Dresden Castle Residence is the centuries-old possession of the Wettins. Dresden Castle Residence: photos, descriptions and reviews from tourists How to get to Dresden Castle Residence on your own

Hello, friends! The Dresden Residence Castle with its thin spire and 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 Theater Square.

The residence is the oldest building in Dresden. Several styles are 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 foundations of the 16th century and restored elements. The appearance of the complex is being restored in accordance with the appearance 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:

1. St. George's Gate and Gate Palace
2. Gausmann Tower
3. Domed courtyard and Green Vaults
4. Mosaic wall Procession of Princes

St. George's Gate and the palace above it

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

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

On the right in the photo there is a covered bridge connecting the palace and the court Catholic cathedral. The arch of St. George's Gate darkens in the center. The gates were called St. George's because 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.

George the Bearded, sculptures of bearded men at the gates... One would like to recognize the ruler of Saxony in one of the sculptures. But the sculpture of the Duke is located 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 firmly stuck - with it, 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 internal street, from which they can turn into the Konyushenny Yard or go into the covered courtyard leading to the Green Vaults treasury. On the inside, the St. George 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 and its elegant Renaissance tower rise above the gate:

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

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

The western wing of Dresden Castle ends with towers that form a harmonious ensemble with the Hausmann watchtower. The residence expanded in this direction under Augustus II. In the center of the tower edge there is a sculpture of a lion, and above it is the golden monogram AR, which indicated that it belonged to Augustus the Strong:

Near the residence castle, during the reign of the famous Kurtfüst, the Taschenberg Palace was built for the favorite of Countess Kosel. And the castle received another covered air passage leading to the countess’s apartment:

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

Small Courtyard and Green Vaults

When it comes to Dresden, many people wonder where the legendary treasury known as the Green Vault Museum is located. The collection of precious works of art assembled 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 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 for visiting the museum:

The price of a ticket to Green Vaults is 14 €, and it must be pre-booked. Only with a ticket in hand can you enter the next courtyard, decorated with sgraffito. It's difficult to even photograph this yard. 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:

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

The story is passed down from generation to generation about how Peter I, who decided to visit the treasury of the Saxon king, spent the whole night in the halls, looking at the fabulous treasures.

Friends, do you think it will be easier for you to tear yourself away from viewing such works of art? Hardly. Therefore, when 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. That's why this name stuck.

But even if you don’t have plans to visit the Green Vaults, it’s worth taking a look at the Small Courtyard leading to them:

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

Procession of princes

What else you need to see in the Dresden Residence Castle is the long outer wall of the gallery, where the “Procession of the Princes” is depicted:

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

Artist Wilhelm Walter in 1873-76. depicted all the rulers of Saxony on the outer wall of the gallery, 102 meters long. After studying 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 when it was first damaged, the painting was transferred to Meissen porcelain tiles. It took 24 thousand tiles to create the panel. It's very exciting to consider. Most of the heroes are depicted indicating their names, nicknames, and 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. You will discover a lot of interesting things.

