Untitled - Dresden

Dresden
»I was able
to inhale beauty ...«
Erich Kästner »When I was a young boy«
»If it just so happens that I not only recognise
what is bad and ugly, but also know what is
beautiful, it is because I had the good fortune
to grow up in Dresden. I did not have to learn
about beauty from books, not in school and not
at the university. I was able to inhale beauty the
way a forester’s children breathe the woodland
air. The Catholic Court Church, Georg Bähr’s
Frauenkirche, the Zwinger, Pillnitz Palace, the
Japanese Palace, the Jüdenhof, Dinglinger’s
House, Rampische Strasse with its Baroque
facades, the Renaissance oriels in SchlossStrasse, the Cosel Palace, the palace in the
Grosser Garten Park with its smaller gentlemen’s
houses, and yes, from the Loschwitz Heights,
the view of the city’s silhouette with its noble,
venerable towers ...«
»A baby’s first cry, that is
my greatest pleasure.«
Annemarie Saul, midwife
R
ound forms dominate in the delivery
room – how appropriate! And pastel
shades. Annemarie Saul, head midwife at
the Dresden-Friedrichstadt Municipal Hospital,
and in this function very much involved in
Dresden’s becoming famed as the birth capital
of Germany, has sat down for a moment where
countless young Dresdeners let out their first
cry – but not without leaving the sliding door
open just a crack. How many mothers and babies
has she looked after to date? She has long since
lost count. What is certain though, is that she has
been working as a midwife for almost 40 years.
Or should we not properly speak of a calling?
»I came to Dresden for family reasons,« she says,
with a sparkle in her blue eyes. For love, to be
precise. In the meantime, she is 60, a mother of
two grown-up children and a passionate resident
of the Elbe slopes. »When I approach the city
again after a journey, I have the feeling that I am
eagerly awaited.« And she certainly is! By her
family, by her friends, by her colleagues at the
hospital. And by the mothers she cares for.
2
■ Contrary to the trends in other German
cities, Dresden is growing – having
gained 5,500 citizens each year on
average since 2002. That is a good sign
for the city, and proof that its residents
have confidence in the future. ■ It is
not only thanks to inward migration
that the population of the Saxon capital
has surpassed the half-million mark. In
2006, for the first time in 40 years, the
city recorded more births than deaths.
■ And everything possible is being done
to promote this welcome circumstance.
The numbers of nursery and kindergarten
places are increasing. There are presently
1 Georg Arnhold Baths
2 Sports School Centre
4 In the Grosser Garten Park
5 Dresden Zoo
269 day-care facilities, the majority under
independent management, looking after
a total of almost 23,000 children.
■ 179 schools, of which 43 are independently run, cover a broad spectrum
of educational approaches. They include,
for example, the Dresden International
School, the Sports School Centre, the
Palucca School or the Kreuzgymnasium,
the home of the famous Kreuzchor choir.
■ 38 children’s and youth centres, a
miniature railway and the children’s tram
»Lottchen«, the Youth&Art School, the
municipal libraries with their 21 district
branches, the zoo, 380 sports clubs,
3 German Hygiene Museum
6 »Zoo resident«
7 Sport is fun
8 Prohlis Youth Centre
10 Kleinzschachwitz day-care centre
11 Park railway
Family
9 Dance group
16 swimming baths, the ice sports hall
and countless other facilities provide
active leisure opportunities not only for
the younger generations. ■ The search
for accommodation is no problem on the
Dresden housing market, whether with or
without a family. Villas with views of the
Elbe, renovated apartments in historical
residential districts, homes surrounded by
green, former farmhouses, or favourably
priced flats on a modern high-rise
housing estate – there is something to
cater for every taste and preference.
»I see myself as a dancer
who makes music.«
Christof Paul, dancer
T
wo souls, alas! reside within my breast!
For 21-year-old Christof Paul, too, Goethe’s
famous sigh holds special meaning. After
ten years of study at the world-renowned College
of Dance founded by Gret Palucca in 1925,
he can proudly present his graduation diploma.
That the choreography and stage design for his
examination performance at the Hellerau Festival
Hall were his own work is simply one of the
generally accepted rules. But the fact that he also
wrote and recorded the music himself is certainly
out of the ordinary. His first engagement as
a dancer took him to Seoul, leaving his Dresden
band »Mountain High« to eagerly await the return
of its guitarist. What is it like to wander between
two artistic worlds? How do you do both talents
justice? One thing is sure: Dance and music
are universal languages. And Christof Paul is
fluent in both! The blending of dance and music
into a single whole is a challenge which demands
courage, strength and perseverance. Christof
Paul gazes over the city and its river from
the Loschwitz Heights. »The Elbe is full of positive
energy for Dresden – and thus also for me.«
4
■ It is one of the most famous opera
houses in Germany: The »Saxon State
Opera«, which takes its popular name
from its architect Gottfried Semper,
boasts an average attendance rate of
more than 90 per cent. Tickets are
thus best reserved well in advance.
