The history of the Dresden Frauenkirche is unusual and shrouded in mystery. It dates back to the eleventh century, when the Serbs, Slavic tribes, lived in Saxony. It is assumed that there was a monastery on this site, built before the founding of Dresden. Later, around 1142, there was a Romanesque church here, and today it is home to the Frauenkirche, Germany's largest Protestant church. This “miracle of Baroque art”, 91 meters high, was created by the architect Georg Behr, commissioned by Augustus the Strong and with the approval and support of the city council.
The foundation is not made in the shape of a traditional three-nave cross, but in the shape of a regular octagon. The entrance doors are located on seven sides, each of which is marked with a specific letter of the Latin alphabet. The eighth part is the sanctuary. The architect deliberately refused to create the main entrance: according to the tenets of the Evangelical Church, just as all people are equal before God, so all entrances to the temple should be equal.
Frauenkirche is decorated with a huge dome. It is made entirely of sandstone and weighs 12 tons. Height 24 meters, diameter 26 meters. Its concave base resembles a bell, which is why the Frauenkirche is also called the “stone bell.”
At the top of the dome there is the so-called Lantern, where an observation deck is located. From here, from a height of 67 meters, a beautiful view of the city opens. From here you can see the Bruhl Terrace, the Zwinger Palace, the Academy of Arts, and the Elbe River. Please note that the elevator will only take you to a height of 24 meters, and then you will have to walk up.
There is a cross on the top of the dome. The Frauenkirche Cross has an interesting history: in 1945, during World War II, Dresden was bombed and the Frauenkirche was almost completely destroyed.
Restoration work began only after German reunification in 1993 and was completed in 2005. During excavations, an ancient cross was found in the ruins. It was no longer placed on the dome, but was placed inside the church as a sacred object. The new 8-meter cross was made by Alan Smith, an Englishman whose father took part in the bombing of Dresden in 1945. On June 22, 2004, in front of 60,000 Dresden residents and guests of the city, a cross was erected on the dome of the Frauenkirche - a symbol of reconciliation and friendship - and it was called the "Cross of Reconciliation" (Versöhnungskreuz), which implies peaceful coexistence of all people and religions. Old, war-worn stones were also used in the restoration of the temple, which is why some parts of the church outside are dark in color.
In front of the Frauenkirche there is a statue of Martin Luther. Let me remind you that Martin Luther was a German monk, priest, professor, theologian and church reformer. Lutheranism is associated with his name.
The inside of the dome is painted with images of the evangelists - John, Matthew, Mark and Luke, as well as allegories of faith, hope, love and mercy.
The author of the luxurious gilded altar is Johann Christian Feige. The abundance of carvings and sculpture, as well as the depth of the images, is surprising. In the center is a biblical scene from the Gospel: Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, his comrades are sleeping nearby, and in the distance soldiers are already visible rushing to arrest Christ.
Despite the relatively small size of the Frauenkirche, it can accommodate a large number of people, since the seating is arranged in tiers on several floors.
The organ for the Frauenkirche was made by Gottfried Liebermann. Immediately after the opening of the church, Johann Sebastian Bach held concerts on this organ. Unfortunately, during the bombing of 1945 this instrument was completely destroyed. A new body was created in 2005. It is placed above the altar.
Frauenkirche is a working cathedral, open every day until 18:00. Admission is free.
Climbing to the observation deck is paid. Ticket price: for adults - 10 euros, for children 6-15 years old, pensioners and disabled people - 5 euros, For owners of Dresden Welcome Card or Dresden City Card - 6 euros.
Frauenkirche address: Georg-Treu-Platz 3.
To get to Frauenkirche, take: tram No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12or bus №75. Nearest stops: Altmarkt and Pirnaischer Platz.
Frauenkirche official website: frauenkirche-dresden.de.
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