One of Dresden's most beautiful parks, the Großer Garten has plenty on offer for nature-lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike. A visit to this landscaped wonder is like stepping into a fantasy Disneyland-styled world. A majestic Baroque summer palace, complete with a pond and courtiers' residence, stands proudly, with its crystal clear reflection staring back from the lake. Neat rows of trees, a magnificent, white, Baroque sculpture, colourful flower beds and fountains surround this palace. The numerous paths that wind their way through the ancient trees are perfect for a relaxing stroll, the lake is wonderful for rowers, while those looking to relax may like to take a ride through the grounds on the miniature train. This park also houses a zoo, botanical gardens and a large tropical greenhouse. Volkswagen has built a glass-fronted production hall in the north-western corner of this park, where visitors can watch cars being manufactured in front of their very eyes.
A feast for the eyes, Fürstenzug is a porcelain mural on the exterior of Residenzschloss. The frieze is 102 metres (334 feet) long and 7 metres (22 feet) high, making it the largest porcelain picture in the world. It was first painted in 1876, then transferred onto 25,000 pieces of Meißen porcelain in 1904-1907. Designed as a memorial to the Wettiner royal family, the mural depicts all the Saxon rulers between 1123-1904. Only the last Saxon king is missing; Friedrich August III. Souvenir sellers now ply their trade at the feet of Frederick the Mean and George the Bearded.
Dresden's world-famous landmark and palace, Zwinger, was built between 1710-32 by architect Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann and sculptor Balthasar Permoser. The imposing complex is made up of a crown gate, long, winding galleries, a walled pavilion and carillon. The French and German pavilions were originally designed as a venue for court festivities. In 1855, a Neo-Renaissance structure designed by Gottfried Semper was built on the north-eastern side. Today, the Semper Building contains, among other things, the Gallery of the Old Masters, with works by Dürer, Titian, Rubens and one of the most famous paintings in the world, the Sistine Madonna by Raphael. The breathtaking ensemble is completed by several royal tombstones, a pond and an idyllic park.
Known as "Europe's balcony," the Brühlsche Terrasse is a 500m-long and 20-200m wide terrace built on top of the fortifications erected to defend the city in the 16th Century. Together with the Albertinum, Art Academy and Sekundogenitur, the terrace dominates Dresden's skyline. Overlooking the River Elbe and the city centre, the terrace offers fantastic views of Augustusbrücke bridge, the old town and the new town with the Japanese Palace, Ministry of Finance and Chancellery. A stairway leads down to Schlossplatz.
A fascinating mix of natural beauty and architectural brilliance, Pillnitz Castle is one of Dresden's best attractions. Situated in the middle of an idyllic park on the outskirts of the city, the castle - built by Augustus II the Strong in the 18th-century, was used as a summer residence by the Saxon royal family. The main buildings display an intriguing mix of baroque and Far Eastern architectural styles and now house a collection of 13-20th-century arts and crafts, as well as, a castle museum giving you a peek into the life of the royals that once called Pillnitz Castle their home. A visit to the castle would not be complete without a walk through the gardens and The Palm House, which are full of exotic plants and trees, as well as, a host of red squirrels.
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.
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.
Conference Bikes are 7-seater vehicles, that rely on group efforts for steering and speed. Using these rare vehicles, Conference Bike Tours in Dresden provide fun guided tours for those interested in discovering Dresden, off the beaten path. Well-suited for groups for family members or friends, these tours cover important landmarks on Dresden skyline using the bicycle road. The tours begin from the Neumarkt area, and progress to the historic center of the city. The most unique feature of these tours are that the time you spend on each attraction would solely depend on your group and not some boring, company-made itinerary - something of a customized tour. The guides that accompany the bike are extremely professional and knowledgeable; needless to say, exploring the city in such a distinguished way will be anything but boring!
Established in 1985 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Freiberg Germany Temple is a beautiful place with an aura of bliss and calm. It conducts services like baptisms on prior appointment. The temple also welcomes group visits and there are special additional sessions available for people as well.The temple has excellent architecture and underwent refurbishment in 2001.
Established in 1992 by Ralf Herzog, Dresden's pantomime, the pantoMimenbuhen Dresden features as a small theater within the Theater August. They also host cabaret shows at the venue. There are classical plays like 'Restaurant Fata' and 'The Magic Flute' being showcased here. They have been organizing the International Pantomime Festival Dresden at this venue for the past 3 decades. Come by to revisit your childhood through these pantomimes.
Established as the only mobile puppet theater in 1983, the August Theater with dolls was given a permanent space in 1993. The theater has a fantastic selection of shows aimed at audiences as young as three. Besides this, they also have an intriguing roster of shows for adults.
A former hunting castle, Jagdschloss is now a Richard Wagner Museum, in operation since the year 2013. Boasting of six rooms that cover everything from texts documenting the life of the famous composer and musician to rooms that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the music of Richard Wagner through audiovisual exhibits, the Jagdschloss is frequented by music lovers from all over. Whether you are a fan of Richard Wagner, like music in general or simply wish to learn some music history, then a visit to the Jagdschloss will not let you down. Please check the website for the operating hours of the museum.