Dresden: Florence on the Elbe

Its attractive position on the Elbe and its baroque, Mediterranean architecture together with its pleasant climate have all gone to give the city its nickname of "Florence on the Elbe".

Dresden is famous as a baroque city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Almost totally destroyed in February 1945, many of the old buildings have now been rebuilt. The most famous of these is the Frauenkirche. The Semper Opera House and the Zwinger are also world-famous.

Dresden today is one of the most dynamic centres of commerce and culture in Germany and is also one of the world's leading technology centres. Microelectronics, information technology, biotechnology and electrotechnology are the most important sectors in research and production. The Fraunhofer Society and the Max Planck Society have a number of institutes in the city.

There are a total of nine colleges of higher education with altogether approx. 40,000 students, of which the Technical University with its 35,000 students is the foremost.

But Dresden has also a vibrant cultural scene with the Saxon State Opera (in the Semper Opera House) and a number of other theatres. The Saxon State Orchestra Dresden is one of the world's leading orchestras and there are various important museums worth visiting.

The attractive landscape surrounding the city (the Elbe Valley - endangered World Heritage Site -, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, the Dresden Heath) and the castles of the Elbe are all popular destinations for excursions.