■ Names such as the Dresden Kreuzchor
choir, the Staatskapelle orchestra, the
Dresden Philharmonic and the Dresden
Music Festival are worldwide symbols
for the rich scope of musical excellence
in Dresden. ■ The stages of the Staatsschauspiel theatre present a broad
spectrum of dramatic literature. Lighter
1 Music Festival
2 Erich Kästner monument
here. Fyodor Dostoevsky completed
the novel »The Demons« in Dresden, and
philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer his
central work »The World as Will and
Representation«. ■ Impressive
contemporary music and dance culture
can be experienced in the European
Centre of the Arts in Hellerau, not least
with »The Forsythe Company«. Dancer
and choreographer William Forsythe
is recognised internationally for his
reorientation of classical ballet
and is now also at home in Dresden.
musical theatre is the domain of the
State Operetta, with its repertoire
of operetta, musicals and comic opera.
Venues such as the »Societätstheater«,
the Hellerau Festival Hall and the
»projekttheater« are leading addresses
for the free dance and theatre scene.
■ Dresden-born author Erich Kästner has
been devoted an innovative literature
museum, the world’s first »mobile
interactive micromuseum«. ■ Friedrich
Schiller wrote his »Ode to Joy« in
Dresden. The city was also a centre of
literary Romanticism. Heinrich von
Kleist and E.T.A. Hoffmann were active
3 Hellerau Festival Hall
Culture
4 Semper Opera House
7 Theatre
5 Friedrich Schiller
8 Ballet
6 Kreuzchor choir
9 Operetta
»Such community involvement
impresses me time and again.«
Wolfgang Gahn, museologist
A
n office on the first floor of the City
Museum in the so-called »Landhaus«.
When Wolfgang Gahn looks out his
window, he can see the city of today. A glance
down at his monitor, on the other hand, could
perhaps reveal the chest of the Dresden toolsmiths’ guild dating from 1595. Today meets
yesterday. Wolfgang Gahn is deputy head
of collections for the museums of the City of
Dresden, and as such responsible for the
exhibitions and storage in seven individual
museums. Preparations for special exhibitions,
acquisition committee meetings, database
management – those are just a few of the tasks
for a graduate museologist. He is well aware of
the praise due to the countless local citizens who
are exploring the history of their city in societies
and associations. Some 90 per cent of his exhibits
are donations and bequests – from a complete
locksmith’s workshop to board games from the
GDR years. »Such community involvement, and
the resultant diversity of our exhibits, impresses
me time and again.« The festivities to mark
Dresden’s 800-year jubilee are history – but the
bustle of visitors in the foyer of the City Museum
is testimony to continued interest. Today hand
in hand with yesterday.
6
■ »Acta sunt hec Dresdene – This has
come to pass in Dresden in the year
1206.« This sentence was placed under
an arbitration judgement by Margrave
Dietrich of Meissen, and thereby almost
incidentally represented the start of the
documented history of the city of
Dresden. ■ Since then, that little Elbe
settlement, whose name could be
translated as meaning »People living
in or near the forest«, has evolved into
a major European city. Initially a
merchants’ settlement and seat of margraves, then electoral and royal residence,
and now state capital of Saxony.
1 Canaletto panorama
4 Augustus the Strong
■ »Altendresden« was granted town
privileges in 1403, and a mere 150
years later Dresden became the capital
and royal residence of the Protestant
Electorate of Saxony. ■ In 1694,
Augustus the Strong came to power as
Elector Friedrich August I. His reign
heralded an age of prosperity, bringing
Dresden economic upswing, magnificent
urban development and cultural
profile. Dresden benefits to this day
from the aura of a former royal city.
■ The last Saxon king abdicated
in 1918. ■ On 13/14 February 1945,
Dresden experienced the most
2 Women clearing the ruins
5 Book of privileges of 1584
3 Jewish Cemetery
6 Royal Palace
7 Procession of Princes
History
8 After 13th February 1945
9 Zwinger
devastating destruction in its history:
Up to 25,000 people lost their lives
in the Allied bombing raids, and 15 km2
of the city were reduced to ashes.
■ Reconstruction began already in
1945 – the Dresden Zwinger was one
of the first historical buildings completed. During the GDR years, Dresden
was a regional administrative centre,
and after the first free elections in
1990 became the capital of the Free
State of Saxony. It is today one of the
German cities with the best future
prospects.
