Paul Smit  Mick Palarczyk | Features, Photos and TextTwo faces, one philosophy |
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FEATURE (Category: Europe | Germany | winter | cultural-historical | scenic drives)
Germany, Sachsen (Saxony): Around Dresden
Germany, Sachsen (Saxony): Around Dresden
This feature is an exploration of the area around Saxony's capital, including the Dresden/Elbe Valley UNESCO world heritage site (please read excerpts of the article). That is a stretch of castles and palaces along the river, including the restored heart of Dresden itself. The trip starts in porcelain city Meissen and sheds light on two inventions, both done in the Albrechtsburg castle: porcelain and the ribless cellular vault. The scenic drive ends in Zittau, near the spot where Germany, Poland and Czechia meet, with a touching story about Zittau's famous Lent Cloth. On the way we visit walled Bautzen, meet artist Franz Gruss and his dinosaurs and hike in the Elbsandsteingebirge with its table mountains and national park.
![Smit & Palarczyk > [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.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/16116358_v6HL5-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [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.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [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.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/16116313_Uo4dg-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [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.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [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.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/16116102_cCGte-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [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.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [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.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/16115888_2T825-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [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.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [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.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/144270077_8kAoN-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [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.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [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.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/144270065_3TzeS-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [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.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [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.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/144270092_MFTDB-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [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.")
![Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 7316] 'Baroque fun.' Sculpture in the garden of Schloß Moritzburg. Photo Paul Smit.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/16115850_yzLtK-Ti.jpg "Smit & Palarczyk > [GERMANY.SACHSEN 7316] 'Baroque fun.' Sculpture in the garden of Schloß Moritzburg. 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.
'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 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.](http://paulsmit.smugmug.com/photos/144270077_8kAoN-S.jpg "> [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 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.
'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.
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