Germany> Sights & Attractions

Zwinger Palace, Germany

The Zwinger Palace in Dresden is an exceptional German attraction, like the historic town itself. The site was part of a city fortification in the past, consisting of an inner and outer wall. Enemies were caught in a trap between the walls. The name Zwinger comes from bezwingen, meaning "to conquer" in German.

Currently an art museum and concert hall, the structure dates back to 1722, the year when Matthaus Daniel Poppelmann and Permoser began working on its design. It was built on the order of August II der Stark, king of Poland and Elector of Saxony. He had visited the ruins of the Roman Forum in Italy and decided to recreate them on native territory. He chose the Zwinger fort as the best location for his plans, as there was no need of them as a military defense at that time. The site served as a greenhouse, a beautiful garden and location of court celebrations before it was converted to a museum site, which it remains to this day.

The project was initally supposed to cover the Elbe River and Semper Opera, but the scale was reduced after August II's sudden death in 1733 due to lack of financial resources. There is a structure separating the Semper and Zwinger Palace for this reason.

The Zwinger was completed in 1719 and officially presented on the occasion of an imperial marriage. The interior design, however, was not fully executed for another 9 years. After that the interiors were used to display collections, and some sectors were converted into libraries.

By 1830 the site includes a pond and water basins in the courtyard. The Zwinger complex standing near the Elbe was completed in 1855. A perfect blend of sculpture and architecture is typical for this edifice, as its two designers were representatives of each respective field. Today it displays exquisite vases and sculptures, testifying to the merging of these Baroque arts.

The Zwinger is a superb example of the Baroque tradition. It includes a series of weapons from the 1500s and 1600s (Rustkammer), an Old Masters Art Gallery, a zoo museum and last but not least, pictures of Canaletoo, Raphael, Vermeer, Titian and Rubens. These were removed just before the WWII bombings over Dresden, and thankfully so, because the attacks all but leveled the museum and the entire city to the ground. Examples of fine porcelain are also displayed. These items were produced previously in Dresden and currently in nearby Meissen. The biggest porcelain collection in the world is right here. The museum also features interesting scientific tools.

The building was fully renovated and even improved after the bombings. It has survived the socialist architecture trend, which emerged after the war, and testifies to the resilience of historical traditions. A number of nice additions were made after the renovation, such as gorgeous domes with pure gold covering and fascinating murals. The Semper Gallery in the Zwinger is its most fascinating element. It features over 2000 famous art works, among which Raphael's Sistine Madonna. Its exterior is a sight to behold as well, with blue roofs and shimmering crowns, part of the original design. The Zwinger includes a theatre and a "nymph bath", a decorative building. Fountains and statues grace the gardens.