Dresden, basic informations
Dresden is the capital of the Free State of Saxony, in southern Germany. The city has approximately 500,000 citizens and more than 10 million visitors per year.
Dresden is located 165 km south of Berlin, 120 km west of Prague and 360 km north of Munich. Prague, capital of Czech, offers a lot of interestings as well.
With its Renaissance, baroque and 19th century architecture, the splendid cupola of the Church of Our Lady and the sweeping Elbe panorama, Dresden has often been called the "Florence on the North”. The blend of attractive architecture, internationally famous museums and lively tradition in music and fine arts, shape Dresden's cultural life today.
The historical centre of Dresden is located on the left bank of the Elbe. In spite of vast destruction during the Second World War, the Old City part of Dresden has preserved or regained its captivating features. The most famous symbol of reconstruction in the city centre is the Dresden Frauenkirche Church, the magnificent baroque dome, which dominates the city centre.
The quarter on the right bank of the Elbe is called Neustadt. After a disastrous fire in 1685, the quarter - in the meanwhile incorporated into Dresden - was rebuilt as the “New Town near Dresden”, the Neustadt quarter. The baroque reconstruction produced attractive streets that can still be experienced in the area around Königstrasse.
The northern district is called the Outer Neustadt. It is a residential district with preserved historical architecture from the turn of the century. Today the Outer Neustadt between Königsbrücker Strasse and Lutherplatz Square has many restaurants, shops and galleries.
The city's cultural scene blends the traditional and the modern. The Elbe Valley around Dresden, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004, boasts lush meadows, magnificent villas and majestic palaces. Few other cities have undergone such radical transformation as Dresden. The construction boom of recent years has produced a number of architectural masterpieces that are attracting international acclaim.