Your euro guide Tatyana

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

Story

Middle Ages

Scientists agree that a fortification in Dresden, on the site of the current castle, should have existed by the end of the 12th century. This is indicated by the wooden bridge across the Elbe, which was located 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 took place, led by the Meissen margrave Dietrich. The first written mention of the presence of a fortress in Dresden dates back to 1289. "Castrum" by this time was already located near the stone bridge over the Elbe. No drawings or drawings of that time have survived, and scientists suggest that it was originally a Romanesque style fortress. The inner courtyard of the fortress measured approximately 35 by 40 meters, on the site of the modern “Watchtower” (German. Hausmannsturm), now located in the middle of the northern wing of the castle, was 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 has not been subjected to either destruction or reconstruction over the centuries, has been preserved at least since the mid-15th century, and possibly since the end of the 12th century. In the middle of the 15th 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 15th century, the Dresden Fortress takes on the appearance of a four-sided, three-story castle of the Italian “model”, widespread in Germany in 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, the Saxon Elector Moritz. Under George, the “Elbe Gate” of the city fortification, located almost on the bridge over the Elbe, was rebuilt and, having acquired a majestic appearance, went down in history as the “George Gate”. Moritz, under whom Dresden became the residence of the Saxon electors, in 1548 entrusted the architects Hans von Den Rotfelsen and Bastian and Hans Kramer with the reconstruction of the castle in the Renaissance style. To expand the castle, the western wing was demolished, and the new building, now called Moritzbau (German). Moritzbau), was erected in 1558 even further. Additionally, the southern and northern wings had to be completed in order to have a closed courtyard. On the ground floor of the western flugel there was a “secret vault”, which later became the famous Grunes Gewölbe museum. Initially, the “storage”, protected by meter-high walls, simply served to store treasures, money and valuable documents of the Elector. In the courtyard of the castle, which almost doubled in size, and according to Moritz's plans, it was supposed to serve for holding knightly 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 sgraffito style (Italian: graffito). The "Watchtower", which was a corner tower before the reconstruction, was now located in the middle of the northern wing of the castle. The part of the wing to the east of the tower, which was not affected by the reconstruction, from that time began to be called Altes Haus(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 a golden gate. In 1590-94. Another building was built on the south side, thus giving the castle another courtyard. The next big wave of reconstruction of the castle occurred at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. In 1674-76. The “Watchtower” received a baroque roof with a spire; the total height of the tower was now 101 meters; until 1945, the tower was the tallest building in Dresden. Since 1693, the castle, which had only one gate located in the south, received another “Green Gate” from the north, located exactly under the watchtower. During the reign of Augustus the Strong in 1701, a large fire occurred in the castle, as a result of which the eastern wing and St. George's Gate burned down. Despite the fact that most of the buildings in Dresden were built at that time in the Baroque style, the restoration of the castle was carried out without changing the architectural style.

XX century

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

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

Gallery

Sculptural decorations of the arched entrance of the St. George's Gate

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Balcony console with relief ornaments

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Keystone of the arch with a decorative image of a warrior in armor

Dresden Residenzschloss 01.jpg

Covered passage from the castle to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity

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Western side of the castle from the roof of the Zwinger, in the center “Watchtower” (height with spire - 101 meters)

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Western side of the castle, Sculptural decorations of the first floor (Grunes Gevolbe)

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The southern side of the castle, on the left is a covered passage to the Taschenberg Palace and the eastern wing of the palace itself

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Eastern side of the castle, archaeological site in the foreground

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Links

• Reinhard Spehr, Herbert Boswank. Dresden - Stadtgründung im Dunkel der Geschichte. - Dresden: DJM, 2000. - ISBN 3980309118.(German)
• (German). Retrieved July 25, 2010. .
• (German). Retrieved July 25, 2010. .

