Frauenkirche in Dresden

The Neumarkt of Dresden is the city’s new treasure chest and the Frauenkirche, built between 1726 and 1743, is undoubtedly its greatest jewel. More than any other building, this church represents Dresden’s eventful history, especially since its destruction in the 1945 bombing and its reconstruction from 1993 to 2005. For decades, the ruin served as a memorial to the horrors of war; now it stands as a visible symbol of the new beginning and reconciliation that began with the political changes of 1989 and reunification. The entire ensemble on Neumarkt shines with freshly renovated facades or newly constructed buildings – a stark contrast to how it looked 30 years ago. This transformation reminds me of my visits to Prague in 1993 and 2008, where I observed a similar change from a dark, Kafkaesque atmosphere to a bright and spruced-up city. During Advent, in addition to the famous Striezelmarkt on Altmarkt, an atmospheric Christmas market also takes place here.

More pictures of Dresden in the “Germany” gallery