Decor / 01.06.2022

Dresden residence. Magic castle near Dresden. Moritzbau or modern west side wing

Based on historical reference books, we can safely say that Dresden was built precisely around the residence palace. The first mention of the current palace complex dates back to 1289, although some sources claim that the construction of the fortress began a century earlier, with the appearance of a bridge across the Elbe. Today, the Dresden Palace is a museum complex, interesting for its richest collections and amazing architecture.

Historical summary

There is no mention of the original appearance of the fortress, however, it is known that during the reign of the electors and kings, the building not only acquired the status of a residence, but was repeatedly completed, restored after a fire and acquired the current appearance in the classic Italian style of the Late Middle Ages. The last work to improve and restructure the structure was carried out in 1901 under King Albert. Over the entire period of its existence, the area of the palace was almost doubled. And at present, exhibits that once belonged to the royal court are stored within the walls of the castle.

Museums of the Dresden residence

Turkish Chamber. This is the most significant and ancient collection of art objects of the Ottoman Empire. "Turkish treasures" were collected by electors from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Exotic purchases at that time were brought from Constantinople, the largest of which was a tent made of silk and gold, 6 meters high. Also of interest are eight wooden horses in full military uniform, folding leather bowls, Ottoman bows and other treasures, more than 600 in number.

Numismatics cabinet. More than 300 thousand Saxon medals and coins, orders, banknotes, insignia, historical securities, seals and technical tools are stored here.

hall of the giants. This museum exhibits about 400 ancient types of ceremonial weapons, historical costumes and armor, as well as a collection of paintings depicting knightly tournaments on horseback and on foot.

engraving cabinet. This room contains an unlimited number of works by thousands of artists from eight different centuries (Picasso, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, etc.): engravings, drawings, photographs, illustrations, etchings, watercolors, gouaches and much more.

training hall. Entrance here is strictly by appointment. Visitors will be introduced to the original works of great artists, as well as the library's collection of 32,000 books.

Historic Green Vaults. The treasury hall is named so for the malachite coloring of the walls, decorated with mirrors. The treasury contains samples of jewelry works of art that once belonged to the monarchs. The hall is divided into several thematic rooms: Amber, Ivory, White and gilded silver, Corner (with miniature jewelry), Jewels, Jewelry.

New green vaults. This museum is also divided into several rooms, in which masterpieces made of gold, silver, diamonds, enamel, mother-of-pearl, precious stones, coconut, ivory are exhibited behind anti-reflective showcases.

Information for tourists

Museum opening hours: 10:00–18:00 daily, closed on Tuesday.

Excursion cost for all museums of the Dresden residence - 12 euros.

The start time of the inspection on entrance tickets is fixed. Group visits are possible.

The Dresden castle-residence is one of the key attractions of this German city. Initially, it was the base of the electors - princes during the time of the Holy Roman Empire, later kings. This is the oldest building in Dresden that has survived to this day.

First mention

For the first time in historical sources, the Dresden castle-residence is mentioned in 1289. Moreover, the castle itself was supposed to appear much earlier, according to some sources, back in 1206, when a congress of the Saxon nobility took place in Dresden.

By the end of the 13th century, it had already been built across the Elbe. Historians suggest that it was a Romanesque building. Subsequently, his appearance has changed significantly. By the 15th century, the castle was rebuilt in the Italian style, popular at that time in Germany.

Renaissance reconstruction

In the years 1530-1558, the Dresden castle-residence underwent a significant reconstruction. It was started by Duke George the Bearded. The stone gates that were on the bridge over the Elbe are being rebuilt. They acquire a majestic appearance and the name "St. George's Gate".

This reconstruction was completed by Elector Moritz of Saxony, who wished to expand the castle. For this, the western wing had to be sacrificed, and the building that grew in its place was named Moritzbau. On the first floor, a special room was equipped, equipped with blank walls, which served as a treasury.

As a result of the reconstruction, the area of the courtyard has been significantly increased. Now the Dresden castle-residence has become a suitable place for holding jousting tournaments.

The next restructuring took place at the beginning of the 18th century. Its initiator was the Elector of Saxony August the Strong. In 1701 Dresden Castle was badly damaged by fire. Society was inclined to restore the lost buildings in the then fashionable Baroque style, but they did not change the Renaissance.

The current state of the castle

At the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, a large-scale restoration of the castle was completed. Mostly the south sides were rebuilt. So, another building with a covered passage appeared here, leading to the Taschenberg Palace. It is made in neo-baroque style. Thus, the palace, where the royal family lived, received a direct connection with the castle. The gallery was subsequently called "the long passage".

It was by 1901 that the type of castle that we can observe today was formed.