An excerpt characterizing the Dresden Castle Residence

Despite the fact that the surface of the historical sea seemed motionless, humanity moved as continuously as the movement of time. Various groups of human connections formed and disintegrated; the reasons for the formation and disintegration of states and the movements of peoples were prepared.
The historical sea, not as before, was directed by gusts from one shore to another: it seethed in the depths. Historical figures, not as before, rushed in waves from one shore to another; now they seemed to be spinning in one place. Historical figures, who previously at the head of the troops reflected the movement of the masses with orders of wars, campaigns, battles, now reflected the seething movement with political and diplomatic considerations, laws, treatises...
Historians call this activity of historical figures reaction.
Describing the activities of these historical figures, who, in their opinion, were the cause of what they call the reaction, historians strictly condemn them. All famous people of that time, from Alexander and Napoleon to m me Stael, Photius, Schelling, Fichte, Chateaubriand, etc., are subject to their strict judgment and are acquitted or condemned, depending on whether they contributed to progress or reaction.
In Russia, according to their description, a reaction also took place during this period of time, and the main culprit of this reaction was Alexander I - the same Alexander I who, according to their descriptions, was the main culprit of the liberal initiatives of his reign and the salvation of Russia.
In real Russian literature, from a high school student to a learned historian, there is not a person who would not throw his own pebble at Alexander I for his wrong actions during this period of his reign.
“He should have done this and that. In this case he acted well, in this case he acted badly. He behaved well at the beginning of his reign and during the 12th year; but he acted badly by giving a constitution to Poland, making the Holy Alliance, giving power to Arakcheev, encouraging Golitsyn and mysticism, then encouraging Shishkov and Photius. He did something wrong by being involved in the front part of the army; he acted badly by distributing the Semyonovsky regiment, etc.”
It would be necessary to fill ten pages in order to list all the reproaches that historians make to him on the basis of the knowledge of the good of humanity that they possess.
What do these reproaches mean?
The very actions for which historians approve of Alexander I, such as: the liberal initiatives of his reign, the fight against Napoleon, the firmness he showed in the 12th year, and the campaign of the 13th year, do not stem from the same sources - the conditions of blood , education, life, which made Alexander’s personality what it was - from which flow those actions for which historians blame him, such as: the Holy Alliance, the restoration of Poland, the reaction of the 20s?
What is the essence of these reproaches?
The fact that such a historical person as Alexander I, a person who stood at the highest possible level of human power, is, as it were, in the focus of the blinding light of all the historical rays concentrated on him; a person subject to those strongest influences in the world of intrigue, deception, flattery, self-delusion, which are inseparable from power; a face that felt, every minute of its life, responsibility for everything that happened in Europe, and a face that is not fictitious, but living, like every person, with its own personal habits, passions, aspirations for goodness, beauty, truth - that this face , fifty years ago, not only was he not virtuous (historians do not blame him for this), but he did not have those views for the good of humanity that a professor now has, who has been engaged in science from a young age, that is, reading books, lectures and copying these books and lectures in one notebook.
But even if we assume that Alexander I fifty years ago was mistaken in his view of what is the good of peoples, we must involuntarily assume that the historian judging Alexander, in the same way, after some time will turn out to be unjust in his view of that , which is the good of humanity. This assumption is all the more natural and necessary because, following the development of history, we see that every year, with every new writer, the view of what is the good of humanity changes; so that what seemed good appears after ten years as evil; and vice versa. Moreover, at the same time we find in history completely opposite views on what was evil and what was good: some take credit for the constitution given to Poland and the Holy Alliance, others as a reproach to Alexander.
It cannot be said about the activities of Alexander and Napoleon that they were useful or harmful, because we cannot say for what they are useful and for what they are harmful. If someone does not like this activity, then he does not like it only because it does not coincide with his limited understanding of what is good. Does it seem good to me to preserve my father’s house in Moscow in 12, or the glory of the Russian troops, or the prosperity of St. Petersburg and other universities, or the freedom of Poland, or the power of Russia, or the balance of Europe, or a certain kind of European enlightenment - progress, I must admit that the activity of every historical figure had, in addition to these goals, other, more general goals that were inaccessible to me.
But let us assume that so-called science has the ability to reconcile all contradictions and has an unchanging measure of good and bad for historical persons and events.
Let's assume that Alexander could have done everything differently. Let us assume that he could, according to the instructions of those who accuse him, those who profess knowledge of the ultimate goal of the movement of mankind, order according to the program of nationality, freedom, equality and progress (there seems to be no other) that his current accusers would have given him. Let us assume that this program was possible and drawn up and that Alexander would act according to it. What would then happen to the activities of all those people who opposed the then direction of the government - with activities that, according to historians, were good and useful? This activity would not exist; there would be no life; nothing would have happened.
If we assume that human life can be controlled by reason, then the possibility of life will be destroyed.

