Latest news with #Frauenkirche
West Australian
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Germany's big five anniversaries in 2025
While other countries in Europe mark special occasions in 2025, Germany has noteworthy dates of its own to celebrate, with legendary talents, sights and stories coming under the spotlight. 275 YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF BACH Decades before Mozart and Beethoven were born, there was another composer who stirred hearts and minds across Europe. That's Johann Sebastian Bach, whose tunes were the sound of the late baroque era. This year, commemorative events are taking place around Germany, including Bach festivals in the state of Thuringia, where he was raised in the town of Eisenach, and in the city of Leipzig, where he composed many of his famous works and passed away on July 28, 1750. Dresden is another focal point for the anniversary celebrations. Bach was a regular visitor to the 'Florence of the Elbe' and the landmark church, the Frauenkirche, at the heart of a city rebuilt after World War II Allied bombing, will be among the concert venues showcasing his compositions, such as the Brandenburg Concertos and Goldberg Variations. 50 YEARS OF THE FAIRY TALE ROUTE Buoyed by the success of the Romantic Road, tourism bosses conjured the Germany Fairy Tale Route, hoping it would do for the country's centre and north what the former did for the south. Winding 600km between Hanau (near Frankfurt) and Buxtehude (near Hamburg), this route is heavily driven by the lives and works of those fairytale masters, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm. There are dozens of locations to visit en route, including chocolate-box towns and villages like Marburg and Steinau and the woodlands that characters like Hansel and Gretel would have played in. Other places you may have read about in your childhood include Hamelin, famed for its pied piper, and Bremen, where there's a statue of its animal musicians. Elsewhere, there's Sababurg Castle (the model, it's said, for Sleeping Beauty's home) and Rapunzel's Tower, which soars from the medieval fortress in Trendelburg, a town in the Diemel Valley. Throughout the Fairy Tale Route, you will find museums about the Brothers Grimm, open-air performances of their stories in the warmer months, and walking tours led by guides in period and character costumes. fact file + For more information on the anniversary events and to visit Germany, see .
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Daily Mail
The European city that's been crowned most walkable in the world - with £4 beers and short flights from the UK
Ready to ditch the rental car and rely on your own two feet this summer? You're in luck. A study from Compare the Market has revealed the world's most walkable destinations and the top-rated city is just a short flight away from the UK. Beating out tough competition from Milan and Paris, Munich was crowned the world's easiest city to explore on foot. According to the researchers, 86 per cent of Munich's population live within 1km of a car-free space. And 85 per cent of residents live within a 1km of healthcare and education facilities. The Bavarian city is also a great destination for tourists to get around on foot with many of its main attractions located within walking distance. The Marienplatz, Munich's large historic square, is the city's top attraction and sits overlooked by the clocktower. Its Rathaus-Glockenspiel mechanical clock is a must-see with characters enacting scenes from the city's history twice a day. From Marienplatz, tourists have just a five-minute walk to reach the city's Frauenkirche, a restored Gothic Catholic church. The church is known for its mysterious 'Devil's Footprint', a large black footprint adorning one of its floor tiles. After admiring the church, tourists face a mere eight-minute walk to reach the Residenz Munich, a historic palace that's another of the city's top attractions. The Residenz houses the Bavarian Crown Jewels and served as Munich's seat of government right up until 1918. Tourists are then just a short stroll from Munich's famous English Garden, the city's largest park. The park spans 375 hectares with visitors able to watch surfers attempt the Eisbach wave on the Eisbachwalle River, or enjoy spectacular views from the Monopteros, a small Greek temple folly at the top of a hill. And after all that walking, visitors can head to one of the city's renowned beer halls or gardens to soak up Munich's iconic beer culture. According to Introducing Munich, the average cost of a beer is just €4/£3.40 in the German city. Meanwhile, a pretzel costs just €1.50/£1.27. From Marienplatz, tourists have just a five minute walk to reach the city's Frauenkirche, a restored Gothic Catholic church Milan was named as the world's second-most walkable city while Warsaw, Helsinki and Paris rounded off the top five. At the other end of the scale, Manila, the capital of the Philippines, was ranked as the least walkable city in the world. Planning to stay in the UK this summer? Another study recently revealed the UK's most walkable city and it's a seaside hotspot that's taken the top spot.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Yahoo
How to spend the perfect day in Dresden, Germany
