Under the Saxon Elector and Polish king, known for his exceptional body forces called August the Strong, began at the end of the 17th century, the myth of Dresden. The famous silhouette of the city between the Frauenkirche and the Zwinger (even without the present building of the Brühl Terrace and the Semper Opera House) was born in this period and was confirmed by the court painter Bernardo Bellotto (called Canaletto) immortalises. The angle from which his famous view of Dresden's Old Masters Picture Gallery, is how the image itself as "Canalettoblick" a destination for art pilgrims. End of the 18th Century as "Florence on the Elbe" apostrophized - Dresden as if something other than Dresden, Florence, or should we as "Arno Dresden" refer to? - Reinforced the myth under the influence of Dresden outgoing Romance (Theodor Körner, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner, Caspar David Friedrich, Ludwig Richter lived and worked, at least temporarily in Dresden) as one of Arts and Culture soaked city, which in a particularly delightful - even romantic - bedded landscape is the Elbe valley between Meißen and the rock castles of the Saxon Switzerland.

One of the oldest theaters in the German language area, the Court Opera, Dresden in 1667 opened its doors and took place in a world-famous Semper Opera successor. Today, the city has two internationally-renowned orchestra, the Staatskapelle and the Dresden Philharmonic. Furthermore, two major ballet companies, that the State and the Forsythe Company, based here, the latter in the Hellerau, one in the period before the First World War guiding Gartenstadt. Besides the theater, there are several other theaters, to the alternative scene in the Outer Neustadt. In Dresden Kreuz Choir has one of the world's oldest boys' choirs, and not just at the Silbermann organ in the Hofkirche can hear organ music. No day passes without cultural events, performances, festivals or festival. With the Old Masters Picture Gallery Dresden has one of the most important art collections in the world, the Green Vault offers a Pretiosensammlung with which no other can compare, and the porcelain collection has an inventory of Chinese and Japanese (and formerly European) porcelain art, the world's only from those of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul will be surpassed. Dozens of other museums and galleries invite you to visit, including the German Hygiene Museum and (2008 are still under construction) Gallery New Master and Others with pictures from the artistic community "The Bridge", in Dresden, had their roots.

In February 1945, Dresden by Allied bombing raid destroyed the old city was completely in ruins. Since it was never clear whether the remains of the baroque city should clear away as in the blowing up of the facades of the street Rampischen GDR times or they will receive, or even restore wiedererrichten should like the Zwinger and the Semper Opera House (1985). The Frauenkirche remained ruins - as a memorial, it was said. The silhouette of the city as well. After 1990, then the votes by which a reconstruction of the old city center called. With the help from all over the world led to the new Church of Our Lady (2006), the castle is fully restored and in the future, several museums (currently three), and also the whole Egna to train to train again. A miracle - thanks to plenty of investment money from home and abroad.

If Dresdner to clubs and discos, pubs and beer gardens in backyards think of jazz and techno, junk shops and boutiques, oriental shops and lots of other shops on vinyl specialists to Senflädchen, then drops them inevitably Outer Neustadt A. Evening leave is simply to Albert Square or walk and then into pleasure, as in the nearby streets Alaunstraße, Louis Street, Rothenburger Strasse and Görlitzer road day and night is something going on. Sure, you can even stroll and shop elsewhere, in cafes and pubs sit, dance, depend on the outside or inside of all kinds of sounds can procure all the latest cocktails and slurp away, because you do not like the bouncer. But here in the Outer Neustadt (in contrast to the baroque Neustadt a quarter of the century, in the way, Erich Kästner was born) it's really crowded, Scene fed at 1 km ². In the summer he brings the Dresden but also on their beaches, urban beaches of course, with real sand, and in every backyard and deck chairs are cool drinks ready, not only in the new town. Once a year cooking on the Outer Neustadt, then presents the "Colorful Republic Neustadt" their own rules and keep it well, because the main rule is that there are no rules.

Whoever wants to can from the city by green belt in the beautiful surroundings of the town walk, because Dresden is a green city. Blüher Großer Garten park and connect seamlessly with the old Striesen. From the Outer Neustadt from one only needs to cross a park to get into the huge sanctuary of the Dresdner Heide to arrive, which is also the hamlets of White Deer and Bühlau quickly achieved. In the West, from drag Cossebaude cotta and green ribbons in the hills. But the trump card of the city, the Elbe, the Elbe Valley, with its green meadows and the steep slopes between the forest and castle Pillnitz, the other from Elbseite with its villas, castles, vineyards, walking paths and a constantly changing panorama. Not surprising then, that the Dresden at the first ray of sunshine to pack the picnic basket or bicycle swing, so the Dresdner Heide on nice weekends wandering family groups, and revived on the Elberadweg sheet to sheet will be driven? And the Dresdner also a natural and recreational paradise first rank at the door, the Saxon Switzerland with its picturesque and enticing outdoor climbing sandstone rocks. The free climbing, free climbing, "was invented here and not in the U.S., as some believe. Well, they's, Dresdner, who else may be in such a vast cultural and natural landscape to live?

This is the hardest to Dresden, to describe what you should not be missed. From Canalettoblick on the Augustus Bridge and stroll through the Brühl Terrace floating "bell" of women's church. Sure, five stars. It also inspires the Dresden itself again and again. Another highlight: a visit to the Frauenkirche with dome climb. Also: once in the Semper Opera, not just a guided tour, but an evening opera performance visit. In contrast to current opinion, there are often tickets until the day of the performance. And then through the old town lit stroll over the bridge to the Golden Augustusburg Reiter and stroll through the Baroque new town for a drink in the pub area of the Outer Neustadt. Open end, as there is as usual. In the beautiful summer nights, you will already in the Elbwiesen hang love many couples are already there. Sistine Madonna, the two Vermeer, Titian and Rubens in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, from the Zwinger to the porcelain collection, Green Vault and Historic Green Vault ... Now we are already at least three days and were not yet in Panometer, where in an earlier gasometers an absolutely fascinating panorama of the old Dresden is shown, not in the Great Garden with its Baroque castle, not in Moritzburg, Pillnitz, Meißen, in the Saxon Switzerland. Then at the next time!

The Old Town ran until 1945 in the south to the Central Station. But only the Elbe to the northern border area with Zwinger Palace, Frauenkirche, Semper Opera, Taschenbergpalais alia was rebuilt. South of it were only a few buildings like the Kreuzkirche reconstructed.

For the sake of clarity, the reconstructed part of the town in three separate chapters. The first is the area around the theater space treated (→ Tour 1). Here was the Taschenberg, first place of the medieval fortifications of the city. Today there lure Residenzschloss, Taschenbergpalais, Zwinger, Semper Opera and the Hofkirche. The second chapter is the Neumarkt, the square in front of the Frauenkirche, which until modern times not to be part of Dresden, the heart (→ Tour 2). Not only is the Frauenkirche, and the Brühl Terrace, Johanneum and Albertinum and the new synagogue will be described in this section. Everything south of Neumarkt, and especially south of the axis elbparallelen Wilsdruffer Street, is presented in the third chapter (→ Tour 3). The castle south axis running from the castle on the streets of Prague to the main road, forms the core of this range.

At the time of the GDR have been through the old two transport technical breaches beaten, the axis Freiberger Straße - Wilsdruffer Street and the axis Budapest street - Dr. Külz ring. You zertrennen the old city into three parts. Today they are leaders with alternative transport and relatively long phases of traffic lights for pedestrians somewhat mitigated, but in GDR times, they formed real dividing lines.

Beyond the Augustus Bridge is the baroque Neustadt (→ Tour 4), as by a miracle of the original streets are still preserved. Through it, you reach the streets of the exterior Wilhelminian Neustadt (→ Tour 5), formerly known as Albert City. The multi Albert Square connects the two districts. From here, three main axes of the city, the (Anton and) Hansastrasse ramp to the motorway Dresden-Hellerau Königsbrücker the road to the airport and the road to Bautzner Bautzen and Görlitz. Leipziger Vorstadt called founder of the suburb at the time Hansastrasse while on the road Königsbrücker microelectronics operations of Klotzsche happens on the street Bautzner Elbschlösser the District and the White Stag achieved. If you follow this route further in the Elbe, to get to Loschwitz with its two cable cars and even a little further south into one of the most beautiful Baroque ensembles in the vicinity of the city, the two castles and chateau existing Pillnitz (→ Tour 8).

The western part of the Old Town, one of the post position is reached, was almost completely destroyed, he is called Wilsdruffer suburb. Beyond the rails of the railway line Leipzig / Berlin - Dresden - Prague is the city of Friedrichshafen (→ Tour 7), a baroque suburban establishment, and the Ostragehege with its sports facilities. Interesting and worth seeing is primarily the area southeast of the town, where in the Great Garden is a huge baroque palace garden with preserved (→ Tour 6). In the city and in Johann Striesen old residential district can be visited, and even further east is Blasewitz, where the bridge with the strange name of "Blue Wonder" which is currently from Dresden next opportunity, the Elbe with the car over to Loschwitz to cross (→ Tour 9).

