Dresden
Dresden is most famous for the scenery of its old town. Between the synagogue, newly built in 2000, and the Parliament of Saxony, the towers of the Frauenkirche, Residenzschloss (Royal Palace) and Hofkirche (Royal Church) rise above the river Elbe. This mixture of tradition and modernism welcomes and intrigues the visitor to Dresden. Here, in the city center, one finds the cultural heartbeat of Dresden, this is where the Dresden Staatskapelle, Dresdner Philharmonie, the Kreuzchor and the opera perform at their homes. Moreover, Dresden houses world-famous collections of paintings, porcelain and other valuables, as well as the oldest academy of fine arts in Germany.
The broad range of cultural offerings certainly includes the productions of the Semper Opera, State Theater and State Operetta ensembles. Every year at the end of May, the Dresden Music Festival presents an artistic highlight in the city on the Elbe: world-famous orchestras, ensembles and soloists perform at unique venues.
Dresden is not just home to art and culture, but also to science and technology, as demonstrated by the Technical University and the numerous high-tech businesses. In particular, Volkswagen's Gläserne Manufaktur (Transparent Factory) and the watchmaking factory Glashütte Original, located near Dresden in Glashütte, combine traditional craftsmanship with the latest technology. An institution that brings together art and science in a very close dialogue is the German Museum of Hygiene in Dresden. Unique in its kind, this »Museum of Mankind« was included in the 2001 »Blue Book«, the list of East German cultural institutions of national importance.
One of the most important places in Dresden's center is Neumarkt, currently being reconstructed, with the Frauenkirche as its focal point. This domed church, built during the first half of the 18th century by George Bähr, was destroyed at the end of World War II. Afterwards, the ruin was a memorial for many decades. Following the German re-unification in 1990 the Frauenkirche and gradually also the surrounding Neumarkt were rebuilt and draw many thousands of tourists to Dresden today.