Ingo - thanks for the link to the Kreuzkirche - most interesting.

The singing is of course reminiscent of an english cathedral choir, though with rather fewer flounces! [and none the worse for that].

Adrienne - looks like this is working up into a vey nice trip. i look forward to your review of the Kreuzchor.

Ingo (or anyone) - are there any UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Dresden? I looked at the WHS list but didn't see anything for Dresden but perhaps I overlooked something.

Saxon Switzerland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site though of course not in Dresden.

1 thing in Dresden makes this list of top 100 things in Germany ranked I believe by the German Tourist folks:

https://www.germany.travel/media/con...13_TOP_100.pdf

Saxon Switzerland must have another name since I don't see it on the list.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/

Thanks Ingo and Adrienne for the tour tips. Will go on the Dresden Walks. The ingeltours unfortunately don't offer anything on the 2 days I am there, except one tour that is too late on the day I leave. Schade.

Too bad, Mainhattengirl, but you'll enjoy the Dresden Walks, too.

Dresden itself was on the UNESCO world heritage list for a while but was the first site scratched because of the construction of the infamous Waldschlösschen bridge. I'll post a bit more on this later (in a rush now.)

Dresden is going to re-enter the list with Hellerau, I guess. They have the application almost ready, it's going to take a couple of years.

The Erzgebirge mountains with the former (medieval to 20th century) mining shafts, museums, old towns and churches (Freiberg, Annaberg, Altenberg, Marienberg ... and many more, even crossing the border into Czech Rep.) will apply as UNESCO world heritage this or next year and are near Dresden (30 minutes - 1 hour are the closest sites.)

Görlitz will apply soon as well.

Bad Muskau is on the list, the only one in Saxony at the moment.

Oops looking at the Top 100 Things in Germany list which denotes UNESCO places I see it is not one - I looked too quickly before.

Dresden being de-UNESCOized must be a first - just because of some modern bridge built across the Elbe! Not saying I'm in favor of the bridge but UNESCO's actions do indeed seem a bit foolish in that one single bridge can make the difference in what is worthy of UNESCO status or not!

This is from the UNESCO site explaining why it was delisted.

"The World Heritage Committee decided to remove Germany's Dresden Elbe Valley from UNESCO's World Heritage List due to the building of a four-lane bridge in the heart of the cultural landscape which meant that the property failed to keep its "outstanding universal value as inscribed".

"Dresden is only the second property ever to have been removed from the World Heritage List".

They knew the city would be delisted but built the bridge anyway. Perhaps traffic easement or tourist (and other) revenue overshadowed UNESCO celebrity. After all, how many people in the world know what UNESCO signifies.

I used to collect ceramics during my travels. Now I'm "poor" I collect UNESCO sites.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/522

I used to collect ceramics during my travels.>

Seems like Meissen may be tops on your list?

Ok, so Dresden was the second ever to have been removed.

Personally, I think the bridge is awful and the UNESCO did the right thing. One can argue if they overreacted, but the bridge was indeed built at a very sensitive place, very much affecting the previously unspoiled riverbanks in this area and certainly destroying one of the most beautiful views of Dresden.

What saddens me even more (than the removal from the UNESCO list) about the bridge is that it a) has proven not to be needed (only half of the predicted number of cars use it) and b) the whole thing cost about 180 Million Euro while at the same time three other existing bridges in Dresden are in (more or less urgent) need of repair.

Adrienne, on this trip you can collect future UNESCO world heritage sites ;-)

Btw, Saxon Switzerland will make the list sooner or later, too. They are in the (relatively early) process of application, together with neighbouring Bohemian Switzerland. As the number of sites that one country can suggest at once is limited, they plan to ride on the Czech ticket.

https://www.google.com/search?q=dres...=1600&bih=1075

The new bridge that cost Dresden its UNESCO World Heritage Site Status. Nice looking bridge but in an awful location that yes scars the nice landscape.

I'm on UNESCO's side with this one - that's one ugly bridge! Sorry to disagree with you Pal!

Ingo - I'll get two more from Berlin and Potsdam to add to my list.

https://adriennetravels.shutterfly.com/unesco

Well adrienne I kind of agree with you except that when the bridge was being planned UNESCO tried to Blackmail Germany into not funding or building the bridge - a bit of thuggery if you ask me - that is what rather annoys me - the blackmail part - I do not disagree with removing somethings from the list if they no longer fulfill the requirements which would have been fine in this case.

Oh well UNESCO citation is nice but I doubt if it has made any difference to tourism in Dresden or perhaps the controversy boosted it. I have been to Dresden several times, including in old DDR days and I would return now to see this bridge - pictures can't do much - I have to take a look myself from afar and then probably agree that it is a serious desecration of an ancient city's elegant riverside facade.

Quite an impressive list, adrienne!

The number of tourists/overnight stays in Dresden is still growing. No, the delisting doesn't have an impact on tourism in the city, it seems.

