Gloriously Dressed Dresden

30 July 2017, Sunday: It’s a sunny, warm morning. People who had a picnic nearby yesterday, did not extinguish their fire properly which has restarted by itself this morning. We use this opportunity to braai our steak and cook some potatoes and onions in tinfoil. Genève also uses the time to improve on her hairdressing skills using Emile as her guinea pig. 3.30pm we leave our peaceful parking on the island in Prague and are on our way again. Sometime during the afternoon the clouds open up with heavy downpour. While driving we can see the steam rising from the hot tar. 7pm we reach our park4night stop near Mařenice, which is a parking area at a restaurant in the countryside. We get treated to supper at the restaurant. Thanks Papa! The restaurant owner allows us to fill up Merzy’s reservoir with water and we have a shower before finishing the day with family devotion.

31 July 2017, Monday: The entire morning is spent choosing photos for the blog. As we are about to leave, some tourists suggest that we take a hike to a close-by viewpoint. At 12pm we take a stroll up the ‘hill’ to the highest point in the area, approximately 900 meters away. The Lusatian Mountains are a small mountainous range in northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. It lies at the border between Czech Republic and Germany. The highest peak is the Lausche (Luž) at 793m, which has breath-taking views of the surrounding area (not only the steep incline taking our breath away). We depart just before 1pm and stop at a Penny Market along the way to use our last Czech Korunas. 2.15pm we stop at a lovely clearing in the Národní Park České Švýcarsko to have a late lunch. 3.30p we cross the border into Germany, with the traffic going up a few notches. We arrive at our park4night parking along the Elbe River in Dresden just before 6pm. We relax for the rest of the evening as it is very hot and humid.

1 August 2017, Tuesday: We start our walk to the Altstadt (Old City) of Dresden at 9.30am. Since the park4night stop is close-by it only takes us 10 minutes. Our first tourist attraction is Zwinger Palace complex which is famous for its beautiful Baroque architecture. With its pavilions and galleries, the ‘Crown Gate’, the ‘Nymphs Bath’, and not least the gardens in the courtyard, it is an oasis for every visitor to Dresden. At the southeast end of Zwinger’s courtyard is the Glockenspielpavilion where we exit. The centre of the gate is adorned with the Meissen Clock which has a collection of bells. 

We make our way to Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady, which is a faithful reconstruction of the 18th century original. The golden cross which tops the church was made by Alan Smith, the silversmith son of one of the bomber pilots from the 1945 raid. The orb was also a British donation. A bronze statue of reformer and theologian Martin Luther which survived the bombings, has been restored and stands in front of the church on Neumarkt Square. We enter the church to have a look inside. The Baroque Altar is a masterpiece and highly impressive. It’s a relief depiction of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Around 80 percent of the present altar is made of original material, rescued during clearance of the rubble. The church was designed with 5 gallery levels which contributes to the unique sense of space the church conveys. 

After exiting we continue to Kreuzkirche, passing Schlossstrasse on our way. Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) is a Lutheran church. It may have a sober interior, but it is famous for its excellent acoustics. From there we continue to Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), a monumental building in Neo-Renaissance style with a massive 98m tall Baroque tower. We walk around it viewing it from different angles. 

We decide to have a lunch break before starting our walk back towards the Elbe River. We pass the Albertinum, a modern art museum located at Brühl’s Garden. From there we continue down Brühl’s Terrace, a promenade along the embankment of the Elbe. It is lined with great architectural landmarks. From the Terrace, which is decorated with statues and fountains, we have a panoramic view over the Elbe River. Among other things the Brühl’s Terrace is framed by the Kunstakademie (Academy of Fine Arts), the Sächsiches Ständehaus (today housing Saxony’s Supreme Court) and the Sekundogenitur in front of which the Ernst Rietschel Monument is located. The Sekundogenitur was formerly a library and later on served for several centuries as a residence of all second-born princes of the rival’s gender. 