How to get to attractions in Dresden?

Today, one of the most popular tourist sites for travelers who come to Germany is the Dresden Castle-Residence. The address where the attraction is located: Tashenberg, 2.

Today there is something to see. In addition to the unique medieval architecture that has survived to this day, there are also several museums located on the castle grounds.

The most favorite among tourists is "Green Vaults". Its main value is a huge pear-shaped diamond of emerald color. Its weight is 41 carats, or more than 8 grams in the usual system of measures. One of the owners of the castle - the Saxon elector August III - bought it for money comparable to the amount that went to build the cathedral in Dresden. At least there is such a legend.

About 10 years ago, royal treasures were also exhibited here, which had previously been carefully hidden from prying eyes. The Dresden castle-residence can surprise guests with all this. Where is this unique attraction, we have already told. To get to it quickly public transport you should take the tram. There are a lot of routes that follow in that direction: No. 1, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12. You should get off at the stop "Postova Square" or "Teatralnaya Square".

The main values of Dresden Castle

Most tourists tend to Dresden to look not only at the famous castle, but also at the unique values that are stored in it. It's not just diamonds and treasures.

Its main attractions are the Watchtower, as well as the Taschenberg Palace and the court chapel. Unique medieval interiors have been preserved here, for example, the Numismatic Cabinet, which was used by the Saxon Electors.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the collection of treasures. She is the richest in Europe. The Engraving Cabinet and the Art Library, restored only in 2004, require special attention. By 2006, architects-restorers completed the reconstruction of the Gallery of Princes, the English Stairs and the Turkish Chamber according to old drawings.

Tourist impressions

Tourists note the cleanliness and order prevailing on the German streets, and the delightful Gothic style of the palace, which is simply mesmerizing. Many, when they learn the history of the castle, cannot believe that this building had such a difficult fate. Indeed, during the Second World War, it was almost completely destroyed. It took more than a dozen years to restore the castle with maximum historical accuracy. In some parts of it, restoration work continues today.

By the way, the cost of visiting the chambers and the museum of the castle in Dresden is very democratic - it starts from three euros. But for little money here you can see the "Sistine Madonna". This is the most famous exhibit.

A ticket to the castle with an audio guide in Russian costs 12 euros. But for this money, you will independently learn the whole fascinating history of this building, slowly inspect the buildings, towers and outbuildings.

An obligatory point for visiting travelers in Germany is the Dresden castle-residence. Reviews of tourists are only positive. Many people remember the mosaic panel depicting the rulers of Saxony, which is located on one of the streets adjacent to the castle. There you are being prepared for a meeting with their main residence for a whole millennium.

From the observation tower you can enjoy a wonderful view of the whole of Dresden. Just note: Tuesdays are closed here. So don't get in trouble. Everyone else works according to a more familiar schedule - with the only day off on Monday.

The exposition, according to tourists, is large and interesting. Therefore, not everyone has time to visit even part of the halls (for example, at least those that are included in a ticket for 10 euros) in one day. And they want to come back here again and again.

Hello, friends! The Dresden castle-residence with a thin spire of a high watchtower will attract your attention, wherever you are in the historical part of Dresden. And the best views of the castle will open if you approach it from the Theater Square.

The residence is the oldest building in Dresden. Several styles intertwined in this architectural object. The upper part of the castle buildings had to be completely restored after the destruction of 1945. Therefore, the current castle contains both the foundation of the 16th century and restored elements. The appearance of the complex is being restored in accordance with the view that was finally formed by the end of the 19th century.

The residence castle includes many components. To give you an idea of the whole complex, I will introduce you to the main ones:

Georgievskie Gates and Gate Palace
Gausmann tower
Courtyard under the dome and Green Vaults
Mosaic wall Procession of princes

Georgievsky gate and the palace above them

From the Palace Square, located on the banks of the Elbe between the castle complex and the Brühl terrace, the residence of the Saxon rulers looks rather gloomy:

The darkened sandstone from which the castle is built seems even darker, because this facade is northern.

On the right in the photo, a covered bridge connecting the palace and the court Catholic cathedral stands out. In the center, the arch of St. George's Gate darkens. The gates were called St. George's, as they were built during the reign of George the Bearded (first half of the 16th century):

The gate was thoroughly fortified and was the main entrance to the princely possessions from the Elbe.

Georg the Bearded, sculptures-bearded men at the gates... I really want to identify the ruler of Saxony in one of the sculptures. But the sculpture of the duke is placed much higher. By the way, George acquired a beard only in the last five years of his life and reign, as a sign of mourning for his wife Barbara, the daughter of the Polish king Casimir IV, with whom he had been married for 38 years. But the nickname was firmly attached - with him George the Bearded entered history.

