Dresden – World-class Art and Culture Dresden is famous for its architecture, art and culture. Buildings as the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), the Catholic Hofkirche church, the Residenzschloss palace, the Zwinger and the Semper Opera are famous all over the world. The Dresden State Art Collections rank among the most significant collections in the world. The Old Masters Gallery with the Sistine Madonna or the treasures in the Historic Green Vault are prominent examples. A performance in the Semper Opera or in the Church of Our Lady, a concert of the Staatskapelle (State Orchestra) and the famous Dresdner Kreuzchor (“Kreuzchor” boys choir) are must-sees. History and modern spirit form an entity in Dresden. Thus, the bridge Augustusbrücke connects the baroque historic centre with the most urban and vibrant district, which begins directly behind the highly symbolic equestrian statue “Goldener Reiter”. It shows the way to countless pubs and international restaurants, art galleries and trendy fashion shops in the inner and outer new town. The harmonic union of nature and architecture represents the Dresden Elbtal valley. One after the other, castles, representative buildings, historic mansions, romantic vineyards and rambling meadows are lined up like a bead chain. They characterize the Dresden Ebtal valley as a unique cultural landscape that can be explored by bicycle, in running shoes or on inline skates. Leipzig – Saxony’s Paradise of Modern Trade Fair, Art and Shopping With its historic merchant’s houses, passages and courtyards, Leipzig parades its great tradition of trade and fairs. It is known as the town of books and music. A fitting name, considering that it is the seat of the “Deutsche Bücherei” (German National Library) and closely connected to personalities like Bach, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Wagner and Schumann. The reformer Martin Luther has left his footprints as well, e.g. in the old-established and world- famous restaurant “Auerbachs Keller”. In Leipzig, living history meets modern spirit: Lovingly restored and modern architecture, theatres, opera, museums, a university, and the hustle and bustle of a trendy metropolis. The comprising cultural offers range from classical music at the Bach festival, the Mendelssohn festival or the Schumann week at venues like the opera, the Leipzig Gewandhaus or even the Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Wave-Goth convention) and Germany’s most diverse cabaret scene. Almost no other city in Germany has such a sought-after art scene to offer nowadays. A visit to the artists of the “Leipzig School” at the former industrial site Baumwollspinnerei with studios and workshops or in the Museum of Fine Arts reveals Leipzig’s creative potential. By the way, here in the district of Plagwitz, a boat ride is one of the most pleasant leisure activities, also for groups. The Karl Heine Canal is the place to go. Night crawlers will find numerous pubs, restaurants an bars, e.g. at the pub mile “Drallewatsch” in Central Leipzig. Chemnitz – City of Modernism, Art Nouveau and Industrial Culture Chemnitz lives for its contrasts - industry and culture, tradition and modern spirit. The lovely flair emerges from the coexistence of 850 years of municipal history, grown industrial culture and the development during the post-reunification period. The town centre symbolises the ever changing municipal history. Were once grey concrete dominated the picture, there are now large malls, restaurants and boutiques. Europe’s biggest coherent Gründerzeit and Art Nouveau quarters can be found in the Kaßberg district. The mansion Villa Esche, built by Henry van de Velde, and the Saxon Industrial Museum are significant examples of industrial culture. Both facilities are part of the “Route der Industriekultur” (route of industrial culture) in Saxony. The Villa Esche is furthermore part of the European Henry van de Velde Route. The city’s art and cultural scene provides very special experiences: The theatres are famous for exceptional productions. The Chemnitz Art Collections show the works of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. The Gunzenhauser Museum impresses with the most comprising collection of works by Otto Dix. Further highlights are the Saxon Archaeological Museum in the former Schocken mall and the petrified forest in the culture mall DAStietz. Annaberg-Buchholz – Town of Mining and Adam Ries Significant silver findings initiated the establishment of the mining town of Annaberg-Buchholz in 1496. Two remarkable churches tell of the former wealth: the St. Annen church, biggest late Gothic hall church in Saxony, and the mountain church St. Marien. It houses a very special treasure: the miner’s nativity scene. The significant cultural monument “Frohnauer Hammer” is one of the most popular destinations in the Ore Mountains. Three exhibition mines show guests life below ground. Lace-making, carving and decorating garments are just as much part of this town as the memory of the arithmetician Adam Ries in the local museum. The multi- faceted folk art from the Ore Mountains can be found in the “Manufaktur der Träume” (manufacture of dreams). During Christmas time, hundreds of miners celebrate their traditional customs with impressive miner’s parades. Bautzen – Town of Towers Bautzen is a town in Upper Lusatia with more than 1,000 years of history. 