Interesting places in Dresden:

Innere Altstadt		Wilsdruffer Vorstadt
Pirnaische Vorstadt		Innere Neustadt
Frauenkirche		Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony
Seevorstadt-Ost		Zwinger Palace
Park am Zwingerteich		Neumarkt
Blasewitz		Friedrichstadt
Dresdner Heide		Quarter I
Südvorstadt-West		Johannstadt-Nord
Johannstadt-Süd		Gasthaus Pappritzer Hof
Prager Straße		Großen Garden
Dresden University of Visual Arts		Schloss Pillnitz
Dresden Castle		Brühl Terrace
Theaterplatz

Dresden (Sorbian: Drjezdzany; etymologically from Old Sorbian Drezdany, meaning people of the riverside forest) is the capital city of the German Federal Free State of Saxony. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe. The city's population is 500,000 (2006) and the population in greater Dresden is 1.1 million. Dresden is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area, with an overall population of over 3.2 million.

Dresden is a very beautiful, lightspirited city, especially in summer, when you can appreciate the serene setting of the historic center. Be aware that while it has only a little more than 500.000 inhabitants, Dresden is larger than when measured by area. Your sightseeing tour should among others include:

• Zwinger Palace .
  Zwinger
  The baroque palace features a nympheum, many sculptures of Permoser, a bell pavillon and famous art collections. Do not miss the "Alte Meister" - you'll find the famous Madonna Sistina of Rafael there including the well known angels. There is also a very nice museum on the arms of Saxon kings, the "Rüstkammer".

• Semperoper The building is well worth to be visited, as it is one of the most beautiful operahouses in the world. The acoustics and the orchestra - the Staatskapelle, are marvellous. Its history saw many operas of Wagner and Straus having their first night there. Nowadays productions are of lower quality and follow the German "Regietheater" fashion. Make sure to inquire about the production in advance, you might have unpleasant surprises. - Make also sure to book tickets in advance. Some last-minute tickets are available from the box office shortly before the performance starts. Seats which do not have a good view are very cheap, and you can sit on benches behind the seats, right at the top of the auditorium, for free. When there is no rehearsal or performance, the opera offers an interesting tour behind the scenes.

• Frauenkirche The reconstructed Church of Our Lady was completely destroyed during WWII, and has now been reopened. The City of Coventry, which was raided by the Luftwaffe in WWII, donated the golden cross for the dome of the church. Do not miss the tower visit and bring good shoes to climb in (otherwise you will not be admitted in!).

• Fürstenzug This biggest porcellain painting of the world shows (almost) all Saxon princess and kings on their horses and splendid parade uniforms. It leads to the "Stallhof" - the last preserved tournament place contained in a European castle. This place is in winter the location of a very romantic chrsitmas marked with a big fireplace.

• Albertinum Museum . The collections of "Neue Meister" feature a wonderful collection ranging from romantic painters (Caspar David Friedrich etc.) up to Rotloff and Van Gogh.

• Gläserne Manufaktur The transparent factory is the site where Volkswagen builds its luxury sedan Phaeton. There is a free tour (English language) offered by Volkswagen.

• Schloss und Grünes Gewölbe . The Green Vault is Europe's most splendid treasure chamber museum. You may see the biggest green diamond, the court of Aurengzeb and precious crown juwels. It is not yet completely restored and will be completely re-opened from end of 2006 on.

• Staatliche Kunstsammlungen This website provides an comprehensive overview of all important museums in Dresden:

• Kassematten under the Brühlsche Terrasse (the terrace at the Elbe river) are the remains of the old fort. Gives you an insight view of what a fort in a medieval European town was.

• Schwebebahn Dresden - a unique aerial tramway

• Museum of Mineralogy One of Dresden's most important museums.

