DRESDEN

April 2004

We visited the Saxony's Royal Residence,in awe at its historical wealth, even though we, the allies, tried to destroy it by carpet bombing during WW II.

Theaterplatz [the theater square] is where we started.

The Semper Opera House replaced the old opera house wihich was built in 1678.  It was one of the first permanent opera buildings north of the Alps. The new one was built in 1841 by architect Gottfried Semper and it entails several architectural styles.  After a fire in 1869 his son Manfred Semper rebuilt it using the original plans.

In the center of the square right in front of the opera house is a  statue of King Johann of Saxony

The Zwinger Palace [below] is a museum today, with an unbelievable amount of works by the Old Masters.  Here is the entrance, the halls and the gardens.

 Hofkirche - The former Catholic Chapel fo the Palace [Below]

The former Royal Academy of Art and its glass dome

Frauenkirche  [still under reconstruction in 2004] and a monument celebrating architect Semper [below, left and right]

Procession of princes - A wall made of 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles showing the rulers of the house of Wettin. First it was a mural and then replaced by tiles [below].

The Golden Rider [Goldenes Ritter],  Asli and Stephan being creative and lunch at Bulow Residenz - Restaurant Carousel [the plate of 'amuse bouche' was a meal within itself]

Pillnitz Castle and Elba River

Back to : Germany