14 of 30

Write now Article Tools

Dresden

I staggered off the Nachtzug (sleeper train)from Cologne, took one look at the Hauptbahnhof ( main railway station) at Dresden, and nearly got back on the next train home! To say the place was a building site is unkind to building sites. Everywhere was a mass of scaffolding, diversions and Eintritt Verboten' signs, covering bare, brutal and functional concrete.

It's the Flood, a man in one of the station cafes told me. That's what caused the damage, he said, and garrulously continued to show me how high the waters had come.

But, even before the Flood, Dresden has had a lot to contend with. The Allied bombing of World War Two was followed by half a century of Soviet occupation. And, the Russians not only had the admirable philosophy of if it ain't broke, don't fix it'; they didn't believe in fixing things that were broke, too!

The City Fathers said that any restoration had to be carried out with regard to the baroque character of the old city. Nowhere is this more obvious than at the ultra-modern Park Plaza Hotel, in the Neustadt (New Town) area, where they've restored the ballroom to its pre-war glory.

It's hard to describe Dresden succinctly, because it's so big! The inhabitants boast that the Principality of Monaco could be fitted into their main park, the Grosser Garten, within which is the Zoo, the Botanical Gardens and a delightful miniature railway. And, interestingly, unlike many other cities, the East End is the better side of town

Of course, you can't miss the porcelain! The factory where the world-famous Dresden shepherdesses are made is, in fact, in Meissen, but a collection can be viewed at the Zwinger. And, the nearby Fuerstenzug has a 100-metre tiled wall made from Meissen porcelain.

(Since this was written, the new, redesigned and refurbished railway station at Dresden has been opened)

Learn more about this author, Keith K..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Best cities in the world?
We want to hear your view. Write now!