Germany - Saxony - Musical Capital of Europe

Dresden, Frauenkirche,Semper Opera, Gorlitz, Leipzig, Bach

Feb 18, 2007 Cathy Smith

The capital of Saxony, Dresden, is described as an architectural gem, It also has a fine Rembrandt collection, the Semper Opera House and some historic coffee houses.

When decades of Soviet rule ended, Dresden threw off its gloomy robes; the dull old Eastern Bloc buildings are prettied up with coats of paint and, best of all, Dresden’s glittering jewel, the beautiful 18th-century church the Frauenkirche was consecrated in 1734. Unhappily, it was almost destroyed in 1945 during an air raid by the Allies but in recent times has been returned to its former glory, towering over the city just as it did over two hundred years ago.

Saxony - Dresden - What to see and do

Dresden was the former capital of the Saxon kings. It is still one of the most beautiful cities in Germany despite the battering it received during the Second World War.

The Semper Opera is one of the best opera houses in the world; the Baroque Zwinger Palace with its gilded cupolas and turrets houses the Old Masters’ Gallery, home to Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, and the Dresden Rembrandt collection is one of the most important in the world.

Saxony - Leipzig - City of Bach

Saxony has other jewels on offer. If Dresden is an architectural gem, then Leipzig is a precious musical pearl. Only 130KM from Dresden. It is visited by music lovers from around the world.The motorways, are excellent and hiring a car is a good way to see Saxony.

Above all this is the city of BachThe man and his music are everywhere and the annual Bach festival in May is attended by visitors from around the world. His statue stands outside St.Thomas’ Church where he played the organ and where his body now lies in front of the main altar.

The Bach Museum is opposite a house where Bach lived. It’s a tranquil place with some lovely old instruments and an audio system which allows you to hear what the early keyboard instruments sounded like. The best part is the comfortable listening room where you can listen to the great man’s music on CDs.

Leipzig - Famous Coffee House

Cultural heroes like Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mahler, Wagner and Goethe all lived and worked here. Schumann was a regular at the Zum Coffe Baum. Founded in 1711, this is one of the oldest coffee houses in Europe. Anyone can sit in Schumann’s favourite seat and order his favourite dish, said to be leg of lamb with garlic and thyme.

Saxony - Gorlitz

Within easy reach of Dresden and Leipzig is Gorlitz; one of the most beautiful towns in Germany. It is right on the border with Poland. Cross the bridge over the river and you are in another country.

Gorlitz is like an architectural museum with buildings from all periods. The Holy Trinity Church houses a perfect copy of the Holy Sepulchrein Jerusalem. It is the only one of its kind in the world. And don’t miss the beautiful Karstadt Department Store which still has its original 1912 interior.

Saxony - Bautzen

Bautzen is another small town with its own distinctive character. Many of Germany’s original Slavic people, the Sorbs, live here. They have their own language and customs. Try a Sorbian meal at the Sorbisches Restaurant at Kornstrasse 7. You’d better be hungry as the food is not for the faint-hearted.

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