Motorists currently have between Meissen and Pirna river upstream, with the exception of the narrow city area of Dresden a few bridges available. In the city center there is the bridge that are already accessible only limited Augustus Bridge, which may be shortly before the closure for the entire road transport is the Carola Bridge and Albert Bridge. In the direction of Meissen is still on the bridge of the A 4 and on the bridge between Mickten and Friedrichstadt cross the Elbe. In the direction of Pirna is hoped by the construction, however, strongly disputed Waldschlösschen bridge a discharge of the other bridges to achieve, especially Loschwitzer bridge, often called Blue Wonder. And then comes up to Pirna with the bridge of the ring road and an old Elbe bridge only Pillnitz car ferry for a crossing of the Elbe in question. Jams can hardly go out of the way, if you rush over to the Elbe wants. But what will change, even if another bridge be built? In a city that is an excellent network of public transport has?

Population: (Late 2006) 496.021, among the large German cities in 15th place.

Percentage of 18 - to 30-year-olds: 19.3% (Germany 14.1%).

Percentage of employees with high qualifications: 20% (Germany 9.6%).

Altitude: Elbpegel at the Augustus Bridge at 102.73 m above sea level.

Area: 328.3 kilometers ², of which 37 sq. km were used. Dresden in the 20th Century many surrounding towns were incorporated, but not the two cities with Dresden Radebeul Overgrown and Radeberg.

Politico-administrative status: Dresden is the capital of the Free State of Saxony and district-free city and administrative headquarters of the government district of Dresden.

Stadtwappen: Golden shield with a black lion (left) and two black vertical bars (right).

Religion: Traditionally dominated in Saxony in Dresden and the Evangelical Lutheran Church, but only a quarter of Dresden is one of an official religious community - the majority is in GDR times from the church.

Unemployed (in% of employment April 2007) 12.8% (Germany 9.5%).

Investment rate of industry (2001-2004) 41.6% (Germany 10.4%).

Apartment vacancy: (2006) about 15%.

Nobody would have thought it possible that in 1945 almost completely destroyed the city from its ashes could rise. But the miracle happened: As a vision, the dome of the Frauenkirche again today about the old-new silhouette of Dresden. The Elbresidenz of the Baroque period, the cultural capital or the "Jewel Box", as Victor Klemperer said, beaming in a new gloss.

Is still on all corners and ends dug and built, the vacancies in the old town is dwindling, however, at a breathtaking pace. The castle will be finished by 2012, but already were important parts opened the splendidly restored as "Historical Green Vault". Compared to 2006, completely reconstructed Frauenkirche Egna grow at the old baroque facades up behind them to offices and chic, expensive homes. Not everyone has this mask of the baroque buildings agree it would be also of modern architecture can decide - whether the hotly debated New Gewandhaus, a modernist museum, however, the yellow from the egg is doubtful many of Dresdner. For other buildings will also rise to a new Vienna State Opera on the main square, yes or no, yet another luxury hotel in the downtown (in three is currently being built), it is really less Albertinum exhibition space than before, which is in the Palais Kurländer do, had to be excavated remains of the Old Town Hall really the construction of the new parking garage under the Altmarkt soft ... These questions deal with all the Dresdner, as the readers of the city newspapers show.

For all the cultural and artistic hype - everyone wants in the Semper Opera was in the Sistine Madonna and the Frauenkirche, and have admired through the park to the castle Pillnitz stroll - is still a city of Dresden, whose citizens have other things to do than constantly to the opera or to run the Chinese porcelain vases in the collection view. Dresden is the capital of Saxony with a major political and administrative apparatus that is home to Europe's most important location of the micro-and nano-electronics ( "Silicon Saxony"), has a major technical university and several internationally renowned research institutes like the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems . The unemployment rate is thanks to numerous start-ups, despite the clear-cutting after the Wall fell to 12% (Oct. 2007, Saxony 13.4%, Germany 8.2%), in neighboring Radebeul even to 7.8%. The city also has an excellent modern public transport network. Large parts of the vast urban area have been renovated, restored or completely rebuilt, although it remains even quarter panel, whose condition and infrastructure are very questionable.

Dresden is not in the middle of the federal state of Saxony, whose capital it is, but something moved southeast near the Czech border. The Elbe River flows through the city, is one of its main components and is divided into a southern and a northern part.

The Elbe River rises in the Czech Republic and connects Dresden with Hamburg, near its mouth into the North Sea lies. Of importance for the cargo shipping, the river does not, in Dresden of today, only the excursion boats of the "Saxon steamboat trip." The touristic Dresden is the area of her relatively small and manageable: the south (left) of the Elbe is the Old Town, north (right), the New Town, are both parts of the historic Augustus Bridge and other bridges connected.