• Dresden History Museum

Dresden from another point of view

• Dresden Neustadt -- Very nice, lively part of the town. From heavy alternative style in the 90s it has become more and more "pseudo-exclusive" and expensive. But still you find some of the older way. Check out the festival in June. But you shouldn't leave your bicycle unattended without a good lock, and there is a serious risk of damage to your bicycle and car also, especially at weekend nights.
• Elbwiesen (River Banks): Go to the (mostly) green river banks, especially in hot summer evenings/nights - very nice view of the old parts and lot of people doing sports, having barbecues and parties. There are often big concerts and a huge movie screen offers "outdoor cinema".
• Großer Garten (Big Garden): Recommended for relaxing and sports (rollerblades are very common). It is Dresden's "green lung" and can be reached easily by tram. You can also go on a ride on a miniature train through the park.
• Erich-Kästner-Museum
• Military Historic Museum shows you many items and machines regarding military in history. A must for the interested. Easily accessible with tram lines 7 and 8 and bus line 91 at stop "Stauffenbergallee".
• Pfunds Molkerei (Dairy Strore) A guiness record holder for its variety of dairy products. A beautiful store from the beginning of the 20th Centrury.
• The Artists' Court A nice complex of inner courtyards artistically decorated. The complex offers art galleries as well as coffee shops.
• Weber Museum Dedicated to the Dresdner most famous composer.
• German Hygene Museum Near the Big Garden. A comprehensive museum dedicated to hygene in various times and cultures.

Other Museums

• Japanisches Palais, on the north bank of the Elbe between Augusbrücke and Marienbrücke. The palace was bombed out, and in its partially restored state holds several small museums, including the museum of natural history of the region, museum of prehistory and a display of assorted exotic garments (ethnological collection). Essentially none of the building is on display, unfortunately.
• Kuegelgenhaus - Museum of Dresdener Romantic Art
• Kunsthaus Dresden An exhibition hall for contemporary art.
• Leonhardi Museum A private art collection of DDR art including works by the collector himself.
• City Gallery of Dresden Art from the 16th Century to the present day.

