Dresdner Zwinger
Playground of the nymphs
A Zwinger, or outer ward, is actually just the free space between the inner and outer ring of the city walls. In Dresden, the capital of Saxony, the most splendid outer ward in the world was created for the prestigious festivities of the European aristocracy in the early 18th century.
Pushed on by the architectural passion of Augustus the Strong, the originally simple plans for a new orangery suddenly gained in extent and size. These works of arts for the court were created by architectural genius Matthaeus Daniel Poeppelmann and master sculptor Balthasar Permoser.
Plans for the construction of an adjoining palace were never realized, but in the 19th century Gottfried Semper's picture gallery and opera house were built on the planned site. In the Zwinger today, visitors find the museums of the Dresden State Art Collections, including the Porcelain Collection and the Old Masters Picture Gallery. In the summer, the Zwinger forms an atmospheric backdrop to a series of open-air events, while the harder-to-find "Nymph Baths" with its cheerful fountains satisfies the visitors' need for quiet.
Address
Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und
Gärten Sachsen
Schlösser und Gärten in Dresden
Geschäftsstelle Zwinger/
Brühlsche Terrasse/Stallhof
Zwinger/Theaterplatz | D-01067 Dresden
Phone +49 (0) 3 51 49 149-601
Fax +49 (0) 3 51 49 149-625
zwinger@schloesserland-sachsen.de
www.schloesser-dresden.de
Disabled access
Limited accessibility
