Deutsches Abenteuer: Dresden churches

Die Katholische Hofkirche stands on Theaterplatz near the Semperoper and the Zwinger. Completed in 1751, it was commissioned by Augustus III after he converted from Protestantism to Catholicism in order to claim the Polish throne. The Hofkirche was badly damaged in the bombing of Dresden in 1945, and was restored by the East German government in the mid 1980s.

During daylight

At night

The statues are impressive

Inside it's very light and airy

The altar

The pulpit is lovely

On one of the side altars

The main church and one of Dresden's centrepieces is the Frauenkirche, the Church of Our Lady. Originally completed in 1743; by 1945 all that was left was a pile of rubble. The Frauenkirche wasn't actually destroyed by bombs in WWII, but they came close, and the resulting fires caused so much damage that, two days after the bombing of Dresden, the cupola crashed to the ground. The ruins became a symbol for peace in East Germany. Reconstruction began in 1994 and was completed in 2005, 60 years after its destruction. As much as possible of the original material was used, so there are blackened sandstone blocks interspersed with newer, pale sandstone.

Beautiful

The black section remained standing after the remainder collapsed

The original black burnt sandstone blocks can be clearly seen

So...one can climb up to the cupola. So of course, up I went. With 35 degrees expected today, a morning climb seemed the best option. There's an elevator that takes you part way up, then there's a spiral ramp with windows opening onto the interior, then there are 127 steps to the viewing platform, 67 metres above the ground.

Looking north

Looking south

This glass dome is known as the Zitronenpresse, the lemon squeezer

Die Frauenkirche is a Lutheran church. It's octagonal and has several storeys. As many as 5000 people can fit in during a service. The storeys can be seen on the ascent to the cupola.