Pal, it's not that the bridge would affect the city's elegant riverside facade, this bridge affected the setting in the landscape. Where else in Europe can a river flow through a city without being canalized/regulated, green meadows and hillsides at both banks?

Ingo - I agree 110% - it is the bullying that UNESCO tried that I object to - oh if you do this we will delist you - well Dresdners said fine what difference will it make - actually it may have backfired and caused locals in favor of the bridge - assumingly there were some - business interests probably - but the bridge is a desecration it does seem.

Have you been to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg? Where Luther started his rabble rousing - nice old restored town - I was first there in old DDR days and it was rundown and shabby but went back recently and shines.

Many Luther related sites including the church door he peraps apocryphally

sorry hit wrong button - he apocryphally perhaps - nailed his demands to the door, setting off the Reformation.

Anyway between Berlin and Dresden so could make a few hour stop en route, especially if interested in Luther.

I seems I have tons of time on this trip so will add Saxon Switzerland for a day.

I've been incredibly lazy and have not done much prep so far for this trip. I'm allocating 5 full days in Dresden. The arrival day the only thing I have planned is a nap, vespers, and dinner.

The other sights:

Dresden Walk - Old Town
Kunsthofpassage
Frauenkirche
Pfunds Molkerei
Historic and New Green Vaults
Semperoper guided tour (if available)
Zwinger
Martin Luther Church
Albertinum

Pal - Is it blasphemy to go to Germany and have no interest in Luther? Am I missing something here?

Pal - Is it blasphemy to go to Germany and have no interest in Luther? Am I missing something here?>

No I share the same feeling but from a historical standpoint, the launching of the Reformation it makes sites associated with that interesting. But though Wittenberge-Lutherstadt is a nice old town it is not nicer than many so if not into Luther, Heaven only knows why, then skip it.

If time Meissen again makes a nice easy half day trip from Dresden - nice castle complex on hill if not into the famous Meissen ceramics factory/tour.

Meissen is something to think about. I'll pencil it in. Thanks!

Well the factory is another UNESCO World Heritage Site to add to your list!

Cheers!

Is that the Fagus factory in Alfeld? That's the only factory I see on the list.

Meissen manufacture is not on the UNESCO list.

The sights for Dresden that you listed are not exactly many, and since you didn't elaborate if you're not interested in the other stuff, or just don't know more at the moment, I'll add these suggestions:

Grosser Garten - the largest city park, with a small Baroque palace in the centre (partially restored), beautiful (some formal, mostly "English") gardens, ponds, the mosaic fountain, the miniature train, zoo, botanical garden. Volkswagen transparent manufacture (tours) in one corner of Grosser Garten. Several restaurants/beergardens/cafes.

Hygiene museum (a museum on life in general, covers all sorts of aspects of biology/life/society - very interesting)

A steamboat ride between Dresden old town and Schloss Pillnitz.

A walk in the parks of castles Albrechtsberg, Lingnerschloss and Eckberg (called "Elbschlösser") with beautiful views of the river and city below.

Since you expressed an interest in churches:
Auferstehungskirche Dresden-Plauen (Tue, Wed, Thur 11 - 15 h)
Catholic cathedral (Hofkirche)
Versöhnungskirche Dresden-Striesen (Wed 17-19 h)
Christuskirche Dresden-Strehlen (weekdays 17-18 h)

Former Stasi (East German secret service) district headquarters with prison.

The area around Blue Wonder bridge - Körnerplatz square with funicular up to Luisenhof restaurant and suspension railway up to Oberloschwitz (views!), picturesque old houses with artisans' shops, cafes (Wippler!) and restaurants. Schillerplatz (other side of the bridge) with cafes (Toscana), restaurants (Schillergarten, Villa Marie), shops, food market on Tue, Thur, Sat.

Half-Day excursions: Schloss Moritzburg (full day if you combine it with little pheasant's castle and a ride on the narrow-gauge steam train Moritzburg-Radebeul).

If you're very much interested in churches then Freiberg is a must (Dom!), castle Weesenstein is highly recommended (Baroque chapel), Pirna is also a gem (St. Marien). In Meissen you can visit the Dom (cathedral) and St. Afra e.g., both well worth seeing. St. Petri Dom in Bautzen is undergoing renovation, so you better skip this town.

For more info check out these pages on Virtualtourist:
Dresden: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/1091e/
Dresden-Loschwitz to Pillnitz: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/6f2e/
Freiberg: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/f6d5/
Meissen: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/9743/
Pirna: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4166c/6ed7/

Ingo - thanks again. Pal is steering me down the garden path with the UNESCO sights. :(

I know I don't have a lot on my itinerary yet - I did say that I was being lazy (sometimes sloth is my middle name!).

The parks looks good. I think I looked at the Hygiene Museum but it didn't seem interesting to me.

I've added the Dresden churches to my itinerary and will check out the churches in other towns as well as the web sites you listed.

Porcelain perfection at every turn: Meissen | Tourism in ...
http://www.germany.travel/en/towns-c...en.html‎
Visitors to Meissen will not only encounter exquisite