History
The city known as the "Florence of the North" has had an eventful history. Today the political and culture capital of Saxony, Dresden was first mentioned in writing in 1206. The settlement remained relatively unimportant until the 15th century, when it became the capital of the key Protestant region within the Holy Roman Empire. After managing to survive the 30 Years' War relatively unscathed, Dresden burned to the ground in 1685. It was rebuilt in glorious fashion over the centuries that followed, which explains the abundance of Baroque architecture for which the city is famous.
Destruction and Reconstruction
Most of Dresden's architectural jewels remained intact throughout the 19th century and even escaped the widespread destruction that befell Germany during World War I. That changed with the controversial Bombing of Dresden in 1945, however, which left much of the city in ruins and made it a lasting symbol of the horrors of modern warfare. Today many of the historical landmarks have been rebuilt and the city has enjoyed a resurgence since German reunification. The reconstruction of the famous "Church of Our Lady" (Frauenkirche) was completed in 2005.
Tourism
Dresden has once again become a popular vacation destination since the fall of communism. A few of the highlights included in most tours of Dresden include the aforementioned Frauenkirche, the Royal Palace and the so-called Zwinger, Dresden's most important landmark before completion of the Church of our Lady. Dresden's location between Berlin and Prague make it an ideal stop in tour packages connecting those two cities.
Our Tours to This Region
 Castle Road: Medieval Germany
Central Europe: Dresden, Prague, Vienna
From the River Spree to the River Moselle
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| Baroque city on the Elbe River: Dresden |
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| Germany Tours: Dresden |
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