George the Bearded is depicted on the facade of the Gate Palace. This is an equestrian statue between two knights at the top of the façade:

Through the St. George's Gate, visitors enter the inner street, from which you can turn into the Stable Yard or go to the covered courtyard leading to the Green Vaults treasury. From the inside, the St. George's Gate is also guarded by a stone guard:

From the southern inner side, it is more convenient to see how the same St. George's Palace rises above the gate, and its graceful Renaissance tower:

Currently, the gate palace houses a numismatic collection and an exhibition of works of art from the royal cabinet of curiosities.

Gausmann tower

The castle's watchtower, known as the Gausmann's Tower, was first built in 1400, but was crowned on horseback with a spire in 1674-76. designed by architect Wolf Kaspar von Klengel. The weather vane of the tower is located at an altitude of 100.27 m. The view of the watchtower opens well if you climb the upper galleries:

Until 1945, the Hausmann Tower was the tallest building in Dresden. The February bombardment demolished the baroque dome of the tower and destroyed the chimes, which had been in operation since 1746. Only in 1991 did the tall building acquire its new 30-meter copper spire with a weather vane and a new clock.

The western wing of the Dresden Castle ends with towers that form a harmonious ensemble with the Hausmann watchtower. In this direction, the residence expanded under Augustus II. A sculpture of a lion is placed in the center of the tower face, and above it is a gold monogram AR, which denoted the belonging of Augustus the Strong:

During the reign of the famous elector, the Taschenberg Palace was built next to the castle-residence for the favorite of Countess Kozel. And the castle received another covered air passage leading to the Countess's apartments:

Each generation of the ruling house of Wettin made its own additions to the castle complex, updating palace buildings and galleries.

Small courtyard and Green Vaults

When it comes to Dresden, many wonder where the legendary treasure trove known as the Green Vaults Museum is located. The collection of precious works of art, collected by Augustus the Strong and his son Augustus III, is the largest collection of jewelry not only in Germany, but throughout Europe.

To visit the Green Vaults Museum, you need to first enter the Small Courtyard from the inner castle street passing through the St. George's Gate:

The Green Vaults are hidden behind seven locks behind several courtyards and entrances. In the photo above, you can barely see the arch on the right. This is the first checkpoint to visit the museum:

The price of a ticket to Green Vaults is 14 €, besides, it must be booked in advance. Only with a ticket in hand, you can enter the next courtyard, decorated with sgraffito. This yard is even difficult to photograph. The entrance is blocked by a glass door that opens and closes automatically. This is how I managed to see the interior space in a few seconds:

Of particular artistic value are the large-scale works of the court jeweler Dinglinger, which the master created by order of Augustus the Strong. The composition “The Court of the Great Mogul in Delhi”, which consists of 137 gold objects and figures adorned with precious stones, is known throughout the world. And that's just one exhibit!

They pass on from generation to generation the story of how Peter I, who decided to visit the treasury of the Saxon king, spent the whole night in the halls, examining the fabulous treasures.

Friends, do you think it will be easier for you to break away from viewing such works of art? Hardly. Therefore, if you are going to Dresden for one day, decide whether to get acquainted with the historical center and visit other Zwinger museums, or a treasury. By the way, what is the reason for the name? The halls of the palace, in which the collections were exhibited, were distinguished by vaults made in green tones. Therefore, such a name was fixed.

But even if you are not scheduled to visit the Green Vaults, it is worth looking into the Small Courtyard leading to them:

The neat courtyard is not only recreated, but also covered with a glass dome. Each side is original.

procession of princes

What else you need to see in the Dresden castle-residence is the long outer wall of the gallery, which depicts the "Procession of the Princes":

If you stand on Palace Square in front of the St. George's Gate, then you need to go left along the narrow Augustusstrasse street to find a panel made on porcelain tiles.

Painter Wilhelm Walther in 1873-76 depicted all the rulers of Saxony on the outer wall of the gallery, 102 meters long. Having studied the panel, you will get acquainted with all the electors and kings of the Wettin family:

Initially, the image was applied using the sgraffito method. But at the first damage, the painting was transferred to Meissen porcelain tiles. It took 24,000 tiles to create the panel. It's very exciting to look at it. Most of the heroes are depicted with their names, nicknames, time of reign. Attention is paid exclusively to men, there are no women in the Procession.

The Dresden castle-residence is also unusual in that its layout is not immediately clear. But, friends, if you find yourself in Dresden, go around this object from all sides. Discover a lot of interesting things.

