A great fire destroyed Altendresden on the right bank of the Elbe in 1685. By rebuilding the neighborhood as the "New King's Town", Augustus the Strong made his dream of a Baroque residence come true. Oriented toward the central axis of the Japanese Palace, Königstrasse was built in 1731 according to Pöppelmann's design.

The unbroken rows of patrician houses, restored at great expense, provide a good impression of how Dresden used to look. The many inner courtyards are also worth a glance. Some accommodate tucked-away restaurants, while others invite you to spend some time shopping in their elegant boutiques and passageways full of stores.