Dresden a must
Aug 15th, 2006, 06:53 AM
#21
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"Saxon Switzerland is one of Germany's natural wonder's and (yet) undiscovered by Americans. Maybe we should keep it our secret?"
Too late! *I* discovered it last year, and it's terrific. Great people, interesting and beautiful sights, and absolutely excellent cuisine.
Second trip already in the planning for next year.
Fritzrl
Too late! *I* discovered it last year, and it's terrific. Great people, interesting and beautiful sights, and absolutely excellent cuisine.
Second trip already in the planning for next year.
Fritzrl
Aug 15th, 2006, 12:23 PM
#22
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Fritzlr, you're welcome! Glad to hear you plan to come back. Honestly, we don't mind sharing this beautiful landscape with individual tourists, but let's keep the tour operators out!
DAX and Ben - do you refer to the Prager Strasse? That ensemble was built in the 1960s/70s and is indeed worth to be preserved. Not many people realise it is a good example of the "international style" in those times (btw, it was designed after Rotterdam's new centre and the huge apartment block follows Le Corbusier's ideas).
I am sorry I have to tell you that at the northern end of the Prager Strasse a new shopping mall is planned. Do you recall that department store with the prismatic aluminium facade? It was built in the 1970s too and will be torn down. At least the facade will be removed and used for the new facade of the shopping mall.
There was in fact not much to preserve around the central railway station after the air raid in 1945.
The new buildings of glass and steel are indeed not very charming. We still hope for good architecture for the new State Operetta House, which is planned to be built at the place where the big dig is ...
Ben, the Stadtmuseum is not yet back completely. The reconstruction inside is still going on and the exhibit you mentioned will be on display from mid 2007 on (I hope). Right now you can see the picture gallery and exhibits on the Frauenkirche and the founding of Dresden.
DAX and Ben - do you refer to the Prager Strasse? That ensemble was built in the 1960s/70s and is indeed worth to be preserved. Not many people realise it is a good example of the "international style" in those times (btw, it was designed after Rotterdam's new centre and the huge apartment block follows Le Corbusier's ideas).
I am sorry I have to tell you that at the northern end of the Prager Strasse a new shopping mall is planned. Do you recall that department store with the prismatic aluminium facade? It was built in the 1970s too and will be torn down. At least the facade will be removed and used for the new facade of the shopping mall.
There was in fact not much to preserve around the central railway station after the air raid in 1945.
The new buildings of glass and steel are indeed not very charming. We still hope for good architecture for the new State Operetta House, which is planned to be built at the place where the big dig is ...
Ben, the Stadtmuseum is not yet back completely. The reconstruction inside is still going on and the exhibit you mentioned will be on display from mid 2007 on (I hope). Right now you can see the picture gallery and exhibits on the Frauenkirche and the founding of Dresden.
Aug 15th, 2006, 12:40 PM
#23
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I assume the tall Inter Hotel, another example of 'Socialist No Frills Urban Architecture" (my term only) is now a Novotel or some such. Not sure of name but something like InterHotel and was a tall one in many DDR cities.
I agree that Prager Strasse should have been preserved as was - much like i lament the passing, soon i guess, of the Palace of the Repulik in Berlin!
I agree that Prager Strasse should have been preserved as was - much like i lament the passing, soon i guess, of the Palace of the Repulik in Berlin!
Aug 15th, 2006, 06:14 PM
#24
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Interesting to know that sprawling Pragerstr square was actually modeled after Rotterdam. I originally wrote how the area feels like a mini slice of Rotterdam with an east block flair inside Dresden but erased my rambling prior to posting thinking how ridiculous that may sound to others.
Only Dresden would need an Opera House and an Operetta House in this day & age... what a concept. I prefer those small playhouses which Dresden has quite a good number.
Only Dresden would need an Opera House and an Operetta House in this day & age... what a concept. I prefer those small playhouses which Dresden has quite a good number.
Aug 17th, 2006, 09:45 AM
#25
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DAX,
Thanks for the clarification re hotel and other heads-up.
Ingo,
I am not bringing a tour bus loaded with 48 tourists to see SAX SWISS, but only 2 people in a rented VW Golf. BTW, is there a good web site for SAX SWISS that you can reveal secretly (wishful thinking!). Thanks
Thanks for the clarification re hotel and other heads-up.
