Dresden, Germany

Dresden, the capital city of the German federal state of Saxony, is located in a valley on the Elbe River.

With a population of 525,000, Dresden is the 12th largest city in Germany. 

Dresden has had a long history as the capital and royal residence for the electors and kings of Saxony, most famously Augustus the Strong.  As a home for royals, Dresden accumulated many riches and cultural treasures.

The city’s baroque city center is internationally acclaimed and the Frauenkirche Dresden (“Church of Our Lady”) serves as the historic heart of the city.   The Frauenkirche was badly damaged during World War 2 and sat in ruin for many years before an 11-year reconstruction project began in 1993.

FRAUENKIRCHE IN DRESDEN – DESTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF ONE OF EUROPE’S MOST FAMOUS CHURCHES

During Word War 2, Dresden was heavily bombed by Allied forces near the end of the war.  Much of the city center was destroyed and thousands of lives were lost. The city reflects on the bombing and remembers those who died every year on February 13.

To learn more about the importance of February 13, visit our February 13 Remembrance Page.

After World War 2, and throughout the Cold War, Dresden was part of communist East Germany. 

For more information about Dresden, visit the official homepage of the city

See two minutes of stunning 4K footage of Dresden in the Cities in 4K video below.

To see more photos of the city, visit our Dresden photo gallery

Links for Tourism and Visiting Dresden

Dresden Travel Articles

Top Destinations for Visitors:

  • Zwinger
  • Frauenkirche
  • Semper Opera House
  • Residential Palace and Cathedral
  • Bruehl Terrace and Dresden Fortress Casemates
  • Old Masters Gallery
  • Procession of Princes Mural
  • Green Vault museum
  • Military History Museum
  • Transparent Volkswagen Factory

Sports in Dresden

Dresden Marathon:   The marathon takes place in the autumn, usually in October.

Dynamo Dresden:   The soccer team plays in the third division of German football.

Photo by Toniklemm

Dresden in Books and Movies

Slaughterhouse Five (book by Kurt Vonnegut):  Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim’s odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear most. 

Dresden (movie, 2006): A romance between a British pilot hiding in Germany and a German nurse is set during the bombing of Dresden towards the end of World War 2.

Business and Industry in Dresden

Dresden today is one of the most dynamic high-tech locations in Europe, with an emphasis on microelectronics, IT, telecommunications, biotechnology, nanotechnology, photovoltaics and manufacturing. Other industries in the region include mechanical engineering, plant construction, aircraft and automobile manufacturing, printing, pharmaceuticals and food and beverage.

Silcon Saxony:  With over 1,200 businesses and 40,000 employees in the  microelectronics and information and communications technologies (ICT) industries, the Saxony region has earned the nickname “Silicon Saxony.”  

Research and Education

Dresden is the strongest research location in Eastern Germany, with the Dresden Technical University and numerous other universities and colleges and research institutes.  

In the biotechnology field, a research cluster has developed around the DFG (German Research Foundation) “Regenerative Therapies” research center. In the field of nanotechnology, the Dresden region has evolved as a national center, with 32 research facilities and 53 of the nation’s 760 companies.

Travel Time From Dresden to Other Major Cities:

  • Berlin – 2 hours
  • Prague – 2 hours
  • Leipzig – 1.5 hours
  • Munich – 4.5 hours
  • Frankfurt – 4.5 hours

References and Links