Dresden and the Frauenkirche

Dresden was once called the Florence on the Elbe for its magnificent baroque skyline of palaces, churches and galleries, before it was devastated by bombing in 1945. Painstakingly rebuilt, above all its great domed Frauenkirche raised anew from the rubble as a symbol of reconciliation, the restored old town, the Zwinger palace and the art treasures make it one of Germany's most beautiful cities.

What you'll find

• The Frauenkirche - the great domed church rebuilt from wartime rubble.
• The Zwinger - the baroque palace and its galleries.
• The old town skyline - the restored baroque riverfront on the Elbe.
• The art treasures - the Old Masters gallery and the Green Vault treasury.

When to go

Late spring to autumn for the mildest weather and river views; December for the famous Striezelmarkt Christmas market. The old town is compact and walkable in a day.

Practical notes

The old town is a beautiful reconstruction rather than an untouched historic centre, which is part of its moving story. It is compact, so the sights cluster within a walk. The surrounding modern city is less lovely than the restored core.

Nearby

The palaces of the Elbe and Saxon Switzerland's cliffs are nearby; Meissen porcelain town is close.