In Dresden’s Altstadt, enjoy a Baroque tour through Germany’s answer to Florence

Semper Opera House in Dresden

What gives the historic centre of Dresden its inimitable atmosphere? No doubt its cobbled streets where the Baroque architecture is as exceptional as the other cultural treasures that make Dresden so appealing.

Bordered by the Elbe, Dresden's old town, a model of Baroque craftsmanship, offers beautiful sights on every corner. Dominated by the Semperoper, one of the most famous opera houses in the whole of Germany, and the Frauenkirche, Dresden's landmark cathedral crowned by its impressive dome, the Altstadt has a timeless beauty that has been faithfully preserved through the ages. Etched in the building facades is a tale of resistance and renaissance. The edifices, made of sandstone from Saxon Switzerland, have acquired a patina with the passing of time, which only seems to amplify their sense of majesty.

Be sure to visit the Zwinger, the one-time royal pavilion, and the Residenzschloss (royal palace), two of the old town's highlights, and take in unblemished views of the Elbe and the steamboats gliding across the river from the Brühlsche Terrasse, dubbed the "balcony of Europe". Whether you come and potter around its pretty streets or admire the artworks in its museums, every minute spent in the Altstadt brings you closer to the city's rich and fascinating past. A few hours is all it takes to appreciate Dresden's old town which comes into focus like a veritable visual symphony.

Semperoper DresdenTheaterplatz 2

01067 Dresden

https://www.semperoper.de/en/index.html

Frauenkirche

Neumarkt

01067 Dresden

Résidence's Castle (Residenzschloss)

Taschenberg 2

01067 Dresden

https://www.skd.museum/fr/visite/

Dresdner Zwinger

Sophienstraße