Dresden, one of Europe's greatest Baroque cities, stands majestically astride the Elbe River, about 30 kilometers north of the Czech Republic's border. It was the capital of the Saxon kings, who lavished their attention on the city's riverside palaces and soaring churches, leaving vast collections of art and antiquities behind. Today, world-class museums house this vast collection of historic artifacts, which includes beautifully preserved royal clothing. Despite the city's rich treasures and proud heritage, modern history has not been kind to it. Dresden suffered a double blow in World War II, when it was almost completely destroyed and then neglected for 45 years by the Soviet regime. From the Dresden of today, it's difficult to believe all of this. It has risen from the ashes, with only a few scars from the late-twentieth-century trauma. Palaces gleam, gardens bloom, and the Frauenkirche's magnificently restored dome rises above the cityscape once more. There is plenty to do in Dresden, with its abundance of museums, palaces, and other tourist attractions. Take time to stroll along Brühl's Terrace, admire the river from one of its bridges, and smell the roses in its gardens rather than rushing between these points of interest. Capital: Dresden International Airport: Dresden Airport (DRS) Population: 581,000 Currency: the euro Time: Driving side: Right Main Electricity: 230V Official Language: German Religion: Roman Catholic
Dresden's magnificent Frauenkirche is one of the most remarkable reconstruction projects in Germany, if not the entire world. Dresden Royal Palace and Museums, as well as the Frauenkirche, should be your top priorities if you only have a limited amount of time in the city. The Zwinger, a magnificent early-eighteenth-century palace in the city's center beside the Elbe, is one of Germany's finest examples of Baroque architecture. The magnificent Semperoper, the city's opera house, is built in the style of the Italian High Renaissance and dominates the west side of Dresden's Theaterplatz, one of Germany's most beautiful public squares. A stroll along Brühl's Terrace, or Brühlsche Terrasse, also known as the "Balcony of Europe," is a must-do on any trip to Dresden.
