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Photo: TMg, CC BY-SA 2.0 de via Wikimedia Commons
Europe's biggest jazz festival. It normally takes place in the second week of May and attracts bands and visitors from all over Europe, America and the rest of the world. A great deal of the music is played on the top decks of paddleboats in front of the Old Town.
Internationales Dixieland Festival Dresden is a jazz festival in Germany. It first took place in 1971. As Germany's oldest and Europe's biggest old-time jazz festival it is a firm fixture in the European scene. For eight days and seven nights, the capital of Saxony becomes Swingin' Dresden and draws up to around half a million jazz fans to the city, depending on the weather. One of the annual highlights is the riverboat shuffle on the Elbe, when the world's oldest and largest fleet of paddle-steamers becomes a floating stage and festival-goers are invited to step aboard. The climax is the Dixieland parade through the city centre, which culminates in a farewell jazz session.
The original Church of Our Lady was completely destroyed during World War II; however, it has been reconstructed. The City of Coventry, which was raided by the Luftwaffe in WWII, donated the golden cross for the dome of the church. Check out some ruins in the basement. For €12 (concessions €7; families €24) you can walk up to the viewing platform on the dome and enjoy a great view of the city. You must have good walking shoes, otherwise you might not be admitted. As well as being a working church (with services once a month in English), there are also regular concerts. Tickets tend to be expensive but sell out quickly, so try to book ahead of time. The seating can be a little hard.
The baroque palace features a nympheum, many sculptures of Permoser, a bell pavilion and famous art collections. Do not miss the "Alte Meister" - you'll find Rafael's famous Sistine Madonna with its well-known angels there. Three separate exhibitions are housed in the Zwinger. (See below.) The Zwinger is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).
Old Masters Picture Gallery
A highly regarded collection featuring around 700 European works from the 15th to the 18th century. It is particularly known for its focus on Italian Renaissance and Baroque art, including Raphael's Sistine Madonna, as well as a significant selection of Dutch and Flemish masters and works by Lucas Cranach the Elder.
Porcelain Collection
A unique collection showcasing the obsession with "white gold" during the 18th century. It features thousands of exquisite pieces from China, Japan, and the first European porcelain factory in Meißen, founded by Augustus the Strong.
The collection will be closed for renovation from 07 September to 30 October 2026.
Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments
A collection of historical scientific instruments from the 18th century. It features a variety of early precision tools, including telescopes, clocks, and celestial models that reflect the scientific interests and technological advancements of that era.
Royal Palace
During the bombing of Dresden in February 1945 the interior of the palace was almost completely destroyed by fire. Only the part that is now the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe (and the basements) was unaffected. Due to lack of money and political will during the GDR and despite the efforts of volunteers and local organizations, restoration only took place after reunification in the 1990s. It is now a palace for art and science. The Royal Palace is part of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD).