Taste Hotel Dresden

Frauenkirche

The beautiful church was unfortunately destroyed in 1945 as a result of one of the most violent aerial bombardments during WWII. It burnt down in the ensuing firestorm. However, the Frauenkirche was reborn in 2005 after a lengthy restoration, begun in 1994.

According to history, a church should have stood on the same spot since the year 1000, but the original Frauenkirche dates from the 18th century and was completed and ready for use in 1743. The church was designed by the architect George Bähr, who unfortunately never saw it completed as he died in 1738.

The church's huge dome became a landmark for the city and has seen a bit of everything, including being bombed by the Prussian army in 1760 without being damaged, and then the church was also the centre of the May Uprising in 1849.

Kennel

Like about 80% of Dresden, the Zwinger was destroyed by Allied bombing between 13 and 15 February 1945. But the palace was rebuilt in the late 1950s. The Zwinger is probably Germany's most famous Baroque building, filled with beautiful paintings that can be enjoyed in the Zwinger Museum, among other places. The paintings were hidden in the Soviet Union during the war and later returned to the city. One of the main attractions is the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister museum, which houses works by Raphael, Giorgione and Titian. Also visit the Armoury, which has an impressive collection of old weapons and battle armour.

The Zwinger also houses a very famous porcelain exhibition and here the Chinese and Japanese collections are of particular note.

Dresden

The German city of Dresden is also the capital of the state of Saxony and is located in the Elbe river valley between Berlin and Prague. Dresden is also known as 'Elbflorenz' or Florence of the Elbe, thanks to the city's layout and surroundings with vineyards on the slopes of the Elbe.

The city has served as the residence of Saxon kings and electors, and developed especially under August the Strong, as an important cultural city with famous buildings such as Frauenkirche, Schloss Pillnitz and Zwinger, all built in August's reign between 1694-1733.

After 2. World War II, Dresden ended up in the GDR, but the city has come back strong after the fall of the Wall and German reunification. A number of chip manufacturers have set up in the area and there are also several research institutes and universities in the city. Dresden has therefore also been called Saxony's Silicon Valley.

There are several interesting art collections and in particular Dresden SKD is famous for its collection of art and Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister is clearly worth a visit if goldsmith art is of interest. At the Zwinger Palace there is also an interesting exhibition of mathematical instruments from the Baroque and Enlightenment periods, visit the 'Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon'.

The Old Town of Dresden is charming and lively, with a buzz of people and activities. The Altmarkt-Galerie shopping arcade is a great place to start your shopping trip in the inner city, which also has its share of pavement cafés and restaurants. By the way, every Friday there is a market in Lingner-Allee.

Striezel market

Striezelmarkt is the oldest and largest Christmas market in Germany and was first mentioned back in 1434. The Christmas market is named after the local Christmas cake, Strietzel. A huge experience for both children and adults with many highlights such as the Pflaumentoffelhaus, the Knusperhaus, the Christmas bakery and at the same time several music events are held. Especially in the days leading up to Christmas Eve, various celebrations are held and the Stollenfest, on 5 December, is a particular attraction with the giant Stollen Christmas cake being transported from the Zwinger to the Striezelmarkt, in Dresden city centre, by horse-drawn carriage and then cut up and distributed to the many attendees amid great festivity. Enjoy a glass of warm Glühwein, some Christmas cake or fragrant chestnuts, but don't forget to sink your teeth into the famous Christstollen Christmas cake.

The Three Castles on the Elbe

Just 3 km east of the centre of Dresden you will find the three stunning castles on the Elbe. Schloss Albrechtsberg, Lingnerschloss and Schloss Eckberg are known as the three castles on the Elbe and they are a great visit while strolling along the river. If you cross to the other side of the river you can enjoy the castles at their best. All three were built between 1850 and 1861 and are set in fine English-style parkland.

Pillnitz Castle

Schloss Pillnitz, or simply Pillnitz Castle, is a beautifully restored Baroque palace located in the eastern part of Dresden, in the German state of Saxony. The castle served as the summer residence of a number of kings and electors of Saxony, and it was also here that the Pillnitz Declaration was signed in 1791.

The palace consists of three main buildings, the Wasserpalais, which is on the river bank, the Bergpalais, which is on the mountain side and also contains Chinese-inspired architecture, and then there is the Neues Palais, which connects the buildings on the eastern side. The palace's Baroque garden is very famous and is then again surrounded by a large public park.

Pillnitz Castle also houses the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Palace Museum. An exciting trip back in time and an ideal family outing that the whole family will enjoy to the full.

Golfclub Dresden Elbflorenz e.V.

If you've brought your golf bag on this trip, a shiny place to air it out would be the Elbflorenz Golf Club, located 10 km south of Dresden city centre. The course has 18 holes and is set in a scenic area, with a slightly hilly landscape with natural hazards and tight courses, especially around holes 12-15, which run through the Poisenwald, the Poisen Forest, which once belonged to a German king. The course can provide challenges for even the most experienced player, and after a round, you can relax in the adjoining clubhouse.

Königstein Fortress

The state of Saxony has a lot of castles and fortresses, in fact almost 1,000 beautiful buildings, which offer a lot of interesting history. Find a cheap family holiday in the south at Risskov with child-friendly hotels and plenty of opportunity to set your own pace. Festung Königstein, or Königstein Fortress, certainly belongs in this unique pool of exciting German history and is the largest hilltop fortress in Europe. Built on a 9.5-hectare rocky plateau, 240 metres above the Elbe, this fortress contains over 50 buildings, which are surrounded by an 1,800-metre-long fortress wall, with the wall up to 42 metres high in places. In the centre of the fortress is a 152.5 metre deep well, which is also the second deepest in Europe.

Used as a state prison, the fortress is still intact and today houses one of Saxony's main tourist attractions. Festung Königstein also has a special map to help wheelchair users find their way around. There is also a tactile model, which gives the visually impaired a better opportunity to experience the fortress by touch.

A great experience for the whole family. Go on a self-drive family holiday and enjoy the many beautiful buildings from other centuries with Risskov.

Basteiklipperne

Experience Germany on a cheap summer holiday with Risskov. Drive yourself to the east of Germany and visit Dresden and the impressive Basteiklipper which is located just southeast of Dresden in the Saxon Switzerland. From the top there are incredible views and the climb is filled with various hiking trails, stairs and small bridges and inside is Felsenburg Neurathen, the rock castle, which is the largest medieval stone castle in Saxon Switzerland . The castle is first mentioned in 1289 and has been owned by various Bohemian noble families.

Visit the Panorama Restaurant and enjoy the view of the Elbe and Königstein Fortress in the distance. Try an active holiday on a wonderful family holiday in the area around Dresden. Find Denmark's cheapest prices on weekend breaks at Risskov.

Christmas market in Dresden

Dates.
The Striezelmarkt - 26.11. – 24.12.
Dresden Winter Lights Market - Dates: 26.11. - 23.12.
Augustusmarkt - Dates: 26.11. - 04.01.
The Christmas Market on the Neumarkt - Dates: 26.11. – 04.01.

Opening hours
The Striezelmarkt - 10.00-21.00
Dresden Winter Lights Market - Sun-Thu: 11.00-20.00 Fri-Sat: 10.00-21.00
Augustusmarkt - Mon-Thu: 11.00-21.00 Fri: 11.00-22.00 Sat: 10.00-21.00 Sun: 10.00-21.00
The Christmas Market on the Neumarkt - 11.00-22.00

Please note that dates and opening hours may vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

The smell of mulled wine and gingerbread spreads through the baroque city of Dresden when the city's famous Christmas market opens in November and December.

The Christmas market in Dresden is also called Strizelmarkt, which is derived from the name of the famous local dried fruit Christmas cake, Dresdner Stollen. The Christmas market is one of the oldest in Germany and dates back to 1434.

Here you can find genuine traditional crafts from Christmas pyramids to candlesticks from the Erzebirge mountains, while you can also see glassblowers and bakers in action at the market. Every year you can also have the pleasure of seeing the largest step pyramid from the Erzebirge; a Christmas decoration more than 14 metres high.