»Elbe Palaces
on the port side.«
Rainer Fichte, paddle-steamer captain
A
lmost timidly at first, but then with its full
power: The steam whistle signals the
departure of the »Wehlen« from the quayside under the Brühl Terrace. With a steady left
hand, captain Rainer Fichte guides his pride and
joy out into the middle of the river. Cameras are
clicking on the deck. »Ideal conditions on the
river today!« he says, as he waves across to the
skipper of the Johannstadt ferry. The echosounder announces 1.50 metres of Elbe water
below the keel – an important instrument on
board, but still nowhere near as impressive as
the shiny brass speaking tube. Rainer Fichte
remembers the times when it was coal rather
than oil which powered the paddle-steamers.
Meissen instead of Montevideo? He has never
missed the high seas. The Elbe Palaces are to
be seen above on the port side, while to
starboard kites are flying over the meadows.
Rainer Fichte knows every inch of the route.
We have now reached the »Blue Wonder« bridge.
The captain pulls the telegraph back to slow
and surveys the river without which Dresden
would be unthinkable. After turning midstream,
the return journey is somewhat faster – with
the current from astern.
8
■ With 62 per cent of its territory
devoted to forests and green areas,
Dresden is one of the greenest cities in
Europe. The city and nature have for
centuries coexisted in peaceful harmony. ■ The landscapes of the Elbe
valley have remained characteristic to
this day. The sweeping bend of the river,
the meadows and vineyards, the bridges,
palaces and towers are indivisible from
our perception of Dresden. ■ What
Canaletto once captured on his canvass,
is today photographed by millions of
tourists – what Johann Gottfried Herder
once titled »Florence of the North«, is
1 Albrechtsberg Palace
3 Wachwitz Rhododendron Garden
today a cultural magnet of European
renown. ■ The largest and oldest paddlesteamer fleet in the world sets out from
Dresden. Journeys run downstream to the
picturesque town of Meissen and beyond,
or upstream into the Saxon Switzerland.
■ The River Elbe flows through Dresden
over a length of 30 kilometres. The quality
of its waters has improved dramatically
over the past few years. Even salmon
and beavers are at home in Dresden
once more. ■ Since the floods of 2002,
flood protection along the river has been
designed for a water level of nine metres.
By comparison, the normal river level is
around two metres. Several million
euros have been invested. ■ Experience
nature in the heart of the city – in
Dresden, that is not a vision, but daily
reality: Cycling along the Elbe, jogging
in the Grosser Garten Park and walks in
the Dresdner Heide forests. ■ Dresden’s
famous sights include also numerous
palaces and gardens, witness to long
traditions in garden and landscape
architecture. In Pillnitz, for example,
where an over 230-year-old camellia is
just one of the attractions.
2 »Blue Wonder« bridge
4 Paddle-steamer
5 Elbe Cycle Path
6 Grey geese on the river banks
7 Pillnitz Palace
Elbe valley
8 Elbe valley panorama
9 Sheep on the Elbe meadows
10 Vineyard church
»The Neustadt district is the
place where I belong.«
Dorle Söhnen, landlady
E
ven the plain light on the house at
Böhmische Strasse 34 must be considered
a cultural asset. After all, the building calls
itself a »house of art«. In addition to one of the
cafés typical for the Outer Neustadt district, it
holds something very special under its roof:
Six rooms – reserved primarily for international
artists – built into the attic, and the gallery of
the Kunsthaus Raskolnikow conveniently on the
first floor below. Born in Kork near Kehl am
Rhein in 1955, Dorle Söhnen actually had quite
different plans after training as a teacher, but
then followed her husband to Dresden. »I fell in
love with the city immediately,« she says in her
soft but nevertheless emphatic Baden manner.