If we assume, as historians do, that great people lead humanity to achieve certain goals, which consist either in the greatness of Russia or France, or in the balance of Europe, or in spreading the ideas of revolution, or in general progress, or whatever it may be, it is impossible to explain the phenomena of history without the concepts of chance and genius.
If the goal of the European wars at the beginning of this century was the greatness of Russia, then this goal could be achieved without all the previous wars and without an invasion. If the goal is the greatness of France, then this goal could be achieved without revolution and without empire. If the goal is the dissemination of ideas, then printing would accomplish this much better than soldiers. If the goal is the progress of civilization, then it is very easy to assume that, besides the extermination of people and their wealth, there are other more expedient ways for the spread of civilization.
Why did it happen this way and not otherwise?
Because that's how it happened. “Chance made the situation; genius took advantage of it,” says history.
But what is a case? What is a genius?
The words chance and genius do not mean anything that really exists and therefore cannot be defined. These words only denote a certain degree of understanding of phenomena. I don't know why this phenomenon happens; I don’t think I can know; That’s why I don’t want to know and say: chance. I see a force producing an action disproportionate to universal human properties; I don’t understand why this happens, and I say: genius.
For a herd of rams, the ram that is driven every evening by the shepherd into a special stall to feed and becomes twice as thick as the others must seem like a genius. And the fact that every evening this very same ram ends up not in a common sheepfold, but in a special stall for oats, and that this very same ram, doused in fat, is killed for meat, should seem like an amazing combination of genius with a whole series of extraordinary accidents .

The Japanese Palace is a majestic palace created in the Baroque architectural style, which currently houses the Museum of Prehistory, the Senckenberg Natural History Collection and the Dresden Museum of Ethnic History.

The Japanese Palace is located in the central part of Dresden. The palace building on this site appeared in 1715. Large-scale restoration work in the palace was carried out from 1727 to 1733. The palace received its name because of the sloping roof in the oriental style, as well as the figures in the courtyard and on the external facade of the palace. The building was badly damaged during the Seven Years' War. After the restoration of the palace, it housed the Saxon State Library, a museum, and large sculpture collections. During World War II, the palace was again severely damaged. The beautiful park around the building was also destroyed. Restoration work was carried out from 1951 to 1987, and the palace park was also restored.

The Japanese Palace is a magnificent monument of history and architecture, under state protection.

Palace of Secundogenitour

The Palais de Secundogenitour is a unique beige building located next to the Elbe.

The palace building was built in the 1890s on the site of the Brühl Library. The author of the project is the court architect Gustav Fröhlich. The narrow two-story building is designed in the neo-Baroque style. The exterior of the building contrasts with neighboring buildings in style and size. The building is richly decorated with sculptures and a luxurious portico. The roof has the appearance of a curved attic with a copper covering. The windows of the building are decorated with ornaments reminiscent of climbing plants. The portal is framed by Ionic columns.

During World War II, the palace building was completely destroyed, but was restored in the 1960s. Since 1964, the former palace has housed a luxury restaurant.

Kozel Palace

Cosel Palace is a luxurious building in the Rococo style located in Dresden.

The palace was built in 1744-1746 by the architect Johann Christoph Knöffel. But in 1760, the building was heavily damaged by the hostilities of the Seven Years' War. In 1762, the destroyed building was bought by Count Kosel, the son of August the Strong and his favorite Countess Kosel. The Count turned to the chief architect of Saxony, Julius Schwarze, for help with a request to restore the building, turning it into a residential palace complex. Additionally, two two-story side wings were added. The palace was named after the count. Work on the construction of the palace continued until 1764.

Now the palace is a 5-story building with a central projection and a triangular pediment. The sculptural decorations are the work of Knöffel. The main palace gates, decorated with 12 angel figures, deserve special attention. This decoration is one of the best examples of Saxon Baroque.

Today, the palace building houses restaurants and cafes, as well as office space.

