Palace and garden complexes of France, luxurious palazzi of Italy, palaces of the Russian emperors... There are many majestic architectural monuments, the appearance and solemn interiors of which amaze modern travelers. Germany also boasts genuine masterpieces of palace architecture. One of these monumental creations of the 18th-century masters is the Zwinger Palace, located in the capital of Saxony, the fabulous city of Dresden.

The Zwinger palace complex is a reconstructed ancient fortress. Hence its name, which means the space between two fortress walls. At the beginning of the 18th century, the old fortress lost its military function. So, King Augustus the Strong decided to turn it into a luxurious palace with a park, Baroque fountains, and flower greenhouses.

The court architect Matthaus Poppelmann created a really unique design, which made the magnificent Baroque monument famous far beyond Dresden. Everyone wanted to see the Zwinger. The famous Venetian painter was so impressed that he decided to capture it on his immortal canvases. Bernardo Bellotto's paintings still adorn the walls of the palace's art gallery. Moreover, the palace was a backdrop for Italian opera and theatrical performances, the passions of the Saxon king. All the court feasts were also celebrated here with impressive fireworks and receptions.

Today, the Zwinger in Dresden is considered a striking example of the magnificent Baroque style. The abundance of decorative elements that adorn the palace facade fascinates with its splendor. There are about one hundred and thirty sculptures by the famous German master Balthazar Permozero, not to mention a huge number of various vases, cartouches, and garlands.

Each pavilion has its own name: "Pavilion on the Shaft", "Bell Pavilion" and others. Their interior creates a unique atmosphere of transcendent medieval luxury: it was clearly influenced by Italian and French culture, the trendsetters of palace fashion, and complemented with the South German Baroque.