Ingo,
I am not bringing a tour bus loaded with 48 tourists to see SAX SWISS, but only 2 people in a rented VW Golf. BTW, is there a good web site for SAX SWISS that you can reveal secretly (wishful thinking!). Thanks
Aug 17th, 2006, 12:36 PM
#26
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PalQ - the Interhotel is now the Mercure Hotel. Not bad, but the rooms are a bit small I heard.
DAX - I like these small theatres as well. But for nothing in the world I would want to miss the opera house (and the excellent ensemble there).
You're an architecture expert, eh?
sf... - in this case it is ok. I think there are a couple of websites, but let me give you links to my own pages on virtualtourist.com You'll find the highlights there:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/12ca7/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/b0ff/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/ab24/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/6ed7/
I have more pages on Virtualtourist about Saxony, you can find links on the pages I listed above.
If you have more questions, feel free to ask.
Ingo
DAX - I like these small theatres as well. But for nothing in the world I would want to miss the opera house (and the excellent ensemble there).
You're an architecture expert, eh?
sf... - in this case it is ok. I think there are a couple of websites, but let me give you links to my own pages on virtualtourist.com You'll find the highlights there:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/12ca7/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/b0ff/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/ab24/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/6ed7/
I have more pages on Virtualtourist about Saxony, you can find links on the pages I listed above.
If you have more questions, feel free to ask.
Ingo
Aug 19th, 2006, 09:59 PM
#28
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Ingo-
Great links, thanks. I was pleased to see your recommendation for the Hotel Martha Hospiz. I booked a room based on your comments in a thread some time ago. I'm even more pleased with my decision after seeing your VT review.
In checking the Philharmonic website, it appears that there's a wonderful Beethoven-Wagner concert on September 24, the night that I'll be there. But it also appears that there are no tickets available. I can understand why Beethoven's Fifth would be sold out. Do you think I'll be able to get a ticket-say a cancellation-that day? If not, perhaps there will be something in a more intimate classical space.
Great links, thanks. I was pleased to see your recommendation for the Hotel Martha Hospiz. I booked a room based on your comments in a thread some time ago. I'm even more pleased with my decision after seeing your VT review.
In checking the Philharmonic website, it appears that there's a wonderful Beethoven-Wagner concert on September 24, the night that I'll be there. But it also appears that there are no tickets available. I can understand why Beethoven's Fifth would be sold out. Do you think I'll be able to get a ticket-say a cancellation-that day? If not, perhaps there will be something in a more intimate classical space.
Aug 20th, 2006, 06:48 AM
#29
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Ingo,
No I'm not an architect expert but I draw the atmosphere of a place from its architecture. I actually don't like Rotterdam architecture that much, but I do go there from time to time to visit some cousins and eventually the place & its architecture grew on me slowly.
No I'm not an architect expert but I draw the atmosphere of a place from its architecture. I actually don't like Rotterdam architecture that much, but I do go there from time to time to visit some cousins and eventually the place & its architecture grew on me slowly.
Aug 20th, 2006, 07:59 AM
#30
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DAX - I know it's not your business. Btw, I did not like the architecture of the 1970s much until a couple of years ago.
Jeff - I am sure you'll like the Martha Hospiz.
Did you notice that the Dresden Philharmonic is on tour in Spain and Italy? The day you refer to they play in Merano/Italy.
Sept 21 and 23 the "Young German Philharmonic" plays in Dresden (Reimann, Schumann, Richard Strauss). Should be good too. Maybe you can get a ticket for the concert on 23 Sept?
For that weekend is some religious music scheduled. Mostly works of Heinrich Schütz. Check out Kreuzkirche on Saturday 6 pm (Vesper) or Dreikönigskirche 5 pm for example.
Jeff - I am sure you'll like the Martha Hospiz.
Did you notice that the Dresden Philharmonic is on tour in Spain and Italy? The day you refer to they play in Merano/Italy.
Sept 21 and 23 the "Young German Philharmonic" plays in Dresden (Reimann, Schumann, Richard Strauss). Should be good too. Maybe you can get a ticket for the concert on 23 Sept?
For that weekend is some religious music scheduled. Mostly works of Heinrich Schütz. Check out Kreuzkirche on Saturday 6 pm (Vesper) or Dreikönigskirche 5 pm for example.
