Dresden (pop. 512,354) is one of the largest cities in Germany and a major European art center. The city lies on both banks of the Elbe River in east-central Germany.
Dresden was one of the most beautiful cities in Europe before World War II (1939-1945). In February 1945, Allied bombing raids killed thousands of people in Dresden and destroyed much of the city, including most of its architectural monuments. Restoration of these historic buildings has been underway since the 1950’s. The first historic building to be restored was the Zwinger, a museum complex that is an outstanding example of the decorative Baroque architectural style. The Zwinger, built in the 1700’s, houses a magnificent art collection. Its treasures include many porcelain artworks, priceless jewels, and paintings by famous old masters.
Much of Dresden has been rebuilt in a modern style since 1945. The city has many broad streets lined with boxlike concrete buildings. Dresden’s main shopping area lies along Pragerstrasse, a street reserved for pedestrians. The city is the home of Dresden Technical University and several other schools.
Dresden is more important as an area of industrial research and development than as a manufacturing center. Its products include automobiles, drugs, electronics equipment, furniture, optical and precision instruments, and machinery. The world-famous Dresden china is produced in nearby Meissen (see Dresden china).
German settlers from Meissen founded Dresden in the early 1200’s. In the 1400’s, the city became the capital of Saxony, the kingdom of a people called Saxons. During the next 400 years, Saxon rulers established and enlarged Dresden’s art collection and made the city an important art center. After Saxony became part of the German Empire in 1871, Dresden also gained importance as a commercial center.
The German government hid Dresden’s art treasures outside the city during World War II. Soviet troops seized the collection in 1945, though most of it was returned in the 1950’s. Much of Dresden was rebuilt but without its former splendor.
