Dresden, Germany: General travel information
Dresden, area 328 km², population 505 000, capital city of the federal state Saxony
The origins of Dresden reach back to the 12th century when a settlement of slavic tribes named Drezdanywas founded, this town was first documentary mentioned in 1206 as Civitas Dresdene.
Dresden became the capital of the margravate Saxony in 1270, it was the residence town of the Dukes of Saxony from 1485 and seat of the Prince Electors of Saxony from 1547, making Dresden a medieval center of culture, arts and music.
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Main sights:
- State Opera of Saxony
- Philharmonic Orchestra
- Collection of Art and Technology
- Museum of prehistoric culture
- State Collection of Natural History
- Transport Museum
- Museum of Ethnology
- Baroque and Renaissance architecture
- Zwinger palace, built under the reign of Augustus II the Strong from 1710 to 1719 according to plans of architect Daniel Poeppelmann, magnificent building
- Bruehls Terrace, Bruehlsche Terrassen, located next to the Elbe river in the city center
- Dresdner Residenzschloss, Castle Dresden, residence of the prince electors from 1547 to 1806 and Kings from 1806 - 1918 of Saxony, built around 1200, extended from 1471 to 1474 according to plans of leading architect Arnold of Westphalia, renaissance attachment in the 16th century, reconstructed in baroque architecture after a fire in 1701 under the reign of Augustus II the Strong
- Hofkirche, church built from 1739 to 1755
- Frauenkirche, church built from 1726 to 1743, destroyed in WW II, reconstructed from 1993 according to original plans of master builder Georg Baehr, crypt completed 1996, cupola completed 2000, 96m high dome
- Dresden Elbe Valley, UNESCO World Heritage Site, state endangered due to construction of a new bridge forced by Federal State Government
- Semperoper, opera house built from 1871 to 1878, destroyed in WW II, reconstructed from 1977 to 1985
- Grosser Garten, baroque parkway established as hunting reserve in 1676, public garden since 1814
- Schloss Pillnitz, Pillnitz Castle, built under the reign of Augustus II from 1720 to 1730, reconstructed as summer residence of prince elector Friedrich August II from 1778 to 1791
- Kreuzkirche, church built in the 13th century
- Sophienkirche, gothic church
Airport
Dresden Airport (DRS), located 11km north east of city center