Germany, Sachsen (Saxony): Around Dresden

Map of the route of the scenic drive around Dresden, from Meißen via Dresden and Pirna to the Elbsandsteingebirge (Elbe Sandstone Mountains) and then to Bautzen, the dinoparks at Großwelka and Kleinwelka and finally through the Oberlausitz region to Zittau and its hills. This map is for indication purposes only. The copyright is owned by Cartographics in Holland. 

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7297] 'Vaults like origami.' Ribless cellular vaults cover the halls of the Albrechtsburg in Meißen. In 1525 architect Arnold von Westfalen had nearly completed the construction of the castle. In the final stage he got the brilliant idea to leave out the ribs that the arches usually were anchored on. The vaults were to be self-supporting. This enabled faster building if the masons were very experienced. The result was a web of cell-vaults, unfolding in different patterns in each hall and looking like Japanese origami, elegant and seemingly weightless. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7301] 'Secret of the Forest.' "Das Waldgeheimnis" (the secret of the forest), sculpture dating 1894 by Robert Dietz. It can be seen in the Albrechtsburg in Meißen. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7304] 'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.' The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg, situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7316] 'Baroque fun.' Sculpture in the garden of Schloß Moritzburg. Photo Paul Smit.

Since the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche, at left, Dresden's skyline along river Elbe has been completely restored. It looks again like the famous Italian artist Canaletto painted it. He did that more times than his beloved Florence. Since those days the Saxon capital proudly wears the nickname Elbe Florence, and it can do so again. Photo Sylvio Dittrich. (Attention: this picture is not made by us and is not included in any feature price arrangement by us. This photo can be obtained in high resolution at our collegue Sylvio Dittrich).

The majestic cupola of the Frauenkirche crowns the skyline of Dresden along the Elbe again, as if it has never been destroyed during the bombardment of 1945. Photo Sylvio Dittrich. (Attention: this picture is not made by us and is not included in any feature price arrangement by us. This photo can be obtained in high resolution at our collegue Sylvio Dittrich).

The majestic cupola of the Frauenkirche stands over the roofs of Dresden again, as if it has never been destroyed during the bombardment of 1945. Photo Sylvio Dittrich. (Attention: this picture is not made by us and is not included in any feature price arrangement by us. This photo can be obtained in high resolution at our collegue Sylvio Dittrich).

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7344] 'Former ruins of Frauenkirche.' Before the recent reconstruction of the Frauenkirche its ruins symbolized the destruction caused by the Allied bombardment at the end of the Second World War and the hope it would never happen again. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7332] 'Semperoper.' The Semperoper, the famous opera house of Dresden, had already been rebuilt before 1989, after it had been destroyed during World War II. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7347] 'Courtyard of the Elements.' The Kunsthof Passage in the swinging Dresden quarter Neustadt is an explosion of architectural creativity, like here in the Hof der Elemente (Courtyard of the Elements). Hip shopping meets art. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7373] 'Castle Pillnitz.' Schloß Pillnitz near Dresden, a baroque castle, has a roof in 'Chinese' style, a fashion at that time. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7380] 'Renaissance portal.' Portal of the Blechschmidthaus at Niedere Burgstraße 1 in Pirna. Here lived the Renaissance architect Wolf Blechschmidt from 1544 till 1563. He sculpted the portal himself, symbolizing his craft. The house is now a three-star hotel, Deutsches Haus. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7295] 'Vaults like origami.' Ribless cellular vaults cover the halls of the Albrechtsburg in Meißen. In 1525 architect Arnold von Westfalen had nearly completed the construction of the castle. In the final stage he got the brilliant idea to leave out the ribs that the arches usually were anchored on. The vaults were to be self-supporting. This enabled faster building if the masons were very experienced. The result was a web of cell-vaults, unfolding in different patterns in each hall and looking like Japanese origami, elegant and seemingly weightless. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7299] "I'm going to cry!" Late gothic sculpture in the Albrechtsburg in Meißen. It looks like Saint Bonaventura wants to say: "I'm going to cry, they've shot my mitre into pieces." Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7311] 'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.' The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg, situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7314] 'Jachtschloss Moritzburg near Dresden.' The baroque hunting lodge Moritzburg (in the distance), situated northwest of Dresden, is surrounded by water in summer. During the winter this turns into ice, resulting in the palace being approachable not only across the bridge, but from all directions ... on skates! The castle and its park used to form the background for baroque parties, organized by August the Strong, elector of Saxonia. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7320] 'Room of the Prince.' The 'Prinzenzimmer' in Hotel-Restaurant Waldschänke in Moritzburg near Dresden. Photo Paul Smit.

Since the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche, at left, Dresden's skyline along river Elbe has been completely restored. It looks again like the famous Italian artist Canaletto painted it. He did that more times than his beloved Florence. Since those days the Saxon capital proudly wears the nickname Elbe Florence, and it can do so again. Photo Sylvio Dittrich. (Attention: this picture is not made by us and is not included in any feature price arrangement by us. This photo can be obtained in high resolution at our collegue Sylvio Dittrich).

The majestic cupola of the Frauenkirche crowns the skyline of Dresden along the Elbe again, as if it has never been destroyed during the bombardment of 1945. Photo Sylvio Dittrich. (Attention: this picture is not made by us and is not included in any feature price arrangement by us. This photo can be obtained in high resolution at our collegue Sylvio Dittrich).

The majestic cupola of the Frauenkirche crowns the skyline of Dresden again, as if it has never been destroyed during the bombardment of 1945.The glass dome in front of it is the Kunstakademie (Academy of Arts). Photo Sylvio Dittrich. (Attention: this picture is not made by us and is not included in any feature price arrangement by us. This photo can be obtained in high resolution at our collegue Sylvio Dittrich).

GERMANY.SACHSEN 7329] 'Kunstakademie.' The sun shines through the glass dome of the Kunstakademie (Academy of Arts) in Dresden, while angels overlook river Elbe. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7346] 'Courtyard of the Elements.' The Kunsthof Passage in the hip Dresden quarter Neustadt is an explosion of architectural creativity, like here in the Hof der Elemente (Courtyard of the Elements). This façade makes music when it rains. Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7350] 'Courtyard of the Animals.' The Kunsthof Passage in the swinging Dresden quarter Neustadt is an explosion of architectural creativity, like here in the Hof der Tiere (Courtyard of the Animals). Photo Paul Smit.

[GERMANY.SACHSEN 7364] 'River Elbe near Pillnitz.' River Elbe near Pillnitz just south of Dresden. Photo Paul Smit.