It was more by coincidence that she took on
first the renovation, and then management of
the house. In the meantime, it can be seen as
a passion that she has been serving culinary
and artistic tastes for over ten years now. And
then there is her love for the Neustadt district,
which most city guides refer to globally as a
centre of alternative culture. »That doesn’t do
the district justice,« says Dorle Söhnen. »It is
for me far too general a term to characterise the
structure and diversity of this very special part
of Dresden.«
10
■ Dresden offers not just a cultural
scene, but also lively scene culture. But
where exactly is this Dresden »scene«
to be found? In the old city, in the
Neustadt district – or somewhere quite
different? ■ Does »Pfund’s Dairy«, the
supposedly most beautiful dairy shop in
the world belong to the scene? The
elegant atmosphere with lavishly handpainted tiles is not only a magnet for
tourists. Locals, too, come to taste the
cheese delicacies and to discuss, for
example, the latest news from the
»Dresden scene«. ■ Remaining in the
Outer Neustadt district: Nowhere else is
1 Night skating
Dresden so colourful, so international
and urban. A place to meet punks and
bankers, theatre folk and lawyers, journalists and architects. And countless
young mothers, for the Neustadt district
(with its surprisingly quiet and green
courtyard oases) is Dresden’s youngest
district, home to more children than
any other part of the city. There is always
a party or live music somewhere,
seven days a week. It goes almost without
saying that the Neustadt district also
possesses the most bars and the greatest diversity of speciality restaurants in
Dresden. ■ Is that the whole »Dresden
2 Weisse Gasse bar mile
3 Street festival
Local scene
4 Neustadt boutique
7 Beer garden
5 International Dresden
8 Kunsthof Passage
6 Scheune Café
9 Pfund‘s Dairy
scene«? Far from it! The old city is also
building up its reputation, with its bar
mile, the Semper Opera Ball, night skating
and many other events. ■ Mention
must naturally be made of the 14 student
clubs – the best-known being the Bärenzwinger – and a sheer endless list of the
hippest party locations. ■ If the term
»scene« is placed in a wider context,
then there is certainly no ignoring the
Blasewitz and Loschwitz scene. Or the
still largely undiscovered rural scene –
after all, Dresden counts some 80 former
village centres within its boundaries.
»I was immediately captivated. And
that has not changed to this day.«
Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Hanel, managing director
A
large black-and-white photo hangs framed
on the wall: The legendary »152«, the first
German jet passenger airliner, which was
designed and built at VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden
in the late 1950s. In the bottom corner of the
poster, two words form a self-confident logo
in bold blue letters: »IMA Dresden«. What better
way to evoke industrial tradition? When Wilhelm
Hanel came to Dresden from Neuruppin to study
applied mechanics in 1966, the scars of war
were still omnipresent. »The area between the
railway station and City Hall was a single stretch
of wasteland,« he recalls. He was nevertheless
immediately captivated – by the local people,
by their will to rebuild, and by Dresden’s art and
culture. »I have always been an avid supporter
of the Staatskapelle orchestra,« says Wilhelm
Hanel, whose job as managing director of the
materials research company IMA Dresden is more
concerned with hard facts. One of its tasks is
to develop and implement tailored test procedures
for all kinds of materials and components – the
contributions to the world’s largest-ever fatigue
tests on the Airbus A380-800 have been one of
the greatest challenges in the company’s history.
And that history would almost certainly have taken
a different turn without the number »152«.
12
■ Over the past few years, Dresden has
shown itself to be one of the strongest
and most dynamic economic locations in
Germany. The city has no municipal debts
to service, and tops various growth and
development rankings. The basis for
this economic success: The close local
networking of research and industry.
■ 1,500 companies with more than
48,000 employees make Dresden the
largest microelectronics and ICT cluster
in Europe. »Silicon Saxony« unites many
of the most renowned names in the
branch: GLOBALFOUNDRIES and Infineon,
as well as many innovative emerging
1 Infineon
companies, such as X-Fab or Novaled.
In total, more than 17 billion euros have
been invested in these fields in Dresden
since the 1990s. ■ Dresden places a
particular focus on the life sciences, with
more than 60 corresponding companies
and research facilities. Many of them are
partners within the »biosaxony« network,
an association founded to promote and
market regional life science competence.
■ New products are nowadays decisively
dependent on the development of new
materials. More than 1,500 materials
researchers are already devoting their
know-how to this process in Dresden,
2 Jehmlich Orgelbau
3 Globalfoundries
Economy
4 Elbe Flugzeugwerke
6 Novaled
5 VEM Sachsenwerk
7 GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
with more than 100 companies and 40
research institutes active in nanotechnology alone. ■ Further cornerstones of
the economy in Dresden are mechanical
and plant engineering, aircraft and
automobile manufacturing, printing, the
food and drinks industry and the most
varied creative professions.
8 VW transparent factory
»It gives me pleasure
to create new worlds.«
Sarah Leimcke, sculptor and artist
N
o sandstone blocks in the yard, and no
smell of oil paints on the stairs. But even
so, this is the right place to meet a young
artist who has been trained in sculpture at
the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts and is now a
master pupil there. May we introduce: Sarah
Leimcke. »It is fascinating, how blurred the
boundaries are between reality and the unreal,«
she says, while sequences from one of her
installations are to be seen on the monitor. An
amazed look through a microscope reveals a
world teeming with humans and insects, equal in
both their dimensions and motions. Sarah Leimcke
smiles enigmatically. At her cradle, back in 1979,
no-one would ever have imagined her later being
captivated by Musca domestica, the common
housefly. But it is no surprise that she has devoted herself to art. Her parents have always
supported her ambitions. Today, Sarah Leimcke
plays with the sound of organ pipes using
steam, fills whole rooms with her art, and has
created a giant fly, 4 by 5 metres in size. In
Dresden, she says, there is a good chance that
people will take note of the specialness in her
work. Playful enthusiasm as artistic stimulation,
a love of experiment as the drive behind creativity? But of course: In the Baroque age, too,
this was the source of inspiration.
