Zwinger Palace is Dresden Must See
Southeastern German City Holds Treasure Galore
The Zwinger Palace is one of Dresden, Germany's best attractions. Built to rival Versailles, the Palace features beautiful gardens, an Old Masters museum and more.
Dresden is one of those cities with a wonderful combination of intriguing history, interesting architecture and comprehensive museums all set along the banks of the beautiful Elbe river in Southeast Germany. In 2006, the city is celebrating its 800th birthday, making it the perfect time to visit. In 2004, UNESCO named Dresden along with the surrounding portion of the Elbe river valley as a World Heritage site.
While there are numerous sites to check out in Dresden, the Zwinger Palace is a “must see.” Walking into this former baroque fortress, of which its name is derived from the German word bezwingen, which means to conquer, can make you feel like you’ve stumbled onto a movie set. The sheer size is intimidating, which is the point. Zwinger Palace was Augustus the Strong’s answer to Louis XIV’s construction of Versailles. The year was 1697 and Augustus, already elector of Saxony, had recently received the title of King of Poland and wanted something to rival the French King’s new digs.
Unlike Versailles, Zwinger Palace, which sits on the site of the former Dresden fortress, is double walled, creating the feeling of a mini-city within the city. Once inside, visitors find lovely gardens, which are meticulously maintained, with numerous fountains and a plethora of sculptures.
Zwinger Palace also houses the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery), with works by such artists as Titian, Rembrandt, Botticelli and Raphael. Along with the gallery, visitors can also tour the Armoury, the Porcelain Collection and the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon.
Much of the palace was destroyed by the carpet bombings by the Allied Powers in 1945, but rather than have the area bulldozed and rebuilt in the socialist realism architectural style which was popular in Germany at the time, the people of Dresden voted to restore the buildings to their former glory.
As previously mentioned, Dresden is home to numerous attractions. Along with Zwinger Palace, visitors should check out:
* Semperoper or Semper Opera House. Located near the Zwinger Palace, this opera house is one of the best examples of “Dresden-Baroque” architecture. Operas are still conducted here, but visitors will need to check in advance.
* Frauenkirche or Church of Our Lady. This Protestant Baroque church is also an example of Dresden-Baroque style. It, too, was bombed during WWII and its reconstruction recently finished.
* Elbwiesen or banks of the Elbe river. After you’ve got your fill of art, architecture and history, the banks of the river offer a little relaxation. Residents and tourists alike can be seen enjoying dinner and drinks, or a game of volleyball.
* Gläserne Manufaktur or the Transparent Factory. This Volkswagon factory’s primary business is building the luxury sedan, the Phaeton, but the building, built mostly of glass, is an architectural treat and Volkswagon offers tours in English as well as German.
With so much to do and see in Dresden, it’s a good bet more and more tourists will be discovering this German gem.
