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Dresden Cathedral
Dresden and surrounding
Architecture,  Unusual places,  Temples, Churches
Architecture, 
Unusual places, 
Temples, Churches
...

The legendary Saxon ruler Frederick Augustus II wanted to become king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth so much that he changed his faith, actively encouraged his subjects to do the same, and built a grand Catholic church in the very heart of the Protestant city of Dresden.

The project of the magnificent monument of sacred architecture was created by the famous Italian architect Gaetano Chiaveri (also famous for creating the palace of Catherine I in Russia). The monumental religious building was made in the style of the solemn Roman Baroque in the middle of the 18th century. It still makes a strong impression on all its visitors. So we can say that the Saxon Elector reached his goal to surpass the main court Protestant church "Frauenkirche" with the new cathedral. By the way, Napoleon Bonaparte also contributed to the recognition of the Hofkirche by allowing the bells of the Catholic shrine to ring in the Protestant city.

Despite numerous devastating bombings of World War II, Hofkirche survived. In 1947, it hosted religious services. In 1964, it officially became Dresden Cathedral. Today, it is considered the largest temple in the city. It is located on the banks of the picturesque Elbe near another outstanding Dresden landmark, Zwinger Palace.

The unique design of the cathedral resembles a giant ship and consists of two huge tiers with an 85-meter bell tower growing out of the facade, which is unusual for either German or Italian churches. The magnificent facade is decorated with 78 three-meter sculptures of the Holy Apostles by the Italian sculptor Lorenzo Mattielli.

The hallmark of the interior is an old organ dating from the middle of the 18th century. It is the last work of the outstanding German master Johann Gottfried Silbermann. Moreover, the cathedral houses the family crypt of the Wettin royal dynasty. It is a burial site of 49 family members, as well as several bishops of Dresden and Meissen.

Address: Schloss strasse 24

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Praskovia Ko

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