14
■ Johann Melchior Dinglinger’s »Court
of the Grand Mogul«, the priceless ivory
frigate and a cherry stone engraved
with 186 faces are just three of the
unique masterpieces in the Green Vault,
one of the finest treasure museums in
Europe. ■ Raphael’s »Sistine Madonna«
with the famous angels, works by Titian,
Rembrandt and Vermeer, by Dürer and
Cranach, and naturally also Canaletto’s
famous views of Old Dresden await
visitors to the Old Masters Picture Gallery.
The New Masters Gallery, on the other
hand, presents the art of Caspar David
Friedrich, Ludwig Richer, the »Brücke«
1 Fama atop the Academy of Art
2 Albrecht Dürer
group, Max Liebermann and Otto Dix.
■ Among the total of 44 museums
in Dresden are exceptional collections
such as the Cabinet of Prints and
Drawings and the Coin Collection, the
Porcelain Collection and the Mathematical-Physical Salon. No less remarkable are the exhibitions of the German
Hygiene Museum and the Military History
Museum. ■ Dresden has always been
a source of inspiration. Well on 600
artists have their studios in the city.
■ The city is rich in artistic fountains and
sculptures from all epochs – particularly
noteworthy: the »Golden Horseman«,
an equestrian statue of Augustus the
Strong, or A.R. Penck’s figure on
the Art’otel. ■ Zwinger, Royal Palace, the
Elbe Palaces, churches and countless
further architectural gems are inherent
to the aura of historical Dresden. The
city lists a total of 13,000 cultural
monuments, and eight whole districts
protected under general preservation
orders. ■ Modern architecture is
encountered in stimulating juxtaposition
to historical heritage. One of the most
renowned examples is the New Dresden
Synagogue.
3 New Dresden Synagogue
4 Karl Schmidt-Rottluff
Art pleasures
5 Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
6 Sistine Madonna
7 Mozart Fountain
8 Porcelain Collection
10 Zwinger detail
9 Historical Green Vault
11 A. R. Penck
12 Cathedral
»In May, Dresden could also
be called Dixieland.«
Marc Hartmann, musician
M
arc Hartmann has got used to the long
distances to be travelled from Dresden
to performance venues in Western
Europe. As far as the city itself is concerned, on
the other hand, things are different: »I came
here in 1994, and was simply taken aback. By
the location on the river, by the architecture, by
the musical traditions. And by the people.« This
positive amazement still holds him under its
spell today. Born in Ludwigsburg, his life has
always been accompanied by music: Flute, horn
and trombone lessons. For his school exams,
he specialised in music. The fact that he then
studied chemistry, is today a favourite anecdote:
»My Swabian background simply demanded that
I learn a ‘serious’ profession. But one day, I looked
at the layer of dust on my trombone, and felt
it was time to shed my laboratory apron.«
For which we are thankful. Marc Hartmann is one
of the most restless members of the Dresden
jazz scene. While still a student at the Carl Maria
von Weber College of Music, he joined the »Elb
Meadow Ramblers« as singer and trombonist.
He founded the »Marc Hartmann Dance Orchestra«, conducts and arranges, plays the sousaphone in the »Top Dog Brass Band« and is
constantly on the move between Dresden and
his stages. And he is especially looking forward
to the next Dixieland Festival – with its venues
right on the doorstep.
16
■ Augustus the Strong established
Dresden’s European reputation as a
festival city with his extravagant
Baroque court festivities, and today’s
population is more than happy to continue in this tradition. ■ The Dresden
Music Festival and the Dresden Festival
of Contemporary Music, the international
media art festival CYNETart and the
International Festival of Dance all promise
cultural pleasure of the highest standing.
■ Somewhat more boisterous events
are the International Dixieland Festival
or the »Bunte Republik Neustadt«
and »Elbhangfest« street festivals.
1 Dresden Christmas market
2 Chess
5 Dixieland Festival
The latter is indisputably the most
important festival of local culture
in the region. In June each year, the Elbe
slopes from the »Blue Wonder« bridge
in Loschwitz to Pillnitz Palace are transformed into a seven-kilometre long stage.