Dresden Palace of Culture

The Dresden Palace of Culture was opened in 1969 near the old Altmarkt market. The exterior of the building is reminiscent of the Palast der Repubblik castle, built in East Berlin. The building is made in Art Nouveau style and has a rectangular shape with many mirrored windows, its height is 102 meters and its width is 70 meters. The Dresden Palace of Culture houses the city's largest congress hall, as well as a luxurious concert hall that hosts international stars, and an assembly hall that is often used for city celebrations. Tourists coming to the Dresden Palace of Culture for the first time are amazed by its interior decoration, which includes not only magnificent decoration, but also amazing rare furniture, canvases by famous German artists and many other decorative elements.

Upon entering the Palace of Culture, you find yourself in a spacious hall, the main decorations of which are a piano standing alone in the center, as well as a huge fantastic chandelier hanging directly above it. In 2006, the building was reconstructed, during which the exterior decoration was slightly updated, and the furniture in the congress hall was replaced.

Before eclecticism.

The first mention of the presence of a fortification in Dresden dates back to 1289. Subsequently, the castle was rebuilt many times; it acquired its modern appearance in 1901, when the last major reconstruction was carried out under the leadership of architects Gustav Dunger and Gustav Fröhlich. Inside there is a jewelry collection “Green Vault” (German: Grünes Gewölbe), Numismatic Cabinet (German: Münzkabinett), Engraving Cabinet (German: Kupferstich-Kabinett), Armory with the famous Turkish Hall. In addition, various thematic exhibitions are held, which display works of art by both old and modern masters.

Story

Dresden Castle in the middle of the 15th century, top right - watchtower ( Hausmannsturm)

Scientists agree that a fortification in Dresden on the site of the current castle should have existed by the end of the 12th century. This is indicated by the wooden bridge across the Elbe, which was located 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, led by the Meissen margrave Dietrich, took place. The first written mention of the presence of a fortress in Dresden dates back to 1289. "Castrum" by this time was already located near the stone bridge over the Elbe. No drawings or drawings of that time have survived, and scientists suggest that it was originally a Romanesque style fortress. The inner courtyard of the fortress measured approximately 35 by 40 meters; on the site of the modern “Watchtower” (German: Hausmannsturm), now located in the middle of the northern wing of the castle, at that time the northwestern corner tower of a relatively small medieval fortress was located. The inner part of the tower up to the height of the consoles, which has not been subjected to either destruction or reconstruction over the 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 15th 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 15th century, the Dresden Fortress takes on the appearance of a four-sided, three-story castle of the Italian “model”, widespread in Germany in the late Middle Ages.

General view of the ensemble

Further reconstruction of the castle was actively carried out in 1530-1558 under Duke George the Bearded and his nephew, the Saxon Elector Moritz. Under George, the “Elbe Gate” of the city fortification, located almost on the bridge over the Elbe, was rebuilt and, having acquired a majestic appearance, went down in history as the “George Gate”. Moritz, under whom Dresden became the residence of the Saxon electors, in 1548 commissioned the architects Hans von Den Rotfelsen and Bastian and Hans Kramer to rebuild the castle in the Renaissance style. To expand the castle, the western wing was demolished, and a new building, now called Moritzbau (German: Moritzbau), was erected in 1558 even further down. Additionally, the southern and northern wings had to be completed in order to have a closed courtyard. On the ground floor of the western wing there was a “secret vault”, which later became the famous Green Vault Museum. Initially, the “storage”, protected by meter-high walls, simply served to store treasures,

Renaissance gate with Adam and Eve and skull keystone

money and valuable documents of the Elector. In the courtyard of the castle, which almost doubled in size and, according to Moritz’s plans, was supposed to serve as a venue for knightly tournaments, three corner towers were built on the model of the French castle of Chambord (French château de Chambord). The walls were decorated with paintings in the sgraffito style (Italian: sgraffito). The "Watchtower", which was a corner tower before the reconstruction, was now located in the middle of the northern wing of the castle. The part of the wing east of the tower, which was not affected by the reconstruction, from that time began to be called Altes Haus(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 a golden gate. In 1590-1594, another building was completed on the south side, thus giving the castle another courtyard. The next big wave of reconstruction of the castle occurred at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century. In 1674-1676, the Watchtower received a baroque roof with a spire; the total height of the tower was now 101 meters; until 1945, the tower was the tallest building in Dresden. Since 1693, the castle, which had only one gate located in the south, received another, the “Green Gate” from the north, located exactly under the watchtower. During the reign of August the Strong in 1701, a large fire occurred in the castle, as a result of which the eastern wing and St. George's Gate burned down. Despite the fact that most of the buildings in Dresden were built at that time in the Baroque style, the restoration of the castle was carried out without changing the architectural style.