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Dresden/Germany at Night
Made by Hobby-Photograph
Dresden (German pronunciation: [ˈdʁeːsdᵊn]) (German: Dresden, Czech: Drážďany, Upper Sorbian: Drježdźany, Polish: Drezno, Italian: Dresda) is the capital city[2] of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area.[3] Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. The city was known as the Jewel Box, because of its baroque and rococo city centre. Controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end of World War II killed thousands of civilians and completely destroyed the entire city. The impact of the bombing and 40 years of urban development during the East German communist era have considerably changed the face of the city. Some restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, including the Katholische Hofkirche, the Semper Oper and the Dresdner Frauenkirche. Since the German reunification in 1990, Dresden has regained importance as one of the cultural, educational, political and economic centres of Germany. Around the late 12th century, a Slavic settlement called Drežďany[6] had developed on the southern bank. Another settlement existed on the northern bank, but its Slavic name is unclear. It was known as Antiqua Dresdin verifiable since 1350 and later as Altendresden,[6][7] both literally old Dresden. Dietrich, Margrave of Meissen, chose Dresden as his interim residence in 1206, as documented in a record calling the place Civitas Dresdene. After 1270, Dresden became the capital of the margravate. It was restored to the Wettin dynasty in about 1319. From 1485, it was the seat of the dukes of Saxony, and from 1547 the electors as well. The Elector and ruler of Saxony Frederick Augustus I became King August the Strong of Poland in personal union. He gathered many of the best musicians,[8] architects and painters from all over Europe to Dresden. His reign marked the beginning of Dresden's emergence as a leading European city for technology and art. Dresden suffered heavy destruction in the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), following its capture by Prussian forces, its subsequent re-capture, and a failed Prussian siege in 1760. Friedrich Schiller wrote his Ode to Joy (the literary base of the European anthem) for the Dresden Masonic Lodge in 1785. The city of Dresden had a distinctive silhouette, captured in famous paintings by Bernardo Bellotto and by Norwegian painter Johan Christian Dahl. Between 1806 and 1918 the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony (which was a part of the German Empire from 1871). During the Napoleonic Wars the French emperor made it a base of operations, winning there the famous Battle of Dresden on August 27, 1813. Dresden was a centre of the German Revolutions in 1849 with the May Uprising, which cost human lives and damaged the historic town of Dresden. During the 19th century the city became a major centre of economy, including motor car production, food processing, banking and the manufacture of medical equipment. The city's population quadrupled from 95,000 in 1849 to 396,000 in 1900 as a result of industrialization.[citation needed] In the early 20th century Dresden was particularly well known for its camera works and its cigarette factories. Between 1918 and 1934 Dresden was capital of the first Free State of Saxony. Dresden was a centre of European modern art until 1933. Dresden in the 20th century was a leading European centre of art, classical music, culture and science until its complete destruction on 13 February 1945. Being the capital of the German state of Saxony, Dresden had not only garrisons but a whole military borough, the Albertstadt. This military complex, named after Saxon King Albert, was never targeted in the bombing of Dresden. During the final months of World War II, Dresden became a safe haven to some 600,000 refugees, including women, children, and wounded soldiers, with a total population of 1.2 million. Dresden was attacked seven times between 1944 and 1945, and was occupied by the Red Army after German capitulation. The bombing of Dresden by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Force between 13 February and 15 February 1945 remains one of the more controversial Allied actions of the Western European theatre of war. The inner city of Dresden was largely destroyed by 800 RAF and USAAF bombers that dropped 650,000 incendiaries and 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg)[clarification needed] of high explosives and hundreds of 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) bombs[12] in three waves of attacks. Early reports estimated 150,000 to 250,000 deaths. The German Dresden Historians' Commission, in an official 2010 report published after five years of research, concluded there were up to 25,000 civilian casualties,[13] while right-wing groups claim that up to 500,000 people died.[citation needed] The inhabited city centre was almost wiped out, while larger residential, industrial and military sites on the outskirts were relatively unscathed. Some of the Allies described the operation as the justified bombing of a military and industrial target.[14] A report from the British Bomber command stated the military target was the railway marshalling yard Dresden-Friedrichstadt, which housed 4,000 trucks, at most, per 24 hours. Prime Minister Winston Churchill tried to distance himself from the attack, even though he was heavily involved with the organization and planning of the raid. Several researchers have argued that the February attacks were disproportionate. Mostly women and children died.[15] American novelist Kurt Vonnegut witnessed the raid as a POW; his novel Slaughterhouse-Five is based on that experience. In remembrance of the victims, the anniversaries of the bombing of Dresden are marked with peace demonstrations, devotions and marches Dresden has experienced dramatic changes since the reunification of Germany in the early 1990s. The city still bears many wounds from the bombing raids of 1945, but it has undergone significant reconstruction in recent decades. Restoration of the Dresden Frauenkirche was completed in 2005, a year before Dresden's 800th anniversary, notably by privately raised funds. The gold cross on the top of the church was paid for and donated by the City of Coventry as a mark of the bond between the two cities. The urban renewal process, which includes the reconstruction of the area around the Neumarkt square on which the Frauenkirche is situated, will continue for many decades, but public and government interest remains high, and there are numerous large projects underway—both historic reconstructions and modern plans—that will continue the city's recent architectural renaissance. Dresden remains a major cultural centre of historical memory, owing to the city's destruction in World War II. Each year on 13 February, the anniversary of the British and American fire-bombing raid that destroyed most of the city, tens of thousands of demonstrators gather to commemorate the event. Since reunification, the ceremony has taken on a more neutral and pacifist tone (after being used more politically in Cold War times). In recent years, however, white power skinheads have tried to use the event for their own political ends. In 2005, Dresden was host to the largest Neo-Nazi demonstration in the post-war history of Germany. Between five and eight thousand Neo-Nazis took part, mourning what they call the Allied bomb-holocaust. In 2002, torrential rains caused the Elbe to flood 9 metres (30 ft) above its normal height, i.e. even higher than the old record height from 1845, damaging many landmarks (See 2002 European flood). The destruction from this millennium flood is no longer visible, due to the speed of reconstruction. The United Nations' cultural organization UNESCO declared the Dresden Elbe Valley to be a World Heritage Site in 2004.[18] After being placed on the list of endangered World Heritage Sites in 2006, the city lost the title in June 2009,[19][20] due to the construction of the Waldschlößchenbrücke, making it only the second ever World Heritage Site to be removed from the register.[19][20] UNESCO stated in 2006 that the bridge would destroy the cultural landscape. The city council's legal moves meant to prevent the bridge from being built failed.[ Dresden lies on both banks of the river Elbe, mostly in the Dresden Basin, with the further reaches of the eastern Ore Mountains to the south, the steep slope of the Lusatian granitic crust to the north, and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains to the east at an altitude of about 113 metres. The highest point of Dresden is about 384 metres in altitude.[23] With a pleasant location and a mild climate on the Elbe, as well as Baroque-style architecture and numerous world-renowned museums and art collections, Dresden has been called Elbflorenz (Florence of the Elbe). The incorporation of neighbouring rural communities over the past 60 years has made Dresden the fourth largest urban district by area in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne.[24] The nearest German cities are Chemnitz (80 km/50 miles to the southwest), Leipzig (100 km/ 62 miles to the northwest) and Berlin (200 km/ 124 miles to the north). Prague is about 150 km/ 93 miles to the south; the Polish city of Wrocław is about 200 km/ 124 miles to the east. Dresden is one of the greenest cities in Europe, with 63% of the city being green areas and forests. The Dresdner Heide to the north is a forest 50 km2 in size. There are four nature reserves. The additional Special Conservation Areas cover 18 km2. The protected gardens, parkways, parks and old graveyards host 110 natural monuments in the city.[25] The Dresden Elbe Valley is a former world heritage site which is focused on the conservation of the cultural landscape in Dresden. One important part of that landscape is the Elbe meadows, which cross the city in a 20 kilometre swath. Saxon Switzerland is an important nearby location. More info and other languages available at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresden


