Zwinger

The Zwinger is one of those historical sites that is so organically integrated into the city that it is almost impossible to imagine Dresden without it. Yes, it's also a very popular tourist destination, but the people who live and work in Dresden don't see the Zwinger as a visitor-only place. For them, it's a suburban road, a meeting place for lunch, a place to sneak out with a date for a midnight kiss, and even just a great place to run.

History of the Zwinger

The Zwinger is still one of the most incredible Baroque buildings in Germany to this day. It was built for August II the Strong. Returning from a grand tour of France and Italy in 1687, he explored King Louis XIV's new court of Versailles and sought to create a similarly elaborate palace for himself in his home city of Dresden.

The word "Zwinger" comes from the medieval German term for "fortress wall protecting a city". Archaeologists have discovered that in the 12th century the fortress walls of the city were located exactly at this place. But since these fortifications were no longer needed, Augustus demolished them in the 16th century to make way for a new palace.

Augustus planned to build six large pavilions connected by galleries that surrounded a large courtyard. He called it a large festival space, "the ceiling of which is the sky." The yard consisted of several gardens and a greenhouse. This would be the site of any grand celebration held by the royal family. Some of the pavilions surrounding the courtyard were designed to house the many royal collections of Augustan antiquities and art.

The Zwinger was never conceived as a residence, which was to appear later, on the other side, closer to the Elbe. But Augustus died before he could oversee this construction, and this piece of land remained empty until the Semper House was built in its place in 1841.

Zwinger Garden

Since the gardens were to be used primarily for parties, it's not surprising to find statues or symbols of Bacchus everywhere. Bacchus is the Roman god of agriculture and wine. His followers are the happy party satyrs you will also find on the rooftops and balconies of the Zwinger.

At the Zwinger, you will find many ornate and whimsical figures, countless decorative details pouring into every inch of the building, and sculptures created by Balthasar Permoser and his assistant Paul Hermann.