A former seat of the Saxon royal family, Dresdner Residenzschloss was built between the 12th-19th Centuries and exhibits a magnificent array of different architectural features from the Romantic, Renaissance, Baroque and neo-Renaissance eras. Heavily damaged during World War II, the palace was restored as a museum complex. Today, the castle houses five major museums; you will find ancient relics and a large collection of coins, drawings, photographs, paintings, prints, armour and more.
The Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs of the Kupferstichkabinett is a part of the Staatliche Kunstsammlung Dresden within the Residenzschloss Dresden. One of the most important collection of photographs, prints and other ephemera in the world, Kupferstichkabinett should top every art enthusiasts itinerary. The prolific collection comprises of almost 500,000 items, some of which trace their history back to 1560s. With artworks of celebrated artists like Jan van Eyck, Michelangelo, Rubens and Remembrandt in its permanent collection, Kupferstichkabinett also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Open all week, except Tuesdays, this makes for an interesting visit.
Although slightly inconspicuous from the outside, the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in the Semper wing of the Zwinger contains one of the world's greatest collections of art. Covering three floors, the gallery contains a host of 14th-18th Century paintings by masters such as Canaletto, Rubens, Dürer, Holbein and Rembrandt. But the highlight is clearly Raphael's Sistine Madonna portraying Mother and Child among the clouds, reproductions of which hang in hundreds of thousands of living rooms throughout the world.
This imposing classicist Albertinum is home to several of Dresden's finest museums: the Gemäldegalerie; art gallery with its collection of romantic, realist, impressionist, expressionist and contemporary paintings; the Sculpture Collection with its marble and bronze carvings; and the Coin Collection with its spectrum of coins, medals and banknotes. The crown jewels Grüne Gewölbe are also on display in the Albertinum.
Although the Museum of Decorative Arts was establish in 1963, it's history dates further back to 1876. Housed within the Schloss Pillnitz, overlooking the River Elbe, this museum displays European decorative artworks that were actually intended to provide inspiration to students of an older fine arts and design school. Several ceramic and iron works, furniture and textiles displayed are actually a part of the original 1876 collection. Apart from these, over the years, the museum has collected more recent artifacts and contemporary artworks as well. Open from May to October, this museum makes for an interesting visit.