First of all: If you only have a few hours for Dresden, you will only get a quick impression of the town, you will only visit a couple of the most famous sights, you will miss the nightlife and you will not be able to meet some people from Dresden or to get any deeper insights about what actually makes the town. If you travel this way you will mess up the buldings and cities you have seen after a while and you will take less home as you would with some more time to spend at the places.
But, what should you visit if you only have 3 hours in Dresden? Forget about the Neustadt or other real neighborhoods (where people actually life), you will only have time for the historical part of the town. Start at the Zwinger with the Crown Gate, its one of the landmarks of Dresden. On its northern part towards the river Elbe is the famous picture galerie the „Old Masters“. You will probably have to skip it, because a short visit there would cost you the three hours you have. Next to it you will see the square Theaterplatz with the Semper Opera to your left. You could visit the building on a guided tour, but again – no time unfortunately.
Just opposite you will see the castle of Dresden. It houses many very amazing exibitions, like the Green Vault or the just reopened Turkish Chamber. Next to it is the Taschenberg Palais, today used as a luxury hotel. You don’t have to move a lot, still on the theatre square you will find the catholic church Hofkirche which is worth a quick look inside. In front of the chuch is the square Schlossplatz and next to it you will find the Fürstenzug and the Brühlische Terasse, also know as the „balcony of Europe“. Watch the steamboats on the river Elbe departing and have a quick view on the big state buildings on the other side of the river. Don’t sit down and relax in the sun and enjoy the view and the atmosphere, remember, you have no time!
Later on the Brühlische Terasse you will pass by Albertinum where soon will be another picture galarie, the „New Masters“. You should definetely visit another landmark of Dresden, the well known Church Of Our Lady on the Neumarkt and also wander around this newly reshaped square. Have a look on the Johanneum, which houses today the transport-museum and don’t miss the view into the Stallhof. A few meters away you will find the Old Market Square, which is actually the old centre of Dresden. Pass the Kulturpalast and stop by the Kreuzkirche, another church but completely different compared to the kitschy Frauenkirche.
Thats it. No time for the baroque quarter around Königstrasse, no Golden Horseman, no Augustus bridge, no Elbe castles, no „Blue wonder“ bridge, no museums from inside, no National Park „Swiss Saxony“, no other sights in the surroundings. Hey but still, you can tell your friends you „have been“ in Dresden!
One of the landmarks at the square Albertplatz close to the Neustadt train station is this 11 stories high scyscraper:
It was build in 1929 and at this time it was one of the first scysrapers at all in Dresden. At this time there was a very controversal debate about the building. It was a sign of a new modern time right within an Wilhelminian style living area. So conservative people were indignant. With its hight of 37m it caused a lot of protest from the Dresden people.
For building they used a new concrete and they were able to finish one story per week, which was a masterstroke.
1945 the scyscraper resist the bombing of Dresden. The building was so robust it even survived an airplane crashing into it!
After the war it became home of the Municipal Transport Services of Dresden (DVB). Thats why its called until today the „DVB-Hochhaus“, the DVB scysraper.
Since 1996 it is empty and people were searching for a reasonable use. There were many rumours about a students hostel or a hotel, but never anything happened.
The latest plans are to build a big shopping center (why is it always a shopping center – no other ideas?), a big basement garage, offices and apartments in the upper floors. Most of the people involved appreciated the proposals, so we will see, maybe in the near future this prominent building will be in use again. Lets cross fingers.
Some nice pictures can be found on this (German) blog of the developer.
Only a few days and spring arrives in Dresden. You too? Then don’t miss these spots to revival your spring fever:
- The Great Garden: lots of meadows to lay down on a picknick blanket, a small baroque palace, ponds for the romantic do-it-yourself boat cruise and fountains for wet water games, lots of different flowers to put in your hair and feel the spirit of the 1970s. Close to the Great Garden is the best soft ice cream seller in this area. The long queue approves the quality.
- The Dresden Zoo: Now’s the time when most animals got their offspring. Gives you a big plus, if your girlfriend is besotted with cute animals.
- The Elbe meadows: romantic bar-b-qs, camp fires, accoustic guitars and in front of you the silhouette of Dresden’s historical part. Your girlfriend will melt like icecream.
- Martin-Luther-Platz: That’s were a friend of mine roll on the cobble stones and was kissing a nice guy. In the sheadow of the Luther church. So that seems to be a romantic place as well.
- Pillnitz castle: Make a bike tour along the river and the Elbe meadows to this place. That’s really fantastic. See the three Elbe castles and their vineyards. Arriving in Pillnitz you’ll find a romantic baroque castle with a big park to lay down, a photo setting for couples and a snack bar with saussages and french frites, if you can’t bear so much kitsch and beauty.
- The beer gardens: More or less Bavarian. The Neustadt has two less Bavarian, but more atmospheric ones. 1st the Scheune Biergarten with chains of light and under big trees and 2nd Raskolnikoff’s backyard with cobble stones and water games.
