Dresden Castle

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Dresden Castle in 1900

Dresden Castle is one of the oldest buildings in Dresden and has been the residence of the Electors (1547-1806) and Kings (1806-1918) of Saxony. One of the most important properties of the castle is the multitude of styles, from Romanesque to Baroque, that can be found.

[edit] History

The original castle was a Romanesque keep, built around 1200, which was extended between 1471-1474 by the master-builder Arnold von Westfalen. In the middle of the sixteenth century an extension in Renaissance style was added and after a big fire in 1701, August II the Strong reconstructed much of the castle in the Baroque style. Additionally, the collection-rooms, placed in the western wing, were created at this time during two periods. In the first period (1723-1726) the "Silberzimmer", "Wappenzimmer" and the "Pretiosensaal" arose, whereas in the second hop (1727-1729) the "Kaminzimmer", "Juwelenzimmer", "Elfenbeinzimmer" and "Bronzezimmer" were constructed. During the turn of the twentieth century a reconstruction in the Neo-renaissance style took place and afterwards various modernisations were done, like the installation of underfloor heating and electric lights in 1914.

Dresden Castle in 1980, before major restoration bagan

Most parts of the castle were destroyed in the air attack (Bombing of Dresden in World War II) on February 13/14 1945. Especially the rooms "Wappenzimmer", "Juwelenzimmer", "Silberzimmer" and "Bronzezimmer" didn't survive the war. Fortunately the collections persisted for they have been brought to the Königstein Fortress in the first years of war.

In the first 15 years after the end of the Second World War no attempts were made to restore the building except the installation of a temporary roof in 1946. During the 1960s, the reconstruction began with the installation of new windows. Since then an amazing amount of restoration has occurred. The famous "Grünes Gewölbe" (Green Vault) was reopened in 2005 containing among other priceless items the treasures of the Saxon Monarchy.