In a photograph from 1980

For the 800th anniversary of the Saxon Wettin dynasty, by order of King Albert, a new major restoration and reconstruction of the castle and adjacent buildings began in 1889. Work under the leadership of Gustav Dunger and Gustav Fröhlich lasted more than 10 years, and by 1901 the castle received its current appearance. The main changes affected the southern side of the castle; here, in 1900, another building with a covered passage, in the style of neo-baroque, to the Taschenberg Palace (German: Taschenberg). The northern “Elbe side” of the castle was connected by the same passage to the cathedral. Thus, the Taschenberg Palace, where the royal family lived, was connected by internal passages through the castle with the cathedral, and with the Johanneum through the “Long Passage” gallery, decorated at the same time with the porcelain panel “Procession of the Princes”.

Sculptural decorations of the arched entrance of the St. George's Gate



Balcony console with relief ornaments



Keystone of the arch with a decorative image of a warrior in armor



Covered passage from the castle to the Holy Trinity Cathedral



Western side of the castle from the roof of the Zwinger, in the center “Watchtower” (height with spire - 101 meters)

The castles and palaces of Dresden and Saxony surprise with their variety of styles and beauty. From young to old, there are more than 820 castles and palaces. In the future we will talk about the most famous of these amazing historical monuments.

Dresden is considered a Baroque city, and many of Dresden's palaces are designed in this style. For example, or the Taschenbergpalais palace, built by order of Augustus the Strong for his beloved mistress. The palace in the Great Garden, in its orderly, strict architecture, belongs to the German Baroque and one of the earliest buildings of this style in Dresden. This palace is imposingly located in the very center of the Great Garden, so that it is visible from all 4 main entrances to Dresden's largest park.

Meets us in the New City. The palace was purchased by Augustus the Strong and rebuilt specifically as a royal display of porcelain. amazes with the harmonious combination of baroque, classic and exotic elements in its architecture.

Augustus the Strong also loved exoticism and curiosities. By his order, starting in 1720, it was rebuilt as a “Palace of Pleasure” in the original Dresden Baroque style with Chinese elements. Magnificent paintings and miniature spiers, a fancy roof with turrets and an abundance of unusual details. I can talk about this palace for a long time. It is interesting to look inside and admire the paintings on the walls of the palace, made in the Chinese style.

Travel from Dresden city center by boat. It's not far and very romantic. On the left side, a parade of palaces on the Elbe awaits you: Albrechtsberg, Lingnerschloss and Ekberg Palace. The palaces lined up along the banks of the Elbe, and surprise with a combination of different architectural styles and luxurious parks. They offer a magnificent view from the ship, or from the opposite bank of the Elbe.

Next to, in the depths of the forest, the smallest palace in Saxony is hidden - the Pheasant Palace. This unusual quirk of Augustus the Strong's son Augustus III was built on his orders and served as the Elector's quiet retreat. The palace is decorated with sculptures and paintings with Chinese motifs.

After looking at the magnificent Baroque buildings in Dresden, travel back in time and immerse yourself in the medieval and enjoy the interiors of the Albrechtsburg Palace. Everything here is real. Even a heated fireplace. The palace is divided into two parts: the front and residential parts. Rich paintings on the walls, flying arches of the vaults, expensive furniture in the state rooms give way to very modest living quarters. However, it is interesting to look behind the scenes and see the daily life of the Saxon electors.