City tour Dresden: Themed tours

Embark on a journey through Dresden's rich history and culture with a themed tour that promises to inspire and captivate. Experience the grandeur of Baroque Dresden through the artistic lens of Canaletto, walk in the footsteps of legendary composers, or explore the remarkable transformation the city has undergone since the post-war era.
Each tour offers a fresh perspective on Dresden, combining its timeless charm with fascinating insights into its artistic and historical evolution. Get ready to uncover the stories that make Dresden truly extraordinary!

Canaletto's iconic motif of Dresden and the Elbe captures the essence of baroque splendor, transporting you to its golden age!

HIGHLIGHTS: Golden Horseman - Canaletto view - Augustus Bridge - Hofkirche - Procession of Princes - Brühl's Terrace - Neumarkt - Frauenkirche - Altmarkt with Kreuzkirche - Castle - Zwinger - Theatre Square

City Tour in Dresden: Discover the World of Baroque Dresden

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Baroque Dresden on this city tour! The cityscapes of Bernardo Bellotto, known as Canaletto, continue to shape the image of Augustan Dresden to this day. His works cast the royal city in a unique light, showcasing the impressive architecture and atmosphere of the era.

Bernardo Bellotto: The Court Painter of Augustan Dresden

At just 25 years old, Bernardo Bellotto became the court painter in Dresden. King Augustus III and Prime Minister Heinrich Count von Brühl quickly recognized the representative power of his vedute. As key patrons and commissioners, they enabled Bellotto to highlight Saxony’s capital as one of Europe’s leading art cities. For his extraordinary works, Bellotto received a princely salary and moved in the highest social circles.

Meticulous Detail: The Cityscapes

Bellotto masterfully captured light, water, architecture, and atmosphere in his paintings. Using a camera obscura, he achieved a level of detail that resembles photorealism. His works are not only masterpieces of art but also testimonies to the cultural and societal significance of Dresden during the Baroque period.
This guided tour takes you through Dresden’s historic old town, where you will encounter the very scenes that Bellotto brought to life in his paintings. See the city through the eyes of the artist and from the perspective of the residents of the royal seat and gain a deeper appreciation for the timeless beauty of Dresden.

Discover the incredible musical history of Dresden, spanning 400 years, on an amazing city tour that will leave you inspired!

HIGHLIGHTS: Theatre Square – Semper Opera House – Zwinger – Taschenbergpalais – Castle – Hofkirche – Procession of Princes – Brühl's Terrace – Neumarkt – Frauenkirche

City Tour Through Dresden’s Opera History: Great Personalities and Their Works

On this city tour, it’s time to spotlight the great figures of opera who shaped Dresden over the centuries. Heinrich Schütz, Johann Adolph Hasse, Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner, and Richard Strauss – these names represent an extraordinary musical culture. Did you know that the first German opera was written for a Saxon elector during the Thirty Years’ War? Discover how Dresden became the home of these remarkable musical milestones.

Baroque Opera and Musical Drama: A Journey Through the Ages

A century after the first opera, Dresden flourished as the center of the enchanting world of Baroque opera, where castrati and prima donnas evoked ecstatic enthusiasm. Lavish sums were spent to bring these musical visions to life. Another century later, musical drama made history on the stage of the first Semper Opera House, setting new standards. The Saxon rulers' passion for music created a cultural metropolis that remains celebrated worldwide to this day.

An Inspiring Blend: Opera History and City Heritage

Our stroll through Dresden’s historic city center intertwines the captivating history of opera with the city’s rich heritage, offering an unforgettable experience. This city tour is the perfect prelude to your personalized opera evening. Let Dresden’s opera culture enchant you, and after this remarkable journey, you’ll be calling out “Encore!”

A city reinvents itself! This could be the motto of the last seven decades in Dresden. Our tour of history and historical understanding!

HIGHLIGHTS: Prager Straße - Ufa Cinema - Centrum-Galerie - Altmarkt-Galerie - Altmarkt - Kulturpalast - Neumarkt - Frauenkirche - Albertinum - Brühl's Terrace - Hofkirche - Residenzschloss - Taschenbergpalais - House at the Zwinger - Zwinger - Theatre Square with the Semper Opera

City Tour in Dresden: Discover the Sites of Transformation

On this city tour, you’ll visit the key locations that highlight Dresden’s ongoing transformation. After February 13, 1945, the ruins of the Old Town dominated the cityscape, with skeletal remains of buildings rising like blackened teeth into the sky. In an incredible effort, the "Trümmerfrauen" (rubble women) cleared the debris in the years following the war, laying the foundation for a new beginning.

Renewal and DDR Architecture: Altmarkt and Prager Straße

The Altmarkt showcases a fascinating dialogue between the retro-style façades surrounding the square and the glass architecture of the Kulturpalast, built in the late 1960s. Nearby, Prager Straße stands as a prime example of DDR post-war urban planning. At the same time, Prager Straße and the adjacent Wiener Platz reveal the euphoric yet unrealistic growth expectations of the 1990s, where new shopping centers were built on historic ground plans.

Historical Reconstruction at Neumarkt: The Frauenkirche and Its Surroundings

At Neumarkt, you’ll experience a different approach to rebuilding: here, the cityscape of the 18th century has been recreated with reconstructed historical façades and newly built structures inspired by the past.
On this city tour, you’ll journey from the Prager Straße, shaped by modernist ideals, to the Neumarkt, reconstructed to resemble its pre-war glory. This experience offers a vivid insight into how societal changes have transformed Dresden’s city center into a dynamic and ever-evolving metropolis.

If it turns out that I know not only what is bad and ugly but also what is beautiful, then I owe this gift to the good fortune of having grown up in Dresden.