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The Capital of Saxony has a high potential as important city destination

„Dresden is a wonderful city", remembered the author Erich Kästner, who was born here in 1899. „History, art and nature float over the city and valley, like an enchanting chord from one of the city's own harmonies."

Looking back on a long history as capital and royal residence of the Wettin electors and kings the city today embodies one of the most beautiful European townscapes. Ensembles of Baroque, Renaissance and Foundation period architecture, the famous garden-town Hellerau and contemporary buildings combine to give the city its characteristic flair.

Dresden's historic centre, the Old Town, is located at the peak of a graceful river bend on the left bank of the river Elbe. Viewed from the opposite bank or from one of the Elbe bridges Dresden presents itself at first glance as a cultural city of international rank. Many important cultural institutions are situated along the Old Town-side: from the Old Masters Picture Gallery and Semper Opera House to the "Green Vault" and State Theatre Dresden.

Today Dresden's Frauenkirche dominates the city's skyline again. Since its re-consecration, the monumental Baroque church with its characteristic dome, called
"stone bell" owing to its shape, has become one of the top tourist attractions in town.

Incountable are the treasures in Dresden's museums. Raffael's cherubs are perhaps the most famous ambassadors of the 12 museums of the Saxon State Art Collections. The "Green Vault", the sumptuous treasure chamber of the Wettin electors and kings, is regarded as one of the most important of its kind in the world. The famous collection is exhibited in its historic home, the Dresden Royal Palace. Visitors will experience magnificent artworks of gold, silver, precious gems, ivory, bronze and amber - of an intensity unparalleled to date. The Dresden Royal Palace will be fully rebuilt in 2013. Almost all museums of the Saxon State Art Collections are included in the Dresden-City-Card, which offers also free transportation and many reductions.

Turn-of-the-century Dresden is perhaps less well known. Sights include technical monuments such as the funicular railway, the cable railway and the iron bridge „Blaues Wunder" (Blue Wonder) as well as architectural reminders of this period as the smart residential districts of Blasewitz, Loschwitz and Weisser Hirsch.

Dresden furthermore stands out due to its rich cultural life, with the Semper Opera and its orchestra Saxon Staatskapelle, the State Operetta, the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, numerous festivals and countless small theatres, cabarets and concert halls. Various places to go out in the evenings and even city beach areas make Dresden a city of lifestyle that offers high quality of life.

Dresden is a green city, one of the greenest cities in whole Europe. A trip on one of the boats belonging to the world's largest and oldest paddle steamer fleet (www.saechsische-dampfschiffahrt.de) along the Elbe River to the Chinese-baroque Summer Palace in Pillnitz is an incomparable experience. The large and elegant grounds of Pillnitz Park are a popular site for wedding ceremonies.

Not to forget Dresden's beautiful surroundings. The Saxon Wine Road passes through the town of Meissen, which is famous for porcelain and wine, and also right through Dresden, which has its own vineyards. Saxon Switzerland with its bizarre sandstone formations attracts nature-lovers. In the Upper Lusatia, the Slav culture of the Sorb people has been preserved to the present day. Prague and Berlin can also be visited on a day's excursion.