Dresden:

Trivia: Dresden is the capital city of the German Federal State of Saxony and situated in a valley on the River Elbe. Dresden has a long history as capital and Royal residence for the Kings of Saxony with centuries of extraordinary cultural and artistic splendor. The controversial Bombing of Dresden in World War II and 40 years of GDR changed the face of the city dramatically.

Since German re-unification Dresden has been an important cultural, political, and economic centre in the Eastern part of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2004 the United Nation's cultural organisation UNESCO declared Dresden and the surrounding section of Elbe river valley to be a "World Heritage" site.

Transport I Car Hire I Hotels I Entertainment I Food & Drink I Nightlife I Tourist Tips

Transport:

By Train:

The main station is within walking distance of the city centre and easily accessible by bus or car. Regular trains leave for the rest of Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich) and to Prague and Budapest. It is currently being refurbished, so check if your train is really leaving/going there and not at the other big station in Dresden-Neustadt.

The main train station is situated at the end of Dresden's main shopping street Prager Strasse and in short walking distance from most central attractions. It is very well connected with the local bus and tram network and can be reached very fast from nearly everywhere, also at night time. Trains to nearby towns, such as Meissen and Pirna still run till midnight.

Getting There:

The best airport for direct flights to the city and access to the Eurospeedway Lausitz is Berlin (TXL). British Airways fly directly daily from Heathrow, with Air Berlin offering services from Stanstead.

Car Hire:

Dresden can be reached without problems by car from the rest of Germany. It is well connected with the German highway system and a new Autobahn to Prague is nearly finished.

The street network is very good and many roads have only been refurbished recently, especially in the city centre. As in all bigger towns it can be a bit crowded during rush hours. There are many parking lots in downtown Dresden and it should not be a problem to find a place to park.

Please contact Stuart Stamp on 01903 832888 for advice and reservations, alternatively you can email us. Please click here to say rates online.

Hotels:

5 Star Options:

• Kempinski Hotel Dresden
• Westin Bellvue Hotel
• Hilton Hotel
• Bulow Residenz

4 Star Options:

• Ramada Treff Hotel
• Hotel Art'otel Dresden
• Dorint Novotel Dresden 
• Steigenberger Parkhotel
• Mercure Grand Hotel Meissen
• Fun Hotel Dresden Kesselsdorf
• Ringhotel Residenz Alt Dresden
• NH Hotel Dresden
• Four Points Hotel Konigshof
• Holiday Inn Dresden
• Best Western Leonardo Hotel
• Park Plaza Dresden

Entertainment:

Culture:

Unlike many large cities in Germany, which feature a clearly defined inner city, Dresden has several important centres of social and economic activity spread throughout the city's area. Often seen as an important cultural centre, it is sometimes referred to as the "Florence of the Elbe" (Elbflorenz in German).

Semper Opera House:

The Semper Oper is one of the most famous in the world. The building is considered to be a prime example of "Dresden-Baroque" architecture. It is situated on the Theatre Square in central Dresden on the bank of the Elbe River. On top of the portal there is a Pantherquadriga with a statue of Dionysos. The interior was created by such famous architects of the time as Johannes Schilling. Monuments on the portal depict famous artists such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, William Shakespeare, Sophocles, Moliere and Euripides. The building also features work by Ernst Rietschel and Ernst Julius Hahnel.
 
It was first built in 1841, by architect Gottfried Semper, in the Early Renaissance style. 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 High Renaissance style in 1878.

In the pre-war years, the building premiered many of the works of Richard Strauss. During the last weeks of World War II in 1945 the building was destroyed again - this time by Allied bombing and the subsequent fire storms. Exactly 40 years later, on February 13, 1985 the opera was rebuilt almost the same as it was before the war. It reopened with the same opera that was performed last before the destruction in 1945: Weber's Der Freischutz.

Zwinger Palace:

The name derives from the German word bezwingen (to conquer). The location was formerly part of the Dresden fortress, comprising an inner and outer wall. In the space between a possible invader was meant to be conquered by gun fire if he had successfully taken the outer wall.

King Augustus II of Poland, elector of Saxony, returned from an Italian journey and was thoroughly impressed by the remains of the Roman Forum. So he wanted something similar for himself. The fortifications were no longer needed and provided readily available space for his plans. The original plans covered the space of the actual complex, the Semper opera house until the Elbe river. It was designed by Matthaus Daniel Poppelmann in 1722. The death of king August in 1733 put a halt to the construction because the funds were needed elsewhere. The palace area was left open towards the opera place. Later the plans were changed to a smaller scale, and the area was closed with the construction of the wing now separating the Zwinger from the opera place.