Straight under Brühl’s Terrace preserved parts of the Dresden Schloss/Fortress (also known as the Royal Palace) are situated at Schlossplatz. It faces the south side of the square. The Royal Palace (Residentzschloss) is a large complex of several buildings in different styles. Today it is home to a number of museums, including the Green Vault, a large treasure chamber. At the centre of the north wing stands the Haussman Tower. A covered bridge near the tower connects the Royal Palace with the Catholic Hofkirche, also standing at Schlossplatz. The Baroque Church is one of the most beautiful buildings in Dresden, its top crowned with a copper onion dome. 

After the normal photo shoot we make our way underneath the covered bridge to the Semperoper (Semper Opera House) at Theaterplatz. At the centre of this square in front of the Opera House stands an equestrian statue of the Saxon King John. We proceed along the bank of the Elbe River to Merzy, waiting patiently for us. We make use of the sun shining to power the inverter so that we can choose some photos. 

At 4.30pm we start up and drive to Kraussnitz where Grandpa grew up to the age of 11 (we think). Dad takes us around the smallholding as Frau Ringel showed him last time when they visited in 2001. Everything according to Dad looks exactly the same. Frau Ringel has passed away, but her granddaughter, Maria who has just turned 20 the day before, opens the door on our knock. We park on her father, Michael’s property. At 10pm Michael Ringel comes to greet us after returning from work. Mum and Dad catch up with him for approximately an hour before a glorious thunderstorm ends their conversation and sends everybody to bed.

Our sleepover stop on Štvanice Island in Prague

Using a fire which restarted by itself, for steak and potatoes/onions in tinfoil

Treated to a tasty meal at Restaurace Chata Luž

View from Luž 

Highest peak in the area (793m)

Into Germany

Zwinger Palace complex - beautiful Baroque architecture

Large inner courtyard

Pavilions and Gallaries

Fountain in the courtyard

Exquisite Crown Gate - most well-known entrance to the Zwinger, adopting an Italian High Baroque style 

At its top four Polish eagles carry the replica of the Polish royal crown that Augustus the Strong was wearing from 1697 to 1704

Semperoper (Semper Opera House)

Equestrian statue of the Saxon King John at the centre of the square in front of the Opera House

Semperoper

Semperbau, the last wing to be added to Zwinger Palace complex to close the courtyard - also referred to as the Picture Gallery

Glockenspielpavilion - Meissen Clock with a collection of bells adorning the centre of the gate

Schlossstrasse

A faithful replica of Frauenkirche, Church of our Lady, at Neumarkt Square

A bronze statue of reformer and theologian Martin Luther in front of Frauenkirche 

The dome and galleries contribute to the unique sense of space in the church

The Baroque altar depicting Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane

Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) - home of the Dresdner Kreuzchor boys' choir which has a seven century history 

More sober interior with excellent acoustics

Julius Otto Memorial - Dresden Choir Boy Statue in front of Kreuzkirche

Singing 'Das Treue Deutsche Herz' (The Faithful German Heart) 

Church Tower of Kreuzkirche 

Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) - the copper dome of the tower is topped by a statue known as the 'Golden Man'

Albertinum, a modern art museum

Golden Angel with Trumpet on the glass dome of the Academy of Fine Arts

Brühl’s Terrace - view towards Hofkirche and Semperoper

Public Art Academy

View from Brühl’s Terrace towards Neumarkt Square

Catholic Hofkirche at Schlossplatz

Preserved parts of Dresden Schloss with Haussman Tower 

A large statue of Friedrich August I at Schlossplatz in front of Sächsisches Ständehaus

Covered bridge connecting the Royal Palace with Hofkirche

Park4night stop on the Elbe River with Altstadt of Dresden behind us

Exploring around the house in Kraussnitz where Grandpa lived as a kid

CM - some inscription on a silo or reservoir 

Barn - burnt down when struck by lightning in 1954

Maria Ringel (middle right) and her friend

Kraussnitz - proof in the picture 

Only 9 506km away from home

#CzechRepublic #Germany