Your euro guide Tatiana

"(Green Vaults), Numismatic Cabinet (German. Munzkabinett), Engraving Cabinet (German. Kupferstich-Kabinett), In addition, various thematic exhibitions are held, which exhibit works of art from both old and modern masters.

Story

Middle Ages

Scientists agree that the fortification in Dresden, on the site of the current castle, should have existed by the end of the 12th century. This is indicated both by the wooden bridge over the Elbe, which was in the immediate vicinity at that time, and by the fact that it was in Dresden in 1206 that a large “meeting” of the Saxon nobility headed by Margrave Dietrich of Meissen took place. The first written mention of the existence of a fortress in Dresden dates back to 1289. Castrum was located by this time already at the stone bridge over the Elbe. No drawings or drawings of that time have been preserved, and scientists suggest that it was originally a Romanesque fortress. The inner courtyard of the fortress had dimensions of approximately 35 by 40 meters, on the site of the modern "Watchtower" (German. Hausmannsturm), located now in the middle of the northern wing of the castle, was located at that time the northwestern corner tower of a relatively small medieval fortress. The inner part of the tower up to the height of the consoles, which was not subjected to destruction or reconstruction for centuries, has been preserved at least since the middle of the 15th century, and possibly from the end of the 12th century. In the middle of the XV century. the tower was built on, the existing square one was continued by a hexagonal structure, ending in an almost flat roof. As a result of reconstructions of the XV century, the Dresden fortress takes the form of a four-sided three-story castle of the Italian "sample", widespread in Germany of the Late Middle Ages.

Renaissance castle

Further reconstruction of the castle was actively carried out in 1530-58. under Duke George the Bearded and his nephew, Elector Moritz of Saxony. Under George, the “Elbe Gates” of the city fortifications, which were practically on the bridge over the Elbe, are rebuilt and, having acquired a majestic appearance, go down in history as the “St. George’s Gate”. Moritz, under which Dresden becomes the residence of the Saxon Electors, in 1548 entrusts the architects Hans von Den Rothfelsen and Bastian and Hans Kramer with the rebuilding of the castle in the Renaissance style. In order to expand the castle, the western wing was demolished, and the new building, now called the Moritzbau (in German. Moritzbau), was erected in 1558 even more trap. In addition, it was necessary to complete the construction of the southern and northern vanes in order to have a closed courtyard. On the first floor of the western flugel was located the "secret vault", which later became the famous museum "Grunes Gewolbe". Initially, the “vault”, protected by meter walls, served simply for storing treasures, money and valuable documents of the elector. In the courtyard of the castle, which almost doubled in size, and according to the plans of Moritz, it was supposed to serve for holding jousting tournaments, modeled on the French castle of Chambord (castle) (fr. Chateau de Chambord) three corner towers were built. The walls were decorated with paintings in the style of sgraffito (Italian graffito). The Watchtower, which was a corner tower before the reconstruction, was now in the middle of the northern wing of the castle. The part of the weather vane to the east of the tower, which was not touched by the reconstruction, from that time began to be called Altes house(old house), in the newly built part, to the west of the tower, a court chapel was equipped, in 1558 the entrance from the courtyard to the chapel was decorated with golden gates. In 1590-94. on the south side, another building was completed, thus, the castle received another courtyard. Next a big wave The castle was rebuilt at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. In 1674-76. "Watchtower" received a baroque roof with a spire, overall height the tower is now 101 meters, until 1945 the tower was the tallest building in Dresden. Since 1693, the castle, which had only one gate located from the south, receives another “Green Gate” from the north, located exactly under the watchtower. During the reign of Augustus the Strong in 1701, a big fire broke out in the castle, as a result of which the eastern vane and the St. George's Gate burned down. Despite the fact that most of the buildings in Dresden were erected at that time in the Baroque style, the restoration of the castle was carried out without changing the architectural style.

20th century

On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the Saxon Wettin dynasty, by order of King Albert, in 1889, a new major restoration and reconstruction of the castle and adjacent buildings began. Work under the leadership of Gustav Dunger and Gustav Fröhlich lasted more than 10 years, and by 1901 the castle got its current look. The main changes affected the south side of the castle, here in 1900 another building was completed with a covered passage, in the style neo-baroque, to the Taschenberg Palace (German. Taschenberg). The northern "Elbe side" of the castle was connected by the same passage with the cathedral. Thus, the Taschenberg Palace, where the royal family lived, was connected by internal passages through the castle with the cathedral, and with Johanneum through the Long Pass gallery.

Coordinates : 51°03′09″ s. sh. 13°44′12″ in. d. / 51.0527417° N. sh. 13.7369222° E d. / 51.0527417; 13.7369222(G) (I)