■ The historical city centre not only
provides a fantastic silhouette backdrop
for the films and concerts of the Elbe
Bank Film Nights, it is also the setting
for the annual Dresden City Festival,
which regularly attracts some 500,000
visitors. ■ When festive lights, the smell
of mulled wine and Christmas music
fill the city centre, then it must be time
for the Striezelmarkt. The Dresden
Christmas market was first mentioned
in official documents in 1434, and is
thus the oldest in Germany. Named
after the famous Dresden Christstollen
cake, which was once known as a
»Striezel«, its popularity is founded above
all on traditional bakery fare and Saxon
crafts. ■ Dresden is also in demand
as a meeting place for national and
international gatherings, for example as
host to the Chess Olympiad or the
»Kirchentag« of the German Protestant
Churches.
3 City Festival
6 Guided city tour
4 Procession of Princes pageant
Festivities
8 »Elbhangfest« street festival
7 Dresden Festival of Contemporary Music
10 Wine tasting
9 »Bunte Republik Neustadt«
11 Unity. Dresden. Night
»My children are Dresdeners,
their language Saxon dialect.«
Prof. Dr. Elly M. Tanaka, biochemist
T
he star of the institute is called »axolotl«.
What sounds like a Saxon diminutive, is
the name of a Mexican amphibian with the
ability to fully regenerate lost appendages.
Japanese-American biochemist Elly Tanaka
would like to find out why that is so. And whether
we humans maybe also possess similar
capabilities, which have only been lost in the
course of genetic evolution. She has been working at the Centre for Regenerative Therapies in
Dresden since 2007. Long corridors, plain offices
and laboratories packed with technical equipment. Academic soberness as a contrast to the
informal atmosphere which reigns here. All in
English, of course. »Dresden is a stressless
town,« says Elly Tanaka, a graduate of Harvard
who also worked in London before coming to the
city. Son Franklin and daughter Hanako were
born here. Their favourite pastimes include walks
through the local woods, or cycle rides around
the Waldpark, close to the institute – and the
axolotl. But he can now take a short break from
research duties: »Because I always keep one
evening a week free,« says Elly Tanaka, »for my
violin and our string quartet.«
18
■ Dresden inventions are known
the world over – from the porcelain with
the famous blue swords and the steam
locomotive »Saxonia« to the singlelens reflex camera and the portable
typewriter, and all manner of everyday
products such as coffee filters, tea bags,
or toothpaste. ■ Innovative research
has continued in the city to this day.
Three-dimensional displays, the 300 mm
wafer technology and organic LEDs are
admirable proof of sustained creativity.
■ Dresden offers a stronger and broader
scientific base than any other location
in Eastern Germany. That is one of
1 Organic solar cell
2 Single-lens reflex camera
the compelling reasons for companies
to move here and to invest in the city.
■ The local research infrastructure
counts ten universities and colleges,
as well as three Max Planck institutes,
twelve Fraunhofer institutes and five
institutes of the Leibniz Association.
■ Technology transfer is the domain
of institutions such as the Dresden
Technology Centre, the special knowledge
transfer unit of TU Dresden, and many
other representatives of the Dresden
research landscape. ■ Dresden
attracts students and researchers from
around the world. They appreciate
not only the interesting study
opportunities and international atmosphere, but also a stimulating city with
a high quality of life. ■ Both industry and
the economy benefit from the fertile
pool of up-and-coming specialists, and
find competent cooperation partners
for their research projects. ■ The Saxon
capital is an ideal venue for scientific
meetings and conferences, with unique
programme opportunities.
3 International Congress Centre
Science
4 »Long Night of Science«
7 Max Bergmann Centre
5 Organic LED
8 Mouthwash advertising
6 TU Dresden – »University of Excellence«
9 Steam locomotive »Saxonia«, 1839
10 Lecture hall
»Eierschecke and Christstollen –
the unique Dresden art of baking.«
Henry Mueller, master baker
T
he lovingly decorated window of the bakery
casts a magical spell over all those who
pass. It is just how Hansel and Gretel must
have felt when they suddenly came across the
witch’s cottage made of bread, cake and sugar...
The sweet aroma wafting from the little shop
on the edge of the city is simply irresistible. Of
course, a glance behind the scenes immediately
reveals that the production of such delicacies
has nothing to do with magic and witchcraft.
Down-to-earth master baker Henry Mueller
quotes an often forgotten virtue to describe the
credo of his craft business: »Every day, we do a
decent day’s work,« he says, at the same time
serving coffee and Eierschecke cake in a side
parlour. While palates revel in bakery delights,
he pulls out an old photograph, a picture of
himself sitting in his pram as a child, already
with a traditional baker’s cap on his head, in the
middle of his parents’ bakery. Exactly the spot
at which he today piles up the newly prepared
Christstollen – indisputably Dresden’s most
famous Christmas fare, whose precise recipe is
a closely guarded secret. That it remains so is
another task entrusted to Henry Mueller, as head
of the Dresden bakers’ guild.