24. 12. 2006
Made by Ulrich van Stipriaan
Frohe Weihnachten! Merry Christmas! Prettige Kerst! Buon Natale! Joyeux Nöel! Feliz Natal! One more thing... ... go to . Everyone is invited to think and to act! The following list is written by them... Afrikaans: Gesëende Kersfees Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees African / Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats Albanian: Gezur Krislinjden Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah Argentine: Feliz Navidad Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand Azeri-Azerbaijan: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On! Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou! Chile: Feliz Navidad Chinese (Cantonese): Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun Chinese (Mandarin): Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan Chinese (Catonese): Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth Corsian: Pace e salute Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi Croatian: Sretan Bozic Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok Danish: Glædelig Jul Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast Dutch (Netherlands): Prettig Kerstfeest Eskimo: (Inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo! Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon Estonian: Rõõmsaid jõulupühi Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar! Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad Finnish: Hyvaa joulua Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar French: Joyeux Noel Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier! Galician: Bo Nada Gaelic (Irish): Nolag mhaith Dhuit Agus Bliain Nua Fe Mhaise Gaelic (Scots): Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! German: Froehliche Weihnachten Greek: Kala Christouyenna! Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara! Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova Hindi: Shub Naya Baras Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket Icelandic: Gledileg Jol Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay. Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum! Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu! Lausitzian: Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik Maltese: LL Milied Lt-tajjeb Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa Maori: Meri Kirihimete Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh Navajo: Merry Keshmish Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado Papiamento: Bon Pasco Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr! Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo Philipines: Maligayan Pasko! Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie Portuguese: Feliz Natal Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn Romanche (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn! Romanian (in Moldova Republic): La Anul si La Multi Ani Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom Sami: Buorrit Juovllat Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou Serbian: Hristos se rodi Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh Serb-Croatian: Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina Serbian: Hristos se rodi. Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa Slavey (a Dene Language from the Northwest Territories in Canada): Teyatie Gonezu Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok Slovene: Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto Spanish: Feliz Navidad Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon Tami: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal Trukeese (Micronesian): Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech! Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh Welsh: Nadolig Llawen Yugoslavian: Cestitamo Bozic Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!


My Vision of Dresden, Germany
Made by Tobi_2008
Dresden The bombing of Dresden by the Royal Air Force and by the United States Air Force between February 13 and February 15, 1945, remains one of the more controversial Allied actions of the Western European theater of war. The inner city of Dresden was completely destroyed during what later proved to be the final weeks of war in Europe. Dresden has experienced dramatic changes since the reunification of Germany in the early 1990s. The city still bears many wounds from the bombing raids of 1945, but it has undergone significant reconstruction in recent decades. Restoration of the Dresden church Frauenkirche was completed in 2005, a year before Dresden's 800th anniversary, notably by privately raised funds. The urban renewal process, which includes the reconstruction of the area around the Neumarkt square on which the church Frauenkirche is situated, will continue for many decades, but public and government interest remains high, and there are numerous large projects underway — both historic reconstructions and modern plans — that will continue the city's recent architectural renaissance. Dresden remains a major cultural center of historical memory. In 2002 torrential rains caused the Elbe to flood 9 m above its normal height, i.e. even higher than the old record height from 1845, damaging many landmarks The destruction from this millennium flood is no longer visible, due to the speed of reconstruction. The United Nations cultural organization UNESCO declared the Dresden Elbe Valley to be a World Heritage Site in 2004. After being placed on the list of endangered World Heritage Sites in 2006, the city is most likely going to lose the title due to the construction of the bridge Waldschlößchenbrücke. UNESCO stated in 2006 that the bridge will destroy the cultural landscape. The city council's legal moves to prevent the bridge being built failed. Wikipedia The buildings on the picture are from left to right: The academy of art (Kunstakademie), behind the Sekundogenitur is the Church of our Lady (Frauenkirche), the Ständehaus (with small tower), the church Hofkirche, the tower of the Dresden castle and the Dresden opera called Semperoper.