Museums:

• Old Masters Picture Gallery
• Albertinum Museum
• Academy of Fine Arts
• German Military History Museum
• The Green Vault
• Erich-Kastner Museum
  

Shopping:

You will find the classic shopping mile, with department stores, international fashion chains and much more in the area of the Prager Strasse which continues eastwards into the Ferdinandshof and northwards into Seestrasse as far as Altmarkt square. The largest inner-city shopping temple, the Altmarktgalerie, has also become a recent attraction here. You will also discover interesting shops in Wilsdruffer Strasse.

Food & Drink:

It is a matter of course that solid Saxon dishes are available in the capital of Saxony, but you should also enjoy the rare wines of the wine-growers from the surroundings, preferably in one of the romantic restaurants at the Elbe slopes. Radeberger beer - brewed nearby Dresden - probably tastes best in one of the many beer-gardens along the Elbe. Baroque palaces in the Inner Neustadt quarter offer specialties from the neighbouring Bohemia and the alternative scene in the Outer Neustadt quarter invites you to a culinary journey around the world.

Some suggested restaurants:

Alte Meister
1a Theaterplatz
Tel: 351 481 04 26
By day, chic café; by night, graceful restaurant. Opened in 2002, Alte Meister already feels like a city institution, providing breakfast until noon, affordable lunches during the day, and fine dining in the evening. The seasonal menu - featuring standout dishes like cream of carrot soup with braised rabbit, veal carpaccio, and sea bass with vegetables in coconut curry - is modern, international, and stylishly prepared and presented. Adjoining the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister, it's an ideal rendezvous for the art gallery or opera.

Brauhaus Watzke
1 Kotzschenbroder Strasse
Tel: 351 852 920
Four miles from the centre of Dresden, this historic downtown microbrewery and dance hall was established in 1898 on the banks of the Elbe River. Today, Brauhaus Watzke promises a panoramic view of the city, an expansive beer garden in the summer months, rustic local fare, and, of course, a selection of reasonably priced house beer. Sample the Meltzer schnitzel, a fried veal fillet, or the Watzke bierfleische, a beef ragout stewed in dark beer - and save room for the traditional Saxon desserts.

Cafe Schinkelwache
Sophienstrasse am Theaterplatz
Tel: 351 490 39 09
Designed like a miniature Ionic-style temple, this is one of Dresden's architectural gems. Noted architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel built this sandstone structure in 1832 to house soldiers and guards. In 1995, it was rebuilt and reconfigured into the cafe present today. Its interior is cozier and on a smaller scale than you'd imagine from a look at its stately facade. During clement weather, tables and parasols spill onto the terrace surrounding the building. Menu selections include pastries, meal-size salads, soups, cold platters, toasts, and at least two full-fledged dishes of the day. Wine, beer, and coffee are the preferred drinks.

Italianisches Dorfchen
Theaterplatz 3
Tel: 351 498 160
This stately looking neoclassical building was erected in 1911 on the site of the cluster of cottages ("the Italian Village") that once housed the mostly Italian crews of laborers building the nearby monuments of the Saxon kings.  Today, it contains a quartet of restaurants, each with a different theme. The best way to decide which to patronize is to wander through the formal premises of the building and inspect them. Supplementing the four dining options is Cafe, a graceful-looking antique room whose windows overlook the river. Prices in all four of the restaurants are about the same.

Rossini
In the Dresden Hilton
An der Frauenkirche 5
Tel: 351 864 2855
Rossini offers Italian cuisine in a stylish setting, one floor above the lobby of the Dresden Hilton. Menu items might include chicken-liver pate in marsala wine; a buffet of Sicilian antipasti, carpaccio of swordfish marinated in marsala vinaigrette, Parma ham with coarse bread, and a tapenade of olives; Sicilian-style fish soup; or grilled lamb with anchovy sauce. Dessert may be cassata made with ricotta cheese and candied fruit, or a granita (sorbet) of oranges and lemons floating on white wine.

Sophienkeller
Hotel Kempinski Taschenbergpalais Taschenberg 3
Tel: 351 497 260
In the basement of the Taschenbergpalais, the decor and tableware are rustic, and waitresses are decked out in 18th-century costumes to serve traditional Saxon dishes like medallions of wild boar and venison, or gesindeessen (pan-fried rye bread with pork, mushrooms, mustard, and cheese). Try to reserve a table in the Grosses or Kleines Zunfi Gewolbe sections-these parts of the cellar are almost completely candlelit, adding extra authenticity to the feast at hand.

Nightlife:

The Neustadt is a very popular destination, especially for younger people. It boasts a high number of bars and clubs, with many different styles. The area around the Frauenkirche and Dresden Castle is very popular with tourists. Some fine restaurants are located there.

The Weisse Gasse is just around the corner of the Altmarkt near the shopping centre and the historical town. This is a good alternative, if you do not want to go to the Neustadt.