17 towers, bastions and the town wall that has been preserved almost along the entire length shape the town’s medieval flair. With the “Alte Wasserkunst”, a downright ingenious pump station, the town owns a widely known landmark at the Spree river. St. Petri cathedral is another highlight of the city, the only interdenominational church in East Germany. Since 1542, Catholics and Protestants share the choir and nave for their services. The German-Sorb Theatre, the only bilingual theatre in Germany, and many Easter customs like the artful decoration of Easter eggs tell of the Sorb traditions in this town. A new addition to the cityscape is the “Stones Pavillon”, one of the biggest private Rolling Stones collections. Freiberg – Town of Silver Freiberg is Saxony’s silver town. Splendid patrician houses around the Obermarkt square tell of its prestigious past. St. Marien cathedral is famous for its Romanesque portal “Goldene Pforte” (Golden Gate) and precious art treasures like the “Tulpenkanzel” (tulip pulpit) or the most impressive Silbermann organ in the world. Visitors can experience the adventure of mining in the training mine “Reiche Zeche”. At Schloss Freudenstein Castle, not far from the cathedral, you can convince yourself of the beauty of the world below ground: in the only collection of minerals of its kind, the “terra mineralia”. The exhibited crystals come in a stunning variety of colours and shapes. Just as dazzling are the productions of the oldest municipal theatre in the world. Görlitz/Zgorzelec – European City Görlitz/Zgorzelec The town of Görlitz seems to be one huge monument! The historic centre alone provides approximately 4,000 monuments: Gründerzeit and Art Nouveau façades, hall houses of the medieval drapers’ guild, a whispering archway, accessible fortifications, and a unique, preserved large mall representing the early German warehouse architecture. To a great extent the former wealth came from the busy trade at the “Via Regia”. With the “Heilige Grab” (holy grave) Görlitz owns a faithful replica of the sacred sites in Jerusalem. St. Peter and Paul Cathedral thrills with its Sonnenorgel (sun organ). Numerous traditional restaurants offer Silesian cuisine. Recently, this European city has been referred to as “Görliwood”. Nowadays, city tours even include the shooting locations of numerous Hollywood movies. Grimma – The Gem of the Mulde Valley Grimma at the Mulde river is surrounded by cultural monuments and a protected river landscape. The historic centre amazes with restored bourgeois houses and historic buildings, e.g. the former state school St. Augustin, and the churches Klosterkirche and Frauenkirche. The Renaissance townhall is truly magnificent. Located directly at the market square, the Seume house invites you to learn about Grimma’s publishing history. Georg Joachim Göschen, the famous publisher of classic literature, had his printing office here. The nearby Göschen house was often frequented by writers like Friedrich Schiller and Theodor Körner. Grimma is closely connected to Katharina von Bora, Martin Luther’s wife. She was one of the nuns that fled from the nearby Nimbschen convent. The convent ruins are part of 27 stations of the Lutherweg route in Saxony. Kamenz – Lessing Town Long time ago, the great proponent of the Enlightenment Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was born in this town in Upper Lusatia. Every second year in January/February, the town organises the traditional Kamenz Lessing days. In the Lessing Museum and at the Lessing Memorial visitors learn all there is to know about his eventful life and comprising works. At the inn “Goldener Hirsch” guests enjoy their meals at the very spot where Lessing’s baptism ceremony once took place. The three parish churches are just as remarkable: the monastery church St. Annen, the main church St. Marien, and the Katechismuskirche, a fortified church. Not historical but botanical treasures can be found on Hutberg hill: an open-air stage surrounded by hundreds of rhododendron and azalea bushes. Meissen – Cradle of Saxony It’s first and foremost the porcelain that makes Meissen famous. The MEISSEN® manufactory and its world of experience, comprising a show workshop and a huge collection of Meissen porcelain, is a main attraction, as well as the cathedral and Albrechtsburg castle. In 1710, the castle became the first production site of the “white gold”. Today, it is an exhibition site for its own history. The connoisseurs not only cherish the porcelain but the wine as well, which has been cultivated in the Elbe valley for more than 850 years. A stroll through the town with its Mediterranean flair leads you past ornate house façades, winding alleys, small passages, rustic restaurants. From the tower of the Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) with its porcelain chimes you can overlook the medieval-looking market square and the lovely vineyards.