Attractions in Dresden
Address: Brühlsche Terrasse, 01067 Dresden
Bruehl's Terrace, or, more accurately, Brühl's Terrace is, as the name suggests, a viewpoint overlooking the Elbe River in Dresden. It's a long promenade near Neumarkt Square that's become one of the most popular places in all of Dresden to take a walk, do some people-watching, or have a coffee at a local cafe. The terrace's nickname is "The Balcony of Europe," and though it's actually made up of what was once part of the city's fortifications, today it just feels like a lovely, big avenue lined with pretty buildings.
The name of Brühl's Terrace ("Brühlsche Terrasse" in German) stems from the then-Prime Minister who had built a palace on the same location and was later given the entire terrace, as it exists today, as a thank you gift for introducing a tax measure. It was only opened to the public in the early 1800s after a staircase linked Schlossplatz with the terrace. During the air strikes of World War II, the terrace was destroyed but was rebuilt after the war with an eye toward making it as close to the original as possible.
Many historic buildings line Bruehl's Terrace, and many others are visible from various points along the promenade.
Hours: Always open
Admission: Free
Address: Coselpalais, An der Frauenkirche 12
01067 Dresden
Dresden's Frauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, could well be considered the symbol of the city. The original church, built during the mis-1700s, was Lutheran although the local royalty was Catholic. It was long considered a beautiful example of Baroque architecture, and the dome served as an important part of the city's skyline. The entire church was destroyed during a February bomb raid in 1945, and though reconstruction wasn't permitted by the East German government the rubble wasn't cleared, either, and became a war memorial and the site of many protests against the GDR.
After Germany was reunified in 1989, energy was put into rebuilding the church and by 2004 construction of the exterior was complete. The design for the old church was used to remain faithful to the original building, and many of the original pieces were used after being extracted from the ruins and catalogued. The interior is largely faithful to the original design, with the exception of the once-famous organ (its omission has caused some controversy). The Frauenkirche was reopened to the public in 2005 and has become, once again, one of the most visited attractions in Dresden.
Through 2010, there is a special exhibit on the history of the Frauenkirche and the entire rebuilding project at the City Museum ("Stadtmuseum" in German) in the Alten Landhaus.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00-12:00, 13:00-18:00; Weekends - Entry times depend on programs; services held every day and twice on Sunday
Climbing the Dome - April-October, 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-18:00; November-March, 10:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00
Admission: Free to enter church (donations encouraged), small fee to climb the dome
Address: Residenzschloss, Taschenberg 2, 01067 Dresden
Dresden's Royal Palace, sometimes called Dresden Castle or "Residenzschloss" in German, was the main residence of the Royal family from the mid-1500s to early 1900s. It's one of Dresden's oldest buildings, some of it even dating back to the 1200s. One of the castle's distinctive features is that it bears the signs of several architectural periods, from Romantic to Renaissance to Baroque and so on. The palace was nearly destroyed during World War II, and has been undergoing massive amounts of rebuilding and restoration since the 1980s. Renovation was completed in 2006, in time for the city's 800th anniversary.
Some areas of the Royal Palace are open to the public and house galleries like the Green Vault ("Gruenes Gewoelbe" in German), often recognized as one of the largest collections of treasures in Europe. The largest green diamond on earth is displayed here. Tickets to the Historic section of the Green Vault must be booked in advance. Other museums at the Royal Palace include the Saxony Crown Jewels, the Coin Museum and the Copperplate Engraving Collection. The renovated exteriors of the palace are also worth mentioning, especially the inner courtyard which features some of the prettiest facades.
Hours: Hours vary depending on the museum
Historic Green Vault - Daily, 10:00-19:00 (except Tuesdays, final admission 18:00)
New Green Vault - Daily, 10:00-18:00 (except Tuesdays)
Admission: Fees vary depending on the museum; one-day ticket for all museums (doesn't include Historic Green Vault) - ?12 adult, ?25 family, ?7 discounted ticket
Historic Green Vault - ?10 adult + ?1.50 advance booking fee (no discounts available)
New Green Vault - ?6 adult, ?4.50 groups (10 or more people), ?13 family, ?3.50 discounted ticket
Address: Theaterplatz 2
01067 Dresden
Dresden's Semper Opera House, or Semperoper, is an historic landmark in the city. Originally built in 1841, it was rebuilt in 1869 after a fire and again in 1985 after being damaged in World War II. It gets its name from its designer, Gottfried Semper and is recognized as an excellent example of "Dresden-Baroque" architecture. It is widely considered one of the more beautiful opera houses in the world, and boasts superb acoustics. In its heydey, the Semperoper hosted many debuts of works by such composers as Strauss and Wagner.
Today the Semper Opera House holds all kinds of performances on its grand stage, not just operas. Depending on what's playing, you can catch ballet performances, chamber orchestras, and even the occasional master class. Tickets can sell out quickly, especially during the more touristy seasons, so if you're interested in seeing something on the stage you'll want to check the calendar and book in advance. If you don't mind taking a chance, there are often last-minute tickets available at the box office just before the show. To find out more about advance ticket sales, you can call the ticket hotline at (0351) 4911705. If you'd rather skip the show but still see the building, there are often tours available during the day. Check with the ticket office for times.
Hours: Hours vary depending on performances
Admission: Ticket prices vary depending on performances
Address: Zwinger, Semperbau, Theaterplatz 1, 01067 Dresden
Dresden's Zwinger Palace is a Baroque castle which was built in the early 1700s and now houses art museums and galleries. It is actually across the road from the Dresden castle, though both were considered part of the Royal residences. The Zwinger Palace was principally where the Royal family held parties and festivals, and where the Royal art collections were stored.
During World War II, the Zwinger Palace actually sustained heavy damage, although the art collections had already been moved by that time. After the war, the palace was rebuilt and the art returned. The Old Masters Picture Gallery ("Gemaeldegalerie Alte Meister" in German) is a small art collection but a highlight of the Zwinger. Paintings by Raphael and Rubens are featured, among others. There is an Armory ("Ruestkammer" in German) which displays the palace's collection of weapons and armor primarily dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.
If you are into Second Life, you can get a scale-model preview of the Old Masters Picture Gallery by searching for "Dresden Gallery." Talk about taking museum-going into the future.
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00-18:00; closed on Mondays
Admission: Admission varies among the museums, but a one-day ticket which covers most of the museums is ?12 for adults, ?25 for family, ?7 for discounted tickets (if you qualify)
