Dresden. Definitely different. Dresden in the Heart of Nature Info Service Autumn 2015 Contents Dear Friends of Dresden, “Holidays in the heart of nature – Germany’s national parks and 2 Dresdner Heide: Nature, world culture nature parks”: this is the slogan chosen by the German National and avant-garde Tourist Bureau for 2016 to promote a leisure trip to the heart of 4 A pleasant stroll amidst lush greenery Europe. But it’s not only in the countryside, on the coast or in 5 Romantic river scenery and rocky landscapes the mountains that you can experience nature – many cities can 6 Organic and regional by tradition compete on this score. 8 Nature as a source of inspiration With more than 62 percent of woodland, green space and parks, 9 Event Hightlights in Dresden 2015/2016 Dresden is one of the greenest cities in Europe. The poet Erich Kästner described Dresden with its landscape consisting of Elbe 10 Tourism Contacts and Offers river, bridges, hills, forests and distant mountains quite aptly in 10 Legal Notice musical terms: “History, art and nature hovered over the city and the valley, from Meissen Cathedral as far as Großsedlitzer Castle Park, like a three-part chord bewitched by its own harmony.” Discover in this edition of Info Service wonderful aspects of Dresden’s generous green side. Many greetings from Dresden Your Dresden Marketing Board Dresdner Heide: Nature, world culture and avant-garde The Dresdner Heide is the city’s green lung. Extending over approximately 50 square kilometres, this Press contacts woodland makes up more than one fifth of the urban area. Local people enjoy going for walks in its Konzertplatz Weisser Hirsch, varied hilly and tree-clad landscape. The villas that typify the neighbourhoods of Langebrück, Weixdorf, bean&beluga Anke Lenzer Klotzsche and Loschwitz which border on the City Forest have helped them to retain their semi-rural [email protected] character. Chinesischer Pavillon One particular gem is Hellerau which has been put forward by the state government of Saxony for zu Dresden e. V. UNESCO World Heritage status. In 1908, the Dresden factory owner Karl Schmidt established the first info@chinesischer- garden city in Germany, commissioning the Munich-based Art Nouveau architect Richard Riemer- pavillon.de schmied with the layout and design. Taking as its guiding principle Living and working, culture and Militärhistorisches Museum nature, Hellerau became an exemplary suburb with innovative buildings and curving streets which fitted der Bundeswehr perfectly into the landscape overlooking the Elbe valley. Built for the employees of the world-famous (Military History Museum of the Federal Arms Forces) Deutsche Werkstätten für Handwerkskunst (German Workshops for Craftsmanship), Hellerau soon Alexander Georgi acquired additional fame for its Festspielhaus completed in 1912. Culturally-minded people came from pressestelle@ all over Europe to attend the performances given by the dance school under its Swiss director Émile mhmbundeswehr.de Jaques-Dalcroze. As the HELLERAU European Centre for the Arts, the theatre continues to promote dance, Kletterwald Dresdner Heide drama and music by contemporary composers. The charms of the nearby Dresdner Heide have also led info@kletterwald- many forward-thinking entrepreneurs to relocate to the area. Because in so-called ‘Silicon Saxony’, dresdner-heide.de Europe’s largest hub for microelectronics manufacture, people also like to work in green surroundings. Heidemühle Dresden Adrian Müller Our recommendations a.mueller@ heidemuehle-dresden.de 4 At the southern end of the Dresdner Heide, the district known as Weisser Hirsch (White Deer) majestically surveys the Elbe Valley. Picturesque villas characterise its streets. In a natural setting, there is a concert venue with beer garden, open-air cinema, frequent musical performances and an ice rink in winter. Not far away is the Chinese Pavilion, a listed building which craftsmen from Shanghai built for the International Hygiene Exhibition of 1911. 4 Popular with day trippers is the valley of the Priessnitz creek, from the point at which it flows into the Elbe in Dresden Neustadt via the Dresdner Heide out to Ullersdorf. There are numerous attractions Picture: along the way: the bustling Alaunpark, the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr (Military Built in 1911 as a school of rhythmics, the Hellerau History Museum of the Federal Arms Forces), the Kletterwald Dresdner Heide outdoor high-rope climbing Festspielhaus (Festival Hall) park, the wildly romantic waterfall, the Heidemühle country pub and the golf course in Ullersdorf. is now the seat of the HELLERAU European Centre for the Arts. This is where artists experiment, perform and reflect on their work. Dresden Info Service Autumn 2015 [email protected] Seite 2 Info 4 HELLERAU European Centre for the Arts www.hellerau.org 4 Silicon Saxony www.silicon-saxony.de 4 Weisser Hirsch concert area www.konzertplatz-weisser-hirsch.de 4 Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr (Military History Museum of the Federal Arms Forces) www.mhmbw.de 