Pictures taken on a visit to Dresden, Germany in May 2002 |
Much of the
old city has been rebuilt exactly as it was before the destruction by the bombing
in World War II. However, work is still continuing and the Frauenkirche, the
Church of Our Lady, which was totally destroyed, is expected to be completed
in 2006, in time for the 800th anniversary of the founding of the city. Many
of the fine buildings in Dresden and surrounds were built for the various mistresses
of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, 1670-1733. When
he died he was buried in the crypt of Krakow Cathedral but his heart was buried
in the Hofkirche in Dresden - it is said to start beating every time a pretty
woman passes by.
Some 30 km from Dresden is the Elbe sandstone massif, known as Swiss Saxony, and 250 metres above the river Elbe. There are spectacular views of the river and interesting sandstone formations in the woods, including the Lillienstein and Konigstein table mountains. You have to walk to the top of the Lillienstein, but for the unfit among us there is a lift at Konigstein. Being superfit, we walked up Lillienstein, with nary a puff.
Travelling towards Bautzen, the mountains of the Czech Republic become visible on the left and of Poland on the right. On the German side of the the river Neisse the town of Gorlitz faces the town of Zgorzelec in Poland. The river here is narrow enough to swim across in about 10 minutes if you swim slowly, The shabby state of the buildings in Poland are a reminder of what East Germany was like before the wall came down.
Photo: Dixieland Jazz Band on paddle steamer cruising to Meissen.