Elbwiesen (River Banks): Go to the (mostly) green river banks, especially in hot summer evenings/nights - very nice view of the old city and lot of people doing sports, having barbecues and parties. There are often big concerts and a huge movie screen offers "outdoor cinema".

Tourist Tips:

Dresden is also an important centre of the sciences and is home to many researchers. The city is often called the "Silicon Valley of Germany" because numerous computer hardware and hi-tech development firms have opened offices and research facilities in the region. The Dresden University of Technology, is one of the world's oldest technical universities.

Because of its location in a relatively narrow river valley, Dresden's climate is much more characteristic of southern Germany and is considerably warmer than most other places in eastern Germany. In 2002 Dresden was listed as one of Europe's greenest (large) cities: a third of its area is covered by the forested areas called Dresdner Heide. The Grosser Garten ("big garden") is the largest urban park in the city.

Before the bombing raid of World War II, Dresden with its unmatched collection of baroque architecture was famous as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The style of architecture that predominated under August I of Saxony is known as Dresden Baroque. The city area also reportedly had in some quarters the highest living costs in Europe before World War II. Many of the city's greatest monuments were rebuilt in the decades following the war; this process was given new impetus and funding after the reunification of Germany in 1990. The city now once again features a wealth of tourist attractions.

Bruhl's Terrace:

Bruhl's Terrace in Dresden north of the recently rebuilt Neumarkt Square is one of the favourite inner-city places of both locals and tourists for walking, people-watching and having a coffee. 

It is nicknamed "The Balcony of Europe" and situated on the river Elbe in a city which is rather large as measured by area relatively to half a million inhabitans. Most people enter the terrace from the Schlossplatz (or Castle square) on the terrace´s west end. Besides Saxony's Supreme Court a staircase with four sculptures (The Four Seasons) leads from the Schlossplatz (or Castle Square) up to Bruhl's Terrace. One of the next buildings to the right is the Academy of Fine Arts. There is an ensemble of important buildings, such as the Albertinum.

Dresdner Frauenkirche:

The ("Church of Our Lady") is a Lutheran church in Dresden, Germany. Several other churches in Europe, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, also share the name of Frauenkirche.

The Dresden Frauenkirche was destroyed in the firebombing of Dresden during World War II and 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 church's most distinctive feature was its unconventional 314-foot-high dome, called die Steinerne Glocke or "Stone Bell". An engineering triumph comparable to Michelangelo's dome for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Frauenkirche's 12,000-ton sandstone dome soared skyward with no internal supports.

Despite initial doubts, the dome proved to be extremely stable. Witnesses in 1760 said that the dome had been hit by more than 100 cannonballs fired by the Prussian army led by Friedrich II during the Seven Years' War. The shells simply bounced off and the church survived.

The completed church gave the city of Dresden a distinctive silhouette, captured in famous paintings (see above) by Bernado Bellotto, a nephew to the artist Canaletto and also known by the same name.

Standseilbahn Dresden:

The Standseilbahn Dresden is a funicular railway in Dresden, Germany connecting the districts of Loschwitz and Weisser Hirsch near the "Blue Wonder" bridge . The railway, with a gauge of 1000 mm, was opened on October 26, 1895. Until 1910 it was run by a steam engine; since 1910 it has run on electricity. The rail has a length of 547 metres. The Standseilbahn Dresden runs through the Burgbergtunnel, which is 96 metres long and through the Prinzess-Louisa-Tunnel with a length of 54 metres.

 
Volkswagen Transparent Factory:

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 (glass manufacture). Both the German and English names are a word play on the double meaning of transparent, 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 and Bentley's Continental Flying Spur (since 2005). The Transparent Factory is situated in the city centre of Dresden, the 800-year-old German baroque city known for its arts and craftsmanship. It stands at the former location of the convention centre.

The factory's walls are made almost competely of glass. Its floors are covered entirely in Canadian maple. And its layout is visitor-friendly, set up to receive 250 tourists per day. There are no smokestacks, no loud noises, and no toxic byproducts.

Other suggestions for sightseeing:

• Moritzburg Hunting Lodge
• Pillnitz Palace
• White Fleet - world's biggest & oldest paddle steamer fleet
• Fortress Konigstein
• Dresden castle
• Great Garden - known as Dreden's "green lung"
• Meissen - medieval cathedral & castle
• Leipzig - just over an hour by train
• Berlin
• Prague - just over two hours by train

Deep in the heart of Europe, Germany has an interesting past and present, with a significant impact on continental history. Germany's reunification in 1990 was the beginning of yet another chapter in its complex history.

From sophisticated big cities, to medieval towns that have barely changed, diversity is the order of the day. With beer gardens, cafes, castles, museums, and festivals throughout the year there is no shortage of tourist attractions.  For the sporty ones hiking, cycling and swimming are popular pursuits, plus some of the most beautiful cities in Europe waiting to be explored.

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