Zwinger Palace is a complex of buildings in the center of Dresden. Its three sides were built in the 18th century by order of Augustus II the Strong and represent a striking example of Baroque architecture. The authors of this masterpiece are the architect Mateus Daniel Pepelman and the sculptor Balthasar Permoser. The fourth side was built in the middle of the 19th century according to the design of the famous architect Gottfried Semper. Zwinger literally means "cell". In ancient Europe, the Zwinger was the name given to the area between the inner and outer walls of a city. It was used for defensive purposes: when the enemy took the main gate, he found himself in a confined space - a cage, a trap, where it was no longer difficult to destroy him. But Dresden was more of a place of entertainment and a refuge for aristocrats. Knightly tournaments, balls, parades and receptions were held here. Exhibits from weapons collections and precious works of art were also brought here.
Zwinger Palace consists of pavilions, galleries, museums and fountains. I recommend starting watching clockwise. If you enter the courtyard from Theaterplatz (Theater Square) and pass by the Armory Hall, you will first encounter the “German Pavilion”.
Next is the “Pavilion of Bells”, famous for its unusual porcelain clocks.
Every 15 minutes, forty bells play classical melodies composed by German composers. The bells were made at the Meissen porcelain factory. The Germans call this musical instrument a glockenspiel. It found in many cities in Germany. The largest of them is located in Berlin, in particular in Tiergarten Park.
The "Pavilion of Bells" is followed by the "Pavilion of Porcelain", the same as the Porcelain Museum, which houses the royal collection of porcelain.
Precious samples of Chinese and Japanese porcelain acquired in the XVIII century are collected here, you will find Imari products, porcelain of the Ming and Qin dynasties. The museum also has Meissen porcelain. There are about 20 thousand positions in total.
The beauty of the Zwinger is the crowned entrance of (Kronentor). This is a two-tier arch in the Italian Baroque style, which is decorated with statues of ancient gods, and on top of it stands the gilded crown of Poland, because at that time Augustus was also the king of Poland. The Kronentor is the main symbol of the Zwinger.
Next comes the physics and mathematics salon (museum).
The museum gives us an idea of how humanity managed to measure parameters such as length, temperature, weight, distance and volume. There are ancient maps, globes, astronomical instruments, clocks showing the time of any city on earth (up to 2000 exhibits in total). The museum’s special pride is the Pascalina, an instrument created in 1650, a prototype of the calculating machine invented by Blaise Pascal.
One of the most famous buildings of the complex is the “Wall Pavilion.”
The staircase to the second floor leads to an oval hall, even rows of columns and arched windows are decorated with statues, one of which is of the owner of the house, Augustus II the strong. The emperor is depicted as a mythological hero - this is the demigod Hercules. He holds the ground with his shoulders.
And now it’s the turn of the French Pavilion.
Behind the “French Pavilion” is comfortably located the “Bath of the Nymphs” (or “Bathing of the Nymphs”), which harmoniously combines solemn grandeur and an intimate atmosphere:
Finally, “Gallery of Old Masters”. In the former Soviet republics it is known as the Dresden Art Gallery.
This museum, with 750 paintings, is considered one of the most important galleries in the world. It contains works by artists from the 15th to 18th centuries, mainly Italian, as well as Dutch and Flemish works of art. Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna”, Giorgione’s “Sleeping Venus”, masterpieces by Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt, Durer and other famous artists deserve special mention.
Address of the Zwinger Palace: Theaterplatz 1.
Working hours:
- you can enter the courtyard and park from 6 a.m.;
- the park closes: from April to October at 22:00, from November to March at 20:00;
- palace museums are open every day except Monday, from 10:00 to 18:00.
Ticket price:
- entrance to the palace park and external galleries is free;
- Zwinger ticket allows you to visit the Gallery of Old Masters, the Physics and Mathematics Salon, the Porcelain Museum and the cost is 14 euros for adults, pensioners and students 10.50 euros, children under 17 years old free;
- visit only to the Physics and Mathematics Salon/Porcelain Museum: 6 euros for adults, 4.50 euros for pensioners and students;
- one-day ticket with which you can visit all museums except the "Historic Green Gewölbe" (Historisches Grünes Gewölbe): for adults - 24 euros, for children under 17 years old - free.
To get there, use: tram No. 3, 7 - stop Postplatz, No. 1, 2, 4, 8 , 9, 11, 12 - stop Theaterplatz; bus Dresden-Bühlau, route 11 - stop Postplatz, or bus Dresden-Prohlis, route 2 - stop Postplatz; by train S-Bahn route S4, S8, S9 - stop Theaterplatz.
Official website of the Zwinger Palace: skd.museum/en/.
© 2019-2024 All rights reserved
Book your hotel cheaply!
Travel cheaply!
