🇩🇪 Dresden

Dresden

Heading through East Germany we planned a day in Dresden. Dresden is said to be the Florence of Germany due to it world class museums, highly ornate extravagant architecture, spectacular gardens and idyllic river surrounds. We headed for the historical old town. During World War II 80% of the old town was reduced to rubble. On our travels we have felt the massive impact the war had. Great pain and suffering to families, high cost to communities and so many historical buildings and art works lost forever. This splendid restored old town really did make us feel like we were back in glorious Florence. The town sure had a lot of wow factor and all the museums and historical sites were close together so it is like an historical adventure park.

Entering the old town we were taken back at how beautiful Dresden’s Church of Our Lady looked, towering high in the sky with its bell like dome. Made of 12 300 tones of beautiful sandstone, it is considered the most important building with a stone dome north of the Alps! No wonder we thought we were back in Florence! The interior of the dome shaped church was blessed with pretty pastel pink mural dome ceilings.

We paid to climb to the top of the tower which circled around the outside of the bell framed dome. Glass viewing windows on our ascent to the top allowed us to get a panoramic bird’s eye view down into the church below.

The spiral tower staircase took us to the panoramic view of Dresden’s spectacular skyline and we had a great view of the bridge across the river Elbe. It was well worth the efforts of our climb.

We learnt many interesting facts about this lavish, ornately decorated dome of worship. It was heavily bombed on the 13 February, 1945 and two days after this church collapsed burying so much history. The first recorded church on this site was built in the 11th century. The archaeological work of clearing the rubble did not commence until 1993 nearly 50 years after the war. Due to Eastern Germany being a communist society they didn’t have the money until after the wall came down. Gradually over time all of Germany became a capitalist society which brought more business and funds to all of communities. This treasure really was a great history lesson. We found it more inspiring than any classroom text book regurgitating facts.

As the day heated up we followed the 1000 year old Reign of Princes. A 330 foot tiled mural which was comprised of 25000 tiles along the wall. This was a visual story of times past.

This lead us into the grounds of the the Royal Palace filled with impressive statues, archways and outstanding ornate architectural exterior. It was Rome all over again.

We were a little disappointed to find that two of the museums that we were keen on visiting were of course closed only, would you believe it, on Tuesday, the day we visited. The Historic Green Vault is the richest treasure chamber in Europe it houses the largest green diamond in the world. Sadly we were unable to experience viewing these Royal rich treasures. The other museum which we wanted to visit but was closed on Tuesdays was the Armoury in the Giants Hall. This is why doing your research before arriving is so important!!!

We did however go into the Museum of Mathematics and Physics which housed a world famous collection of instruments invented in the scientific revolution which date as far back as the sixteenth century.

Burning apparatus

Thermometer- The oldest instrument in the world to measure temperature.

An old sun dial

Large telescope

My favourite the ‘Musical Automaton Clocks’ – This special clock was built in 1625.The figures jump and turn as they move along.

Topsy Turvy World 1950 – On the hour the monkey rolls his eyes and beats his drum whilst the two circles of figures move around the monkey. The hunters weapons are seized by the animals and they become the hunted!!!

The ‘Drumming Bear’ made in 1625 is made of real bear fur. It is thought to be the last automaton clock left in the world made from real fur. Lets hope this is true!!!! That’s why we need organisations like Four Paws in our world.

How stunning are some of the old protractors, erases, rules and compasses. The craftsmanship is stunning.

Interestingly enough you never know what you are going to learn about when you open yourself up to exploring on your travels!

The Mathematics and Physics Museum was in the grounds of what is called ‘Zwinger Palace’. We wandered around and admired the beautiful courtyard grounds decorated with Gods from Greek mythology. I found relief from the hot sun as the fountain water gently sprayed my way.

We also found a little shade from the hot sun with its temperatures around 33 degrees under the Crown sandstone Gate. We waited patiently for the clock to strike on the hour as it played a soft harmonious tune from its twenty bell choir.

Feeling hungry we food a great burger restaurant to satisfy our hunger and thirst. It was called ‘Hans im Gluck’. Which when I entered it into my translator it came out as Hans in happiness. Which I think is meant to be like a fable. The menus is presented like a baby’s hard cover story book with fable like illustrations.

The inside of the restaurant was decorated like a jungle theme. This burger place was really reasonable in pricing and the chicken burgers were great along with a pound of steak chips and avocado dip. Rob was now fuelled for our 3 hour road trip full of trucks to our next stay in green Tambach central Germany.