subrectangular (krumm und schief)
Made by sediama
Dresden Castle (German: Dresdner Residenzschloss or just Dresdner Schloss) is one of the oldest buildings in Dresden and has been the residence of the Electors (1547–1806) and Kings (1806–1918) of Saxony. One of the most fascinating qualities of the castle is the multitude of architectural styles found in it, from Baroque to Neo-renaissance. The original castle was a Romanesque keep, built around 1200. It was extended between 1471–1474 by the master-builder Arnold von Westfalen. In the middle of the sixteenth century an addition in the Renaissance style was added, and, after a big fire in 1701, Augustus II the Strong reconstructed much of the castle in the Baroque style. Additionally, the collection-rooms, placed in the western wing, were created at this time during two periods. In the first period (1723–1726) the Silver Room, Heraldic Room and the Pretiosensaal arose, whereas in the second campaign (1727–1729) the Kaminzimmer, Juwelenzimmer, Ivory Room and Bronze Room were built. At the turn of the twentieth century a reconstruction in the Neo-renaissance style took place and afterwards various modernizations were undertaken, such as the installation of underfloor heating and electric lights in 1914. Most of the castle was reduced to a roofless shell in the air attack (Bombing of Dresden in World War II) on February 13/14 1945. The Heraldic Room, Jewel Room, Silver Room and Bronze Room were all destroyed. Fortunately the collections survived, having been taken to the Königstein Fortress in the early years of the war. In the first 15 years after the end of the Second World War no attempts were made to restore the building except the installation of a temporary roof in 1946. During the 1960s, the reconstruction began with the installation of new windows. Since then an amazing amount of restoration has occurred. The famous Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) was reopened in 2005 containing, among other priceless items, the treasures of the Saxon Monarchy. The rebuilding of the castle is not yet complete. (Wikipedia) Explore: 89 on Wednesday, March 30, 2011


Zwinger, Dresden
Made by Tobi_2008
The Zwinger Palace (Der Dresdner Zwinger) in Dresden is a major German landmark. The location was formerly part of the Dresden fortress of which the outer wall is conserved. The name derives from the German wordZwinger (outer ward of a concentric castle); it was for the cannons that were placed between the outer wall and the major wall. The Zwinger was not enclosed until the neoclassical building by Gottfried Semper called the Semper wing was built to host the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister art gallery. The Zwinger was designed by Pöppelmann and constructed in stages from 1710 to 1728. Sculpture was provided by Balthasar Permoser. The Zwinger was formally inaugurated in 1719, on the occasion of the electoral prince Frederick August’s marriage to the daughter of the Habsburg emperor, the Archduchess Maria Josepha. At the time, the outer shells of the buildings had already been erected and, with their pavilions and arcaded galleries, formed a striking backdrop to the event. It was not until the completion of their interiors in 1728, however, that they could serve their intended functions as exhibition galleries and library halls. The death of Augustus in 1733 put a halt to the construction because the funds were needed elsewhere. The palace area was left open towards the Semperoper square and the river. Later the plans were changed to a smaller scale, and in 1847–1855 the area was closed by the construction of the gallery wing now separating the Zwinger from the opera place; the architect was Gottfried Semper, who designed the opera. The building was mostly destroyed by the carpet bombing raids of February 13-15, 1945. The art collection had been evacuated before, though. After the war, in a referendum, the people of Dresden voted to restore the building and generally preferred to rebuild the glories of the city, instead of having the ruins razed to make way for the architecture of socialist realism then prevalent in the German Democratic Republic. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The New Synagogue in Dresden
Made by Tobi_2008
The New Synagogue in Dresden was completed in 2001 and designed by architects Rena Wandel-Hoefer and Wolfgang Lorch. It was built on the same location as the Semper Synagogue (1839–1840) designed by Gottfried Semper, which was destroyed in 1938, during the Kristallnacht. The boundary wall of the New Synagogue incorporates the last remaining fragments of Semper's original building. The outer walls of the synagogue are built slightly off plumb, intended by the architect to convey the feeling that the Jewish community has always been slightly set off from the German city. The synagogue is also an interesting contrast to the city center with which it is juxtaposed. It is set on a slight rise just at the edge of Dresden's baroque center, which was completely flattened by allied bombing during the war. The center is being rebuilt with buildings whose exteriors (and in the case of the more significant buildings, also interiors, though not construction materials,) are precise replicas of the baroque royal city that long made Dresden famous. The synagogue stands beside this careful reproduction of the past, but it is not a replica of the historic Semper Synagogue. It is a bold modernist statement that contrasts dramatically with its neighbors. The interior space is equally dramatic. The sanctuary building is a cube (all service functions are located in the companion building set at the other end of a stone plaza.) Within this cube is set a square worship space, curtained off on all four sides by an enormous draping of curtains made of chain-mesh in a golden metal. The effect is of an austere richness that evokes an echo of the grand scale of the Temple at Jerusalem. The building was shortlisted by the jury for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture in 2003. From Wikipedia