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Dresden's mural-adorned courtyards, modern artworks and yellow trams combine to make it an enigmatic city break destination. The Saxon capital offers laidback restaurants, riverside cafes and buzzing nightlife districts, all set in the shadows of its stately baroque buildings. Beat the crowds and tick off one of Dresden's biggest draws early, admiring the colonnaded courtyards, galleries and gardens of the Zwinger Palace, a masterpiece of baroque architecture built in the early 1700s by the Saxon ruler Augustus the Strong. Walk through the adjacent Theaterplatz, admiring the rebuilt Semperoper and Dresden Cathedral, then pop into Opera for a coffee and a hearty breakfast — the French toast is particularly good. Make the short walk to the Old Town's Fürstenzug mural, the world's largest porcelain artwork, then step inside the Frauenkirche, the latest symbol of Dresden's architectural renewal. This Lutheran church, originally dating from the 18th century, was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt in 2005. It now stands as a pristine example of baroque architecture. Its gilded altar and pipe organ are impressive; there are organ demonstrations daily, as well as evening performances. Near the Frauenkirche is the Albertinum, a contemporary art museum that houses work by Dresden artists such as Gerhard Richter, acclaimed as the Picasso of the 21st century. Less well known are the museum's collections of East German pieces by artists such as Karl-Heinz Adler, whose work was banned from display by the Communist government. For lunch, try the nearby Anna im Schloss, where East German comfort dishes like sossklopse (veal meatballs in caper sauce) are served within the Royal Palace. Take a 20-minute stroll west of the Old Town, or jump on one of Dresden's yellow trams, to reach Kraftwerk Mitte, a cultural complex housed in a former power station. In the 19th century, this looming red-brick structure provided energy to the city, before falling into disuse — other than as a venue for illegal techno parties in the 1990s. Now it's home to cafes, restaurants and a number of theatres. Continue your exploration of the vast Kraftwerk Mitte site with a matinee performance at Staatsoperette Dresden, which stages operettas and musicals. Then, head next door to the Puppentheatersammlung, which houses a range of puppets from across the world, including Saxony's long-standing puppet theatre tradition. In centuries past, puppetry was the means by which politics, fashion and satire were disseminated among ordinary people in Saxon towns and villages; the Puppentheatersammlung tells this story while staging topical puppet plays of its own. Neustadt lies north of the Elbe River, a 20-minute walk or a short tram hop from Kraftwerk Mitte. This is Dresden's buzzing nightlife district and, despite the name, it's pretty old, much of it dating from the period after a fire ravaged the area in 1685. Modernity intrudes in striking ways, and nowhere more so than at the Museum of Military History, whose grand 1870s facade is ruptured by a steel-and-glass shard — a symbol of the fracturing nature of warfare. One of Neustadt's finest restaurants is hip, laid-back Villandry, where a small menu promises quality, seasonal ingredients. Offerings change regularly, but can include beef tongue with cornbread, vegetable strudel and venison goulash. Traditional regional dishes like these are complemented by those from further afield, like Japanese soba bowls; the common theme that runs through the menu is a richness and heartiness, perfect for warming up with on those often chilly east German evenings. There's also a fantastic range of Saxon beers, and wines from the hills near Meissen. Today, Neustadt harbours some of the city's artiest spots, such as Raskolnikoff, a bar, restaurant, hotel and art gallery housed in a listed 19th-century building. The property has been home to flats, an iron foundry and a dance hall over the years before becoming a squat for an art collective in the 1980s. Enjoy a drink or two and then head out to soak up the arty vibes of the Neustadt, making sure to check out the Kunsthofpassage, a series of courtyards adorned with colourful street murals. Published in the June 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
National Geographic
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
How to spend the perfect day in Dresden, from gallery-hopping to baroque palace tours
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Dresden's mural-adorned courtyards, modern artworks and yellow trams combine to make it an enigmatic city break destination. The Saxon capital offers laidback restaurants, riverside cafes and buzzing nightlife districts, all set in the shadows of its stately baroque buildings. 9am: King of the Zwingers Beat the crowds and tick off one of Dresden's biggest draws early, admiring the colonnaded courtyards, galleries and gardens of the Zwinger Palace, a masterpiece of baroque architecture built in the early 1700s by the Saxon ruler Augustus the Strong. Walk through the adjacent Theaterplatz, admiring the rebuilt Semperoper and Dresden Cathedral, then pop into Opera for a coffee and a hearty breakfast — the French toast is particularly good. 11am: Religious Renewal Make the short walk to the Old Town's Fürstenzug mural, the world's largest porcelain artwork, then step inside the Frauenkirche, the latest symbol of Dresden's architectural renewal. This Lutheran church, originally dating from the 18th century, was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt in 2005. It now stands as a pristine example