Dresden: Germany

Dresden: Germany
Dresden, the capital city of the German federal state of Saxony, is situated in a valley on the river Elbe. The city’s population stood at 480, 347 in December 2004 and the total population in its metropolitan area was about a million. The city today functions as an important cultural, political, and economic center in Germany. Dresden is internationally known for the controversial firebombing of the city by Allied air forces during World War II.
Sights in Dresden
The city now once again features a wealth of tourist attractions. The major sights of Dresden include:
– Brühl’s Terrace and boats on the Elbe (the Frauenkirche is in darkness) – Semper Opera House – Zwinger Baroque buildings enclosing a picturesque garden – Frauenkirche Baroque church – Hofkirche – Dresden castle – the Grünes Gewölbe, the “Green Vault� where the Saxon Crown Jewels are displayed – Gallery of Old and New Masters – Broad River Meadows – Brühl’s Terrace – nicknamed “The Balcony of Europe� – a terrace overlooking the Elbe river.
world’s biggest and oldest paddle steamer fleet – The Fürstenzug (procession of princes) fresco showing the Wettin dynasty
Large castles: – Fortress Festung Königstein – Moritzburg hunting lodge – Pillnitz Palace, Schloß Eckberg, Albrechtsberg (castles) – Meissen
villa quarters like Blasewitz, Klotzsche, Preußisches Viertel, Wachwitz, Kleinzschachwitz, Weißer Hirsch, Südvorstadt, Wiener Viertel, Strehlen, Waldschlößchenviertel, Großer Garten, Laubegast, Bühlaupark, Bürgerwiese, Striesen, Plauen, Bühlau, Hellerau, Johannstadt, Tolkewitz, Neugruna, Pillnitz and Radebeul.
Europe’s largest Dixieland music festival – The oldest German Christmas Fair, the Striezelmarkt (only around Christmas, Dresdner Christstollen, Christmas pyramid toys e.g.) – Large number of technical and art museums. Many of these hold world records in collection sizes, just as an example the biggest porcelain collection of the world. – The German military history museum (with exhibits dating back to the Stone Age) – Blue Wonder historic bridge considered a “wonder� of 19th century engineering – Schwebebahn Dresden an aerial cable car similiar as to the Schwebebahn Wuppertal – Standseilbahn Dresden – the funicular cable railway in Dresden. – Fernsehturm Dresden-Wachwitz – TV Tower of Dresden. Unfortunately the observation deck is closed.
Nearby, at a higher elevation, are the villages Bannewitz and Rundteil at the foot of the Erzgebirge mountains. In the northeast is the Bühlau quarter; in the east Kleinzschachwitz, another villa quarter. More east is Saxon Switzerland, a large prime climbing destination. Meissen is situated to the west of Dresden, most famous for the invention and production of European porcelain.