State Opera. After complete destruction during the Second World War and extensive reconstruction, the Semper Opera was re-opened in 1985. In order to have a view at the impressive interior of the Opera you have to arrange a special tour.
The Zwinger Palace
After the Opera we are continuing our tour towards one of the most famous buildings the Dresdner, “Zwinger Palace”. Its name derives from the location of the former city walls. It is famous for it baroque construction by the architect Matthaeus Daniel Poeppelmann combined with the unique beautiful work of the sculptor Balthasar Permoses. On the other side you can find the City Pavilion. It has nowadays the word wide most important porcelain collection of this special art. We walk through the pavilion into the Sophien Street and through the narrow alley between the palace and the cathedral to the palace square.
Fürstenzug and Museum of Transportation
The walk along the Augustus Street is a journey through the history of Saxony. The so called “Fuerstenzug” is 102-meter long and shows all the saxonian rulers from 1123 to 1904. The huge mural is made of 24 000 Meißener porcelain tiles. After the Augustus Street we arrive at the “Johanneum”, which is used as the Museum of Transportation today. We continue few meters towards the Palace of Culture and towards the Old Market, the starting point of our round tour through the historical city of Dresden.
