DRESDEN.
Is situated in a valley on the River Elbe near the Czech border.
A controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end of world war 2 killed about 25 thousand civilians and destroyed the entire city centre causing many fires. Dresden was attacked seven times between 1944-1945.
The communist era changed the face of the city. Some restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city.
The first thing we did was the full circuit of the Hop on and off bus tour which took just under two hours. We were lucky that we had the front seats. But was it hot, as the front end had a little covered in bit and didn't circulate any air. It took us all around the old city and out to the residential areas,saw some beautiful properties along tree lined streets, along the side of the Elbe looking across to the three Palaces. The Albrechtsberg dated 1850-54,the Linger and the Eckberg.
We are really enjoying Dresden superb city wide open spaces and you don't feel hemmed in like most cities.
It has so many large squares and church steeples, which somehow survived the bombings and the big fire storms. It's interesting as so much has been rebuilt making it look modern, but still a lot of the old which survived or has been largely restored.
The weather has been kind lovely sunny day but so hot. They say it is 30deg. but it feels like 40deg with all the walking we have been doing, and with all the big concrete squares which always generates the heat.
When you walk outside of the hotel its like being in the tropics.
The church that we look at from our room window which we visited today. Quite a bit of restoration has taken place here.
This is a photo of the church dated 1792 partially destroyed by fire in 1897 then the bombing in 1945. She looks a bit of a mess. Then refurbished in 1978.This photo was taken in 1945.
Yes we climbed another tower from this same church. What a great clear day for viewing. The building in the middle is our hotel backing onto the park. Our room is second from left on first floor.
Great shot of five of the steeples and there are more at the right of the picture, couldn't fit in. A town of steeples. They look really nice the old mixed in with the new.
More of the steeples looking the other way.
Another brave climb. He didn't like it at all.But how could he miss out on these views on a day like this.
Beautiful old building.
The Procession of Princes is a puzzle of the superlative:the portrayal of the Saxon rulers, who are shown on horseback, consists of more than 25,000 porcelain tiles and covers an area of 957 sq.m.
Down on the banks of the river Elbe.
Looking across the River Elbe.
The Frauenkirche Church known as the Stone Bell. Built between 1726 to 1743. The most significant Protestant church building which was destroyed in the firestorms of 1945. but was reconsecrated 60 years after the war.A large amount of the old sandstone fragments retrieved from the rumble were used to rebuild the church which involved numerous private donors and sponsors. This old church would be the best inside as last photo below shows.
Catholic Hofkirche church on the left which we went through. 18th century. Note this is in one of the large squares around the city. Part of the Royal Palace on right.
Palace in the same square as above.
Another large square.
Another one of their big squares called Altmarkt (Old Market Square) but is also Dresdens oldest market square. Was turned to a field of rubble after the destruction of war.They started to be rebuild in 1950, building rows of houses (apt.Style) only on the east and west sides. The palace of Culture was added to the north side in 1969.
Opera House same square as the Palace.
At the end of the 15th century, the Dresden Royal Palace emerged on the site of a Medieval castle as a closed four wing complex
This is the inside of the Frauenkirche church photo above. Just beautiful.
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