of baroque architecture. Its gilded altar and pipe organ are impressive; there are organ demonstrations daily, as well as evening performances. The Albertinum houses work by Dresden artists like Gerhard Richter — claimed to be the Picasso of the 21st century. Photograph by Christian Kerber East German comfort dishes like sossklopse (meatballs with caper sauce) can be savoured within the Royal Palace restaurant, Anna im Schloss. Photograph by Christian Kerber 1pm: Delve into Dresden's modern art Near the Frauenkirche is the Albertinum, a contemporary art museum that houses work by Dresden artists such as Gerhard Richter, acclaimed as the Picasso of the 21st century. Less well known are the museum's collections of East German pieces by artists such as Karl-Heinz Adler, whose work was banned from display by the Communist government. For lunch, try the nearby Anna im Schloss, where East German comfort dishes like sossklopse (veal meatballs in caper sauce) are served within the Royal Palace. 3pm: The New Theatre District Take a 20-minute stroll west of the Old Town, or jump on one of Dresden's yellow trams, to reach Kraftwerk Mitte, a cultural complex housed in a former power station. In the 19th century, this looming red-brick structure provided energy to the city, before falling into disuse — other than as a venue for illegal techno parties in the 1990s. Now it's home to cafes, restaurants and a number of theatres. 5pm: Discover Saxon puppetry Continue your exploration of the vast Kraftwerk Mitte site with a matinee performance at Staatsoperette Dresden, which stages operettas and musicals. Then, head next door to the Puppentheatersammlung, which houses a range of puppets from across the world, including Saxony's long-standing puppet theatre tradition. In centuries past, puppetry was the means by which politics, fashion and satire were disseminated among ordinary people in Saxon towns and villages; the Puppentheatersammlung tells this story while staging topical puppet plays of its own. 7pm: Dresden's New Town Neustadt lies north of the Elbe River, a 20-minute walk or a short tram hop from Kraftwerk Mitte. This is Dresden's buzzing nightlife district and, despite the name, it's pretty old, much of it dating from the period after a fire ravaged the area in 1685. Modernity intrudes in striking ways, and nowhere more so than at the Museum of Military History, whose grand 1870s facade is ruptured by a steel-and-glass shard — a symbol of the fracturing nature of warfare. Traditional regional dishes like venison goulash are complemented with Japanese soba bowls at the Neustadt restaurant, Villandry. Photograph by Christian Kerber 8pm: Dinner at Villandry One of Neustadt's finest restaurants is hip, laid-back Villandry, where a small menu promises quality, seasonal ingredients. Offerings change regularly, but can include beef tongue with cornbread, vegetable strudel and venison goulash. Traditional regional dishes like these are complemented by those from further afield, like Japanese soba bowls; the common theme that runs through the menu is a richness and heartiness, perfect for warming up with on those often chilly east German evenings. There's also a fantastic range of Saxon beers, and wines from the hills near Meissen. 10pm: Drinks in Neustadt Today, Neustadt harbours some of the city's artiest spots, such as Raskolnikoff, a bar, restaurant, hotel and art gallery housed in a listed 19th-century building. The property has been home to flats, an iron foundry and a dance hall over the years before becoming a squat for an art collective in the 1980s. Enjoy a drink or two and then head out to soak up the arty vibes of the Neustadt, making sure to check out the Kunsthofpassage, a series of courtyards adorned with colourful street murals. Kirker Holidays has three nights at Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden from £1,036 per person, B&B, including flights, transfers and Kirker Concierge services. Getting there & around There are no direct flights from the UK to Dresden. Lufthansa connects London and Manchester with Dresden via Frankfurt, Munich and other cities in Germany. Swiss Air flies from the UK to Dresden via Zurich, and Eurowings via Dusseldorf. Average flight time: 3.5h. Dresden is well connected by Deutsche Bahn trains to cities across Germany. Dresden's Old Town and Neustadt can be explored on foot, although the cobbled streets can make it difficult for travellers who use wheelchairs. The city's tram system, operated by DVB, is extremely efficient and easy to use. Pay with contactless card or a ticket pass, available online. The bus service, also operated by DVB, is useful for getting to places the tram doesn't reach. Tram ticket passes are also valid on the bus. Taxi Dresden provides a reliable taxi service and you can book online. When to go Spring is a great time to visit Dresden, with the city's parks and gardens in bloom and highs of 20C in May. Springtime in Dresden sees around 40–50mm of rainfall per month, which is roughly comparable to London. Summers are warm, with highs of 26C in August, while autumn combines mild weather with smaller crowds. Winters can get cold, with sub-zero temperatures common in December and January. Where to stay Dresden Townhouse Vagabond Club, Old Town. From €156 (£132), B&B. Backstage Hotel, Neustadt. From €74 (£62), B&B. More info: Rough Guide to Germany, £17.99. Published in the June 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