Transparent Factory in Dresden, Germany
Made by Tobi_2008
Transparent Factory is the English name of an automobile production plant owned by German carmaker Volkswagen and opened in 2002. The original German name is Gläserne Manufaktur (factory made of glass, literally vitreous manufactory). Both the German and English names are a word play on the double meaning of transparent and glassy, referring to both optical transparency and transparency of the production process. The main purpose of the factory is the assembly of Volkswagen's luxury sedan, the Phaeton. Spare capacity was also used to construct Bentley Continental Flying Spurs until 2006, when all work was transferred to Bentley's Crewe plant. The Transparent Factory is situated in the city center of Dresden, the 800-year-old German baroque city known for its arts and craftsmanship. It stands at the former location of the convention center. The factory's walls are made almost completely of glass. Its floors are covered entirely in Canadian maple. Its visitor-friendly layout was designed to accommodate up to 250 tourists per day. There are no smokestacks, no loud noises, and no toxic byproducts. The transparent factory handles final assembly only. All the smelly, noisy operations, such as stamping and welding and the painting of the steel bodies take place in Zwickau. Painted bodies arrive at the factory by truck. The other 1200 parts and 34 preassembled components are shipped to a remote logistics center and are transferred from there to the factory via trams that run on Dresden's public transport tracks. The German TV channel ZDF occasionally produces a philosophical panel discussion in the Transparent Factory, Das philosophische Quartett (The Philosophical Quartet). From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia


Christmas Pyramid in Dresden
Made by anadelmann
The Striezelmarkt in Dresden is one of Germany's oldest documented Christmas markets (first mentioned in 1434). It will open tomorrow (Thursday 27 November 2008) for the 574th time. It is a huge event , taking up a large part of Dresden city centre (around the Altmarkt), lasting through the Advent period and attracting more than 2 million visitors a year. When I was there with my wife (she's from Dresden) I really enjoyed all the wooden ornaments they are selling (candle pyramids, Schwibbogen, Räuchermann - smoking man, nutcrackers, ...) as well als all the delicious specialties they offer (Dresden Stollen, Pflaumentoffel, Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen - Pulsnitz gingerbread, Glühwein - mulled wine, ...). Apart from that there are events every day and they have the worlds largest Christmas Pyramid A Christmas Pyramid (Weihnachtspyramide) is a Christmas decoration (with roots in the Erzgebirge - Ore Mountains - of Germany) that has become popular throughout the country (and as I have learned in parts of the U.S.A. as well). It is a kind of carousel with several levels with Christian and / or secular motifs (there are some angels on the top level here and a nativity scene on the ground level, with a snowman on the second level). The spinning motion of the pyramids is traditionally achieved with the help of candles whose rising heat spins a propeller above. In many cities there are large Christmas pyramids on the Market Square at the Christmas Market like this one in Dresden. This one is 14,61m tall (~50 ft) and has 42 figurines. ... and for all my American friends: Happy Thanksgiving!


Zwinger porcelain collection, Dresden
Made by jackfre2
Augustus II (the Strong), the elector of Saxony and king of Poland, was a passionate collector of paintings, sculpture, antiquities, and above all porcelain. By 1721 he had assembled more than 14,500 pieces of porcelain from China and Japan and, most importantly, from the <porcelain factory he established at Meissen in 1710. Augustus himself referred to his passion for porcelain as his maladie de porcelaine (porcelain sickness). In 1711 Augustus began to build the Zwinger, a palatial complex of buildings in Dresden. It was designed by the architect Matthaus Daniel Poppelmann and the sculptor Balthasar Permoser to serve for court festivities. The Zwinger was destroyed during World War II and partly reconstructed in 1952 and 1963. It has now been fully reconstructed and restored, and on October 8 the famous porcelain collection reopens there with an up-to-date display of eighteenth-century Meissen and Oriental porcelain of all periods. Some of Augustus's ideas for presenting porcelain have been incorporated, shedding light on his collecting activities. The collection offers insight into the encounter between Eastern and Western cultures as well as into the development of porcelain from the early Chinese period to Meissen in the eighteenth century.


