Days: 4 - 5
September 16th - 17th
Euros
Conversion rate on
our visit:
€1 = $1.2715
$1 = €.7865
Dresden
                            
       
What We Had
Highs: 63°F & 59°F
Low: 52°F
Sunny and Beautiful
Averages
Hi 64°F
Low 50°F
 Current Conditions
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Page Index
What We Saw
•  Chris` Pics
•  Theaterplatz
•  Zwinger
•  Dresden Castle
•  Procession of the Princes
•  Watchman Tower
•  Frauenkirche
Where We Ate
•  Bistro Cafe am Schloss
•  Hotel Kipping (Dinner)
Where We Stayed
•  Hotel Kipping

  Overview Overview


Dresden Crest
Picture by:
Our second stop...for one day.  We arrived before lunch, did a walking introduction to the downtown area, had lunch, some time to see things on our own and a guided tour of the Frauenkirch.  An interesting point...most of the building we saw are relatively new (post WWII with some post East German Communists).  
 
From Wikipedia: The Bombing of Dresden was a military bombing by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) as part of the allied forces between 13 February and 15 February 1945 in the Second World War. In four raids, 1,300 heavy bombers dropped more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the city. The resulting firestorm destroyed 15 square miles (39 square kilometres) of the city centre.
 
After the war it was determined that 25,000 residents (NOT 250,000) die in the raids.  In addition, the amount of destruction (while significant) was not the worst of WWII by most measures.  None the less, most of the area we visited had been destroyed.
 
On our way around town we ran across a group of musicians planning some `typical` German tunes. As we passed by they heard of speaking English (American English) and they immediately switched to the Star Spangled Banner.  Click on the picture below to hear them play.
 
 

Street Music
 		  
  What We Saw Chris` Pics
Sept 16, 2010


Here's some of the pictures Chris took in Dresden. 
 
 
  What We Saw Theaterplatz
Sept 16, 2010
We pulled into Dresden and we debussed (ha! you deplane don`t you so...why not debus?) in the Theaterplatz so named because the Opera House is on the north side of the plaza. We started our introductory here met here at the end of the day.
 
 
  What We Saw Zwinger
Sept 16, 2010
Wikipedia: The location was formerly part of the Dresden fortress of which the outer wall is conserved. The name derives from the German word Zwinger (outer ward of a concentric castle); it was for the cannons that were placed between the outer wall and the major wall.
 
 
   
 
  What We Saw Dresden Castle
Sept 16, 2010
Wikipedia: Dresden Castle (German: Dresdner Residenzschloss or just Dresdner Schloss) is one of the oldest buildings in Dresden and has been the residence of the Electors (1547-1806) and Kings (1806-1918) of Saxony.

In the first 15 years after the end of the Second World War no attempts were made to restore the building except the installation of a temporary roof in 1946. During the 1960s, the reconstruction began with the installation of new windows. Since then an amazing amount of restoration has occurred. The famous "Grunes Geweulbe" (Green Vault) was reopened in 2005 containing, among other priceless items, the treasures of the Saxon Monarchy. The rebuilding of the castle is not yet complete.
 
  What We Saw Procession of the Princes
Sept 16, 2010
Wikipedia: The Procession of the Princes in Dresden is a large mural of a mounted procession of the princes of Saxony, made out of 25,000 Meissner porcelain tiles. 102 meters long and 9.5 meters high, it is one of the largest porcelain artworks in the world. It shows the thousand year history of the the Princely house of Wettin.


Full View (335 feet)
Picture by:


Close Up ( 24,000 Meissen tiles)
Picture by:
 
  What We Saw Watchman Tower
Sept 16, 2010
There are two great views of the city in this area.  One is from the top of the Frauenkirch and the other is from the Watchman Tower, part of the Dresden Castle.  The problem with the view from the Frauenkirch is that you can`t see the Frauenkirch.  So we opted for the Watchman Tower.  As you can see from the photos below, the views up here are outstanding.  The climb is a little tiring, but worth the time and effort.  BTW, the clock (in the picture with Shawn and Laura) can be seen from the outside in the second picture below.  Not often you get to see the mechanism from this side.
 
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  Where We Ate Bistro Cafe am Schloss
Sept 16, 2010
Lunch. Great little restaurant just oppopsite the Kulturpalast.  Nothing
fancy, but the service is fast, the food is good and the location is ideal.
NO LONGER OPEN

Bistro Cafe am Schloss
Bistro Cafe am Schloss
Saarbrucken 7
01067 Dresden
Tel: +49 351/4951154
 
  What We Saw Frauenkirche
Sept 16, 2010
​Wikipedia: Church of Our Lady. Built in the 18th century, the church was destroyed in the firebombing of Dresden during World War II. It has been reconstructed as a landmark symbol of reconciliation between former warring enemies. The reconstruction of its exterior was completed in 2004, its interior in 2005 and, after 13 years of rebuilding, the church was reconsecrated on 30 October 2005.
Notice the blackened blocks of stone on the exterior walls?  Those stone are part of the original church.  They are in their original location, determined through a great deal of research.  
Also note that the church sat in it's post WWII destroyed state until after the German unification.  One of the pictures below is from a brochure.

Today
Frauenkirche
Georg-Treu-Platz 3
01067 Dresden
Tel: 0351 656061-00
 
 
  Where We Ate Hotel Kipping (Dinner)
Sept 16, 2010
Our only night in Dresden, we stayed at our hotel for dinner and to do the "Buddy" introductions.
 
 
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Hotel Kipping (Dinner)
Winckelmannstrabe 6
Dresden 01069
Tel: 011 49 351 478 500
FAX: 011 49 351 478 5099
 
 
  Where We Stayed Hotel Kipping


Hotel Kipping
Picture by:
A nice place to stay and have dinner.
 

Hotel Kipping
Winckelmannstrabe 6
Dresden 01069, Germany
Tel: 011 49 351 478 500
FAX: 011 49 351 478 5099