Tourist attractions Dresden

The Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister houses paintings collected by Augustus the Strong and his successor Augustus III. Exhibits include masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as works by Flemish and Dutch masters of the 17C, ..

Augustus the Strong’s initial idea was to build an orangery on the site of an old fortress. His architect Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann embellished the original project to create this vast esplanade surrounded by galleries and pavilions. This Baroque ge..

The jewellery and gold work collected by Augustus II are now once again on display in the historical green vault of Dresden Palace, which takes its name from the emerald green colour of its main room. The 3,000 items are exhibited in nine magnifice..

Almost entirely destroyed at the end of the Second World War, this Renaissance-style palace is still undergoing restoration. It houses the famous green vault , the treasure chamber of the dukes of Saxony, a collection of engravings and a collection ..

Lying between Dresden and the Czech frontier on the upper reaches of the Elbe, the region known as Sachsische Schweiz (Swiss Saxony) is one of Germany's most spectacular natural wonders with sheer sandstone cliffs and deep gorges gouged out of the ro..

This museum exhibits porcelain from Japan and China acquired by Augustus the Strong alongside porcelain from the unique Meissen works ; the famous “dragon vases” are particularly impressive. Note the life-size porcelain figures from Meissen (early 1..

You don't have to be a fan of weapons to be fascinated by the extraordinary pieces exhibited in the Rustkammer (arms museum). These beautiful examples of craftsmanship were collected by the Wettin dynasty of princes. The collection comprises 1,300 pi..

This room introduces visitors to the inventive genius of scientists through a display of clocks and other instruments dating from the 16C to the 19C. Admire the collection of sundials, hourglasses and different types of clocks, including floor clocks..

The opera house built by Gottfried Semper burnt down in 1869. The current one was built between 1871 and 1878 by Manfred Semper using the plans designed by his father, the builder of the first opera house. This building uses the forms of the Italia..

This huge building with the plan of a basilisk (1738-1755) was built following the conversion of the Albertins to Roman Catholicism. This conversion allowed them to accede to the Polish throne. Strongly inspired by the Italian Baroque, the church is ..

Building of the imposing Church of Our Lady began in 1726. It has become the city's emblem and is considered the building most representative of Protestant architecture. Its dome, with a 26m diameter and weighing in at more than 12 000t, was destro..

This church, dedicated to the Holy Cross, dates from the start of the 13C. This is the oldest church in the city. It was rebuilt in Baroque style after its destruction during the Seven Years War (1760). It is home to the famous Holy Cross male voice ..

The panoramic Brühlsche Terrasse is joined to the cathedral by a monumental stairway: interesting view over the Elbe and the monumental buildings of the Neustadt district, on the opposite bank, including the imposing neo-Classical façade of the Sa..

Built between 1770 and 1775 to house offices of the State of Saxony, this Baroque palace is now home to a museum dedicated to the history of Dresden from its foundation in the 13C, with particular focus on the 19C and 20C.

All the skill and taste of the Saxons in terms of craft work are found in the many pieces exhibited in the oldest Renaissance building in the city, erected in 1568: furniture made from multi-coloured wood, ironware, crockery, etc. Saxon and Swabian r..

The Japanisches Palais is a vast quadrilateral palace built from 1715 to 1737 by Pöppelmann to house the Meissen porcelain tableware of Augustus the Strong. It is now home to the Ethnological Museum . Note the oriental style roofs of the corner pavi..

This residential chateau was built between 1720 and 1724 by M. D. Pöppelmann, the architect of the prince-electors. A new palace built between 1818 and 1816 after the fire of the old Renaissance chateau adjoins the Wasserpalais and the Bergpalais, ..

Moritzburg Castle was originally a Renaissance hunting pavilion. At the behest of Friedrich Augustus I, it was largely remodelled in the early 18C by MD Pöppelmann. The edifice can be recognized by the imposing corner towers of ochre and white, col..

This garden was partly created in 1719 by Pöppelmann in French taste. Today, it remains one of the most accomplished compositions of the art of German Baroque gardens. Note the sumptuous whole formed by the green spaces surrounded by hedges, border..

Inaugurated in 2010 as part of the reconstruction of the castle after being in storage for 70 years, the " Turkish Chamber " illustrates the court of Saxony's interest in Eastern arts and culture. The sumptuous objects displayed against a b..