Dresden
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Dresden
Dresden is often called City of art and culture on the Elbe. It is situated in the south-eastern part of the Free State of Saxony, close to the Czech Republic. It is the capital of Saxony state. The city lies in a marked widening of the Elbe valley (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage), with the foothills of the Eastern Erzgebirge Mountains, the Lusatian Granite Uplands and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains reaching the valley. With 63 per cent of its area devoted to woods and green spaces, Dresden can be considered one of the greenest cities in Europe. The headlands of the "Dresdner Heide" embrace the city in the north, while the Grosser Garten Park spreads out extensively at the very heart of Dresden. The area of green is 697 ha large. There are 4 protected nature areas, 12 protected landscape areas, 110 natural monuments and 7 drinking-water protecting areas in and around Dresden.
Dresden is the fourth-largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne, with the total area of 328,30 square kilometres. There are more than 500 000 inhabitants living in Dresden, which puts the city on the 15th place among other German cities. The population density is 1484 inhabitants per square kilometre.
Dresden is considered to be the city with mainly Baroque architecture. But it is recognizable also by other branches of art. The life and work of some famous German artists are connected with Dresden, for example Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Schiller or Heinrich von Kleist. The names of these three poets stand as representatives for countless famous names in art, music, literature and science, for all those who were at home in Dresden over the centuries and found stimulation in the creative atmosphere in the city.
The city was founded on the site of a Slavonic fishing village as a merchants' settlement and the seat of the local rulers in 1206 and from 15th century it was the residence of Saxon dukes, electoral princes and later kings. During the 18th century it was the centre of European politics, culture and economic development. But today is Dresden better known for the fire bombing of 13-14 February 1945 which claimed tens of thousands of lives. This event has been described in a number of books. During the Cold War, Dresden was part of East zone, so it was under the Soviet Union control.
After the war a few of the city's major Baroque monuments were rebuilt by the GDR government, including the famous Zwinger Palace and the Opera House.
Today, at the beginning of the 21st century, 7 million tourists from all over the world come to the city each year.
Dresden is the fourth-largest city in Germany after Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne, with the total area of 328,30 square kilometres. There are more than 500 000 inhabitants living in Dresden, which puts the city on the 15th place among other German cities. The population density is 1484 inhabitants per square kilometre.
Dresden is considered to be the city with mainly Baroque architecture. But it is recognizable also by other branches of art. The life and work of some famous German artists are connected with Dresden, for example Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Schiller or Heinrich von Kleist. The names of these three poets stand as representatives for countless famous names in art, music, literature and science, for all those who were at home in Dresden over the centuries and found stimulation in the creative atmosphere in the city.
The city was founded on the site of a Slavonic fishing village as a merchants' settlement and the seat of the local rulers in 1206 and from 15th century it was the residence of Saxon dukes, electoral princes and later kings. During the 18th century it was the centre of European politics, culture and economic development. But today is Dresden better known for the fire bombing of 13-14 February 1945 which claimed tens of thousands of lives. This event has been described in a number of books. During the Cold War, Dresden was part of East zone, so it was under the Soviet Union control.
After the war a few of the city's major Baroque monuments were rebuilt by the GDR government, including the famous Zwinger Palace and the Opera House.
Today, at the beginning of the 21st century, 7 million tourists from all over the world come to the city each year.