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The Dresden Semper opera is one of the most fascinating buildings in Germany.

The Dresden Zwinger is the most important building of the late baroque era and with its crown gate is considered the city‘s landmark.

Dresden has been nicknamed "Florence on the Elbe" because the city on the Elbe river features large art collections and baroque buildings.

Many architectural highlights can be admired in Dresden's old town: Surrounded by the Semper opera, the Zwinger and the Frauenkirche stands the residential palace, which has been rebuilt. It was almost completely burned out during the bombing raids on Dresden in February 1945. Only part of the historic green vault and the basement remained intact.

It is thanks to the pompous Elector "August the Strong" Fried- rich August I (May 12, 1670 - February 1, 1733), who was also King of Poland, that Saxony has so many cultural mo- numents. Due to his influence, the reconstruction of the royal seat into a baroque total work of art began. During his reign from 1694 to 1733, the Dresden Zwinger, the Taschenberg- palais, the Moritzburg hunting lodge and the Pillnitz palace were built. The residents of Dresden also owe the elector the extensive collection in the green vault of the palace and the construction of the Frauenkirche.

In 1709, August the Strong commissioned the Dresden Zwin- ger as an orangery and garden as well as a representative festival area. Owning orange trees was a sign of greatest po- wer in the 18th century. A historic hand sketch shows that a four-tier terrace system in a semicircle was planned for the area of the Zwingergarten, an old garden between the outer enate Gradl (5) R enate Credit: Photo and inner walls of the Dresden fortress.

Bavarian Times | 38