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Steam boats on the river Elbe framed against the silhouette of Dresden
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Pearl on the Elbe
Some say that the first impression is always the best. In this regard, Dresden doesn't disappoint. The closer you get to the city, the better the visual impact. The riverbanks, promenade, Frauenkirche church, Augustus Bridge and Dresden Castle are all pleasing to the eye.
August the Superstar
The first settlement on these banks of the River Elbe occurred in the 6th century. Dresden was mentioned in official records for the first time in 1206. Frederick August I -- the Prince-Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, also known as August the Strong -- is credited with turning Dresden into a major cultural center in the 18th century. Some of the city's most famous buildings came into existence during his reign, including the Green Vault, and the Frauenkirche. Dresden's nickname "Florence of the Elbe" therefore doesn't seem unjustified.
The city's artistic heritage is evident in all of its state art collections, which go back to the time of August the Strong. Filling a total of 11 museums, these are some of the world's most prominent art collections.
Despite this glory, the city has also experienced a lot of misery. In 1760, it was bombarded by the Prussians, which resulted in the destruction of the newly built places of splendor. And in the night between the 13th and 14th February 1945, virtually the whole city center was turned into ashes by allied air raids.
Old New City
The people of Dresden rebuilt their city, with the most famous reconstruction being that of the Frauenkirche, only completed in 2005. With its bright sandstone dome, it dominates the skyline of the old town and represents the new, proud Dresden.
In the 21st century, the city presents itself as a mixture of historic charm and the spirit of modernity. The art-oriented public flocks to the Semperoper opera house, while in the Neustadt district, punk and avant-garde go hand in hand. And August the Strong has also found his final place here: as a radiant statue, the Golden Rider.
Dresden also includes East German-style concrete slab buildings in the Gorbitz district and the super-modern microchip production sites in the so-called "Saxony Valley," one of the booming regions in today's converging Europe. Since 1990, Dresden is once again the capital of the Free State of Saxony, which makes the city's 500,000 residents very proud.
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