Dresden Opera
Made by Tobi_2008
The Opera in Dresden, Germany. It is called Semper Oper. The Semperoper ist the opera house of the Saxon State Opera Dresden (German: Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden) and the concert hall of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden in Dresden, Germany, and is one of the most famous in the world. It was first built in 1841, by architect Gottfried Semper. The building style itself is debated among many, as it has features that appear in the Early Renaissance style, Baroque and even features Corinthian style pillars typical of classical greece (classical revival). Perhaps the most suitable label for this style would be Eclecticism; where influences from many styles are used- a practice most common during this period. It had to be rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in 1869. The citizenry demanded that Gottfried Semper do the reconstruction, even though he was in exile at the time because of his activities in the May Uprising in Dresden in 1849. So the architect had his son Manfred Semper complete the second opera house with his father's plans. This second one was constructed in Neo-Renaissance style in 1878. During construction, performances were held at the Gewerbehausall, which opened in 1870. (Wikipedia)


Deep inside we are happy
Made by Tobi_2008
The Transparent Factory in Dresden, Germany Transparent Factory is the English name of an automobile production plant owned by German carmaker Volkswagen and opened in 2002. The original German name is Gläserne Manufaktur (factory made of glass, literally vitreous manufactory). Both the German and English names are a word play on the double meaning of transparent and glassy, referring to both optical transparency and transparency of the production process. The main purpose of the factory is the assembly of Volkswagen's luxury sedan, the Phaeton. Spare capacity was also used to construct Bentley Continental Flying Spurs until 2006, when all work was transferred to Bentley's Crewe plant. The Transparent Factory is situated in the city center of Dresden, the 800-year-old German baroque city known for its arts and craftsmanship. It stands at the former location of the convention center. The factory's walls are made almost completely of glass. Its floors are covered entirely in Canadian maple. Its visitor-friendly layout was designed to accommodate up to 250 tourists per day. There are no smokestacks, no loud noises, and no toxic byproducts.


Hofkirche, Dresden
Made by Tobi_2008
The Katholische Hofkirche (English: The Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony) is a Roman Catholic Cathedral, located in the 'Altstadt' in the heart of Dresden, in Germany. Previously the most important Catholic parish church of the city, it was elevated to cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dresden-Meißen in 1964. The Hofkirche stands as one of Dresden's foremost landmarks. It was built by architect Gaetano Chiaveri from 1738 to 1751. The church was commissioned by Frederick Augustus II, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. In the crypt the heart of King August the Strong is buried along with the last King of Saxony and the remains of 49 other members of the Wettin family as well as people who married into the family, such as Princess Maria Carolina of Savoy, wife of Anthony of Saxony. The church was badly damaged during World War II and was restored during the mid-1980s under the East German regime. Today it is the cathedral of the diocese of Dresden-Meißen. It has Silbermann's last and biggest organ. From Wikipedia


My trip to the Orient
Made by Tobi_2008
This is called Yenidze, a former cigarette factory building in Dresden, Germany. It was built between 1908 and 1909 and is used today as an office building. It is notable for its Orientalizing exterior design which borrows design elements from mosques. Yenidze was the name of a tobacco company started by the entrepreneur Hugo Zietz, which imported tobacco from Ottoman Yenidze, Macedonia (modern Genisea, Greece). The 'Oriental' style of architecture publicized the origin of the tobacco. The architect Martin Hammitzsch designed the building. It has large, colored dome chimneys which resemble minarets. It was sometimes referred to as the tobacco mosque, a term which is no longer officially used as the building is not a mosque. It is a unique historical feature of the city of Dresden. Because it is an unusual architectural monument for the city, the building was restored in 1996 and is now an office building. Underneath the dome, events take place regularly, mainly readings of fairy tales. From Wikipedia


Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)
Made by g_heyde
View On Black The Dresdner Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) is a Lutheran church in Dresden, Germany. The Dresden Frauenkirche survived the firebombing of Dresden during World War II but was totally burned out and collapsed the next day. It has been reconstructed as a landmark symbol of reconciliation between former warring enemies. The reconstruction of its exterior was completed in 2004, its interior in 2005 and after 13 years of rebuilding, the church was reconsecrated on 30 October 2005 with festive services lasting through the Protestant observance of Reformation Day on 31 October. Once a month, an Anglican Evensong in English is held in the Frauenkirche, with clergy sent from St. George's Anglican Chaplaincy in Berlin. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresden_Frauenkirche )


Einsam und kalt sind die Alleen im Pillnitzer Schloßpark
Made by H.B.Koch
Lonely and cold are the alleys in the palace gardens of Pillnitz Diese Aufnahme entstand an einem kalten Märzmorgen, im Sommer an einem schönen Tag dürften hier sehr viele Leute sein. Das Schloß und der Park stammen aus dem 18. Jahrhundert und liegen direkt an der Elbe. Der Park ist ca 28 Hektor groß und hier steht auch die älteste japanische Kamelie in Europa. Da sie im Winter von einem fahrbaren Glasschutz umgeben ist, sieht sie derzeit nicht sehr attraktiv aus, und ich habe auch kein Foto von ihr gemacht. This photo was taken on a cold morning in March, in summer on a fine day there would probably be many person. The palace and the park date back to the 18th century and are situated at the bank of the Elbe. The park has an area of about 28 hectare. The oldest Japanese camellia in Europe is growing here. During winter time the camellia is protected by are mobile green hous and does not look very attractiv, so I did not take a photo of it.


Paddle Steamer Dresden
Made by Batram
Must seen large!!! The White Fleet (Weisse Flotte in German) of Dresden, Germany is the oldest and biggest paddle steamer fleet in the world. It consists of nine wheel steamers, two salon ships and two motor ships. All the ships have names of Saxon towns and cities or Saxon people like August the Strong. The ships connect Meißen via Dresden to Saxon Switzerland along the river Elbe where they pass some remarkable castles, vineyards and villa quarters. Between Dresden-Übigau and Dresden-Pillnitz, Söbrigen to be more exact, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This part of the White Fleet area is eighteen kilometers long and mainly situated in the city of Dresden itself.


World Trade Center Dresden, Germany
Made by Tobi_2008
This is the World Trade Center in Dresden, Germany. It opened in 1996. It is one of about 300 centers from the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA). Das World Trade Center Dresden ist ein Büro- und Geschäftshaus in der Dresdner Innenstadt. Es ist eines von circa 300 von der World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) anerkannten Welthandelszentren. Es entstand auf dem Areal des liquidierten VEB Dresdner Süßwarenfabriken „Elbflorenz“ und wurde nach dreijähriger Bauzeit im Dezember 1996 eröffnet. Das WTC Dresden beherbergt vor allem Büros, Restaurants und Geschäfte, aber auch ein Hotel. Weiterhin befinden sich die Komödie Dresden sowie die Haupt- und Musikbibliothek der Städtischen Bibliotheken Dresden in dem Gebäude. (Wikipedia)


Dresden, Frauenkirche and New Market
Made by Tobi_2008
The Dresdner Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) is a Lutheran church in Dresden, Germany. The Dresden Frauenkirche survived the firebombing of Dresden during World War II but was totally burned out and collapsed the next day. It has been reconstructed as a landmark symbol of reconciliation between former warring enemies. The reconstruction of its exterior was completed in 2004, its interior in 2005 and after 13 years of rebuilding, the church was reconsecrated on 30 October 2005 with festive services lasting through the Protestant observance of Reformation Day on 31 October. The surrounding buildings are on a square called New Market (German: Neumarkt) and have been reconstructed during the last years.


Golden Dresden _ GERMANY
Made by Hewraman
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe. Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. The city was known as the Jewel Box, because of its baroque and rococo city centre. Controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end of World War II killed thousands of civilians and completely destroyed the entire city. Since the German reunification in 1990, Dresden has regained importance as one of the cultural, educational, political and economic centres of Germany


A Fireworks Display In Detail :: Cross View Stereoscopic 3D ::
Made by Stereotron
View in FULL SIZE here! Compositing of 7 stereoscopic firework shots. Below you see a magnification. Find the area of interest by crossing over the preview image with the mouse arrow. Shots were taken two Canon IXUS 960, 6 meters apart, shooting in RAW mode thanks to Chdk / StereoDataMaker. Here you can see a real display of fireworks in all it's detailed 3D beauty. You now may start squinting like hell... Learn how to free view stereoscopic images without 3D glasses...