4 Chinese Pavilion www.chinesischer-pavillon.de 4 Kletterwald Dresdner Heide (Outdoor high-rope climbing park) www.kletterwald-dresdner-heide.de 4 Heidemühle Dresden country pub www.heidemuehle-dresden.de Dresden Info Service Autumn 2015 [email protected] Seite 3 A pleasant stroll amidst lush greenery Dresden has long been renowned for its skilful integration of city and nature. Unique buildings set in Press contacts magnificent parks and gardens which the Saxon nobility commissioned for the Elbe metropolis and its Schlösserland Sachsen immediate surroundings. Places where the princes and rulers of earlier times would take a pleasant (The palaces of Saxony) Uli Kretzschmar stroll now attract countless visitors from Germany and abroad. presse@schloesser- land-sachsen.de Our recommendations: Förderverein Seifersdorfer 4 Schloss Pillnitz in the east of Dresden was built between the years 1720 and 1724. The Pillnitz Castle Schloss e. V. complex consists of three main buildings, the Riverside Palace (Wasserpalais) on the riverfront; the info@schloss- Upper Palace (Bergpalais) on the hillside, both Baroque with Chinoiserie elements; and the later seifersdorf.de Neoclassical New Palace (Neues Palais) with various pavilions. Visitors today can study the contents of the museums and admire the breathtaking botanical collection in the French and English-style gardens. The 230-year-old camellia in the castle park is a major attraction every spring. 4 Visible from some distance away and soaring above the meadows that flank the Elbe are the trio of palaces known as the Elbschlösser – Schloss Albrechtsberg, Lingnerschloss and Schloss Eckberg. They were built in the mid-19th century and set amidst sprawling gardens. The palaces on the Elbhang (Elbe slopes) are easily accessible by tram or by bike via the Elbe Cycle Path. From the cultivated terraces, it is apparent just how much of the city is given over to green space. 4 Not far from the Old Town with its many famous baroque buildings is the Grosser Garten (Great Garden) which covers an area of almost two square kilometres. Frequent concerts and cultural events take place in the central Palais and on open-air stages. Visitors young and old will delight in a trip around the park on the miniature railway. Patrons of the Restaurant Carolaschlösschen can relax and enjoy the view across the picturesque central lake. 4 Located approximately 20 minutes by car from Dresden city centre is Schloss Moritzburg, poetically located on an island in one of several artificial lakes. It is home to one of the largest collections of hunting trophies in Europe. Visitor attractions include the Fasanenschlösschen (Pheasant Lodge), the historic lighthouse and the wildlife enclosure. 4 Less well known among the castles in the surroundings of Dresden but just as delightful in its own way is Schloss Seifersdorf. The castle park is a section of the Seifersdorf valley (partially situated within the city limits) containing a number of statues which are a legacy of the romantic era. It is adjacent to a 60-hectare nature reserve. Info Picture: 4 Schlösserland Sachsen (The palaces of Saxony) www.schloesserland-sachsen.de The largest and most beauti- ful park complex within the 4 Dining out in the Elbe palaces of Loschwitz www.winzer-mueller.de www.lingnerterrassen.de city boundaries, graced by www.schloss-eckberg.de Dresden’s oldest Baroque 4 Schloss Seifersdorf www.schloss-seifersdorf.de palace. Dresden Info Service Autumn 2015 [email protected] Seite 4 Romantic river scenery and rocky landscapes Bizarre rock formations, deep ravines and romantic valleys – it may sound like a set for a Hollywood Press contacts movie, but it’s an accurate description of Dresden’s backyard. Saxon Switzerland, an area within the Elbe Sächsischer Weinwanderweg Sandstone Mountains to the south-east of Dresden, has been designated a national park. You can take (Saxon Wine Trail) Kerstin Rosenbaum a 30-minute journey by S-Bahn (Line S1) from Dresden Main Railway Station to either Wehlen or Rathen. kerstin.rosenbaum@ Alternatively, you can continue to the stations at Königstein or Bad Schandau. And you can either return elbland.de the way you came or climb aboard one of the historic paddle steamers operated by the Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt. Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt (Saxon Steamship Company) Kathrin Stegemann Our recommendations [email protected] 4 Saxon Switzerland is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. Kanu-Aktiv-Tours special- ises in outdoor adventure activities such as white water rafting on the Elbe and rock climbing. A com- bined tour might include the experience of traversing the Häntzschelstiege, an exceptionally well-pre- pared via ferrata with iron rungs, carved steps and ladders taking you up rocky pillars and across deep crevices in Saxon Switzerland followed by a rafting session on the Elbe. 4 Slightly lower on adrenaline rush but also offering great scenery is a hike along the Sächsischer Weinwanderweg (Saxon Wine Trail) from Dresden Körnerplatz to Rysselkuppe.