20
■ Three words basically suffice to
sum up a first impression of the people
of Dresden: They are imaginative, pragmatic and outgoing. In this city, just
asking for directions on the street can
quite easily evolve into a personal guided tour. ■ Firm local roots are typical
for the Dresden character. The most
stimulating discoveries, after all, lie
practically on the doorstep. There are
few households in the city without an
impressive library of Dresden literature.
■ At the same time, however, Dresdeners are cosmopolitan and enquiring.
They are renowned for their urge to
1 Balloon glow on the Elbe banks
4 Beach volleyball
2 Brühl Terrace
travel and to discover the world, but
no less for their pleasure on returning
home. ■ In the summer, the Elbe
meadows are a popular meeting place.
Locals and their guests stream to the
riverside with blankets and picnic
baskets, to listen in on the concerts of
the Elbe Bank Film Nights, or simply
to enjoy the views of the historical city
centre. ■ Dresden has plenty on offer
to delight the palate. Alongside the
Dresden Christstollen, its famous
Christmas cake, one delicacy which
belongs on every gourmet list is
»Dresden Eierschecke«, a cake specia-
lity topped with lightly whipped egg,
butter, sugar and vanilla cream. For
those who prefer heartier fare, marinated
braised beef and potato soup are
just two of the favourites. ■ The people
of Dresden – and no less so those who
have »only« moved here – are avidly
committed to promoting their city. They
honour the achievements of previous
generations, and are passionate for
their cause in debates on future developments. But at the end of the day,
there is one point on which agreement
is always reached: Dresden is the most
beautiful place you can imagine!
3 Riverside beach bar
5 Elbe Bank Film Nights
6 Dynamo fan block
Lifestyle
8 »Eierschecke« cake
7 Picnic in Pillnitz
9 Clubbing
10 Garden restaurant
»The Frauenkirche was my
childhood playground.«
Ursula Elsner, contemporary witness
T
he photograph shows the Baroque townhouse at Neumarkt 3 – opposite the
Frauenkirche. Ursula Elsner’s finger stops
over an open window on the third floor. »That is
Ida looking out. Our cleaning lady.« Born in
1930, Ursula Elsner knows enough about those
times to fill a book. »And my book is nearly
finished,« she says, pointing to the computer
on which she is writing her memories and recollections – lest it all be forgotten. Her father, as
church inspector, was responsible for the
accounts of the Frauenkirche. It was through
him that she spent so much time in the church
as a girl. From the catacombs to the dome
lantern. She was startled sometimes by the bats,
collected gold leaf which had floated down
from the altar during its restoration, and gazed
dreamily at the red velvet-covered wedding
chairs. »The bombing struck this carefree
childhood with full vengeance.« Ursula Elsner
was lucky enough to survive the firestorm of
13th February 1945, together with her mother
and brother. But their home on Neumarkt, their
whole possessions – lost. She saw the house
collapse. The Frauenkirche was still standing at
that time. It was only on the morning of 15th
February that its walls succumbed. But now
it is standing once more: A wonder. For Dresden
and for Ursula Elsner.
22
■ The Dresden Frauenkirche, George
Bähr’s masterpiece, already amazed
builders and architects almost 270
years ago with its bold dome construction, and immediately captured
the hearts of the local people. On 15th
February 1945, two days after the
devastating bombing raids on Dresden,
its burnt-out shell collapsed. ■ Two
fragments of the walls and 22,000
cubic metres of rubble were all that
remained – in warning remembrance of
the destruction of Dresden, the terrors
of war and the victims of the bombing.
On 13th February 1990, however, the
1 Neumarkt today
»Call from Dresden« was published, to
initiate reconstruction of the Dresden
Frauenkirche. ■ The reconstruction of
the church became a matter dear to the
hearts of people also far beyond the
boundaries of Dresden itself.
Associations of supporters were formed
around the world, and friends everywhere took collecting tins and chequebooks into their hands. Donations
totalling more than 100 million euros
were raised in this way, almost two-thirds
of the building costs. ■ The common
goal was achieved in just 12 years: First
the enormous mound of rubble was
2 Consecration of the church
5 Remembrance on 13th February
6 Wedding ceremony
3 Dome cross
cleared, and almost 100,000 stones
were recovered for use in reconstruction.
The crypt was consecrated in 1996,
and in 2000, Dresden received a new
dome cross as a gift from Great Britain.
In 2003, more than 40,000 people
celebrated the first sounding of the new
bells, and in 2004, at last, the Frauenkirche was crowned with the placing of
the final cross. Following completion
of the interior, the reconstructed Frauenkirche was consecrated in October
2005. ■ In the meantime, it has become
also a magnet for more than two million
tourists every year.
4 Consecration of the bells
7 Panorama
Frauenkirche
9 Crypt
8 Luther Monument
10 Ruins after 1945
11 Placing of the cross
www.dresden.de
Acknowledgements
Published by:
Landeshauptstadt Dresden
The Mayor
The Mayor’s Office
Public Relations
Telephone (+49 351) 4 88 23 90
or
(+49 351) 4 88 26 81
Telefax (+49 351) 4 88 22 38
E-Mailpresse@dresden.de
Postfach 12 00 20
01001 Dresden
www.dresden.de
Editorial concept:
Press and Public Relations Office
Portraits:
Holger Oertel, texts · Robert Michael, photos
Photos:
Cover: Sylvio Dittrich · Page 1: Archiv L&P, Sylvio Dittrich
Page 2: Fotolia, Robert Michael · Page 3: Nos. 1, 3, 7, 9
Jörg Oesen, Nos. 2, 8, 10 LH Dresden, Nos. 4, 5, 11 Sylvio
Dittrich, No. 6 Fotolia · Page 4: Robert Michael · Page 5:
Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 Sylvio Dittrich, No. 2 Panther Media,
No. 5 Archiv L&P, No. 7 Hans-Ludwig Böhme, Staatsschauspiel
Dresden, No. 9 Kai-Uwe Schulte-Bunert, Staatsoperette
Dresden · Page 6: Robert Michael · Page 7: No. 1 Jürgen
Karpinski, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, No. 2 Stadtmuseum Dresden,
Kurt Schaarschuch, Nos. 3, 6, 9 Sylvio Dittrich, No. 4 Fotolia,
No. 5 Stadtarchiv Dresden, Nos. 7, 8 Archiv L&P · Page 8:
Robert Michael · Page 9: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 Sylvio Dittrich,
No. 6 Archiv L&P, Nos. 7, 8, 9 Fotolia · Page 10: Robert
Michael · Page 11: No. 1 Bettina Niesar, Nos. 2, 3, 4,
6, 7, 9 Sylvio Dittrich, No. 5 Hainer Michael, No. 8 DWT
Page 12: Von Ardenne Anlagentechnik GmbH, Robert Michael
Page 13: No. 1 Infineon, No. 2 Jehmlich Orgelbau,
No. 3 GLOBALFOUNDRIES, No. 4 Elbe Flugzeugwerke,
No. 5 VEM Sachsenwerk, Nos. 6, 8 Rainer Weisflog, No. 7
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals · Page 14: Robert Michael
Page 15: No. 1 Archiv L&P, No. 2 Herbert Boswank,
Kupferstich-Kabinett, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden,
No. 4 Jürgen Karpinski, Gemäldegalerie Neue Meister,
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, No. 5 Herbert
Boswank, Kupferstich-Kabinett, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen
Dresden, No. 6 Elke Estel/Hans-Peter Klut, Gemäldegalerie
Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden,
No. 8 Jürgen Karpinski, Porzellansammlung, Staatliche
Kunstsammlungen Dresden, No. 10 Fotolia, Nos. 3, 7, 9, 11,
12 Sylvio Dittrich · Page 16: Robert Michael · Page 17:
No. 1 Fotolia, Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 Sylvio Dittrich, No. 2
LH Dresden, No. 4 Panther Media, No. 9 Hainer Michael
Page 18: Jürgen Lösel, Robert Michael · Page 19: No. 1
Fraunhofer-Institut für Photonische Mikrosysteme, Nos. 2,
3, 4, 7, 9, 10 Sylvio Dittrich, No. 5 TU Dresden, No. 6 Rainer
Weisflog, No. 8 Archiv L&P · Page 20: Panther Media, Robert
Michael · Page 21: No. 1 Panther Media, Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10
Sylvio Dittrich, No. 6 Frank Dehlis, No. 7 DWT, No. 8 Dr. Igor
Semechin · Page 22: Privat (Ursula Elsner), Robert Michael
Page 23: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 Sylvio Dittrich,
No. 8 Fotolia
Artwork and design:
Löser & Partner Werbeagentur, Dresden
Production:
Stoba-Druck GmbH
2nd (updated) edition, May 2013
(content as valid on May 2012)
No access for electronically signed and encrypted documents.
Applications or pleadings submitted electronically, in particular
via e-mail, are not effective in law. This information material
is a public relations project of the City of Dresden. It may
not be used for purposes of election canvassing. Parties
are permitted, however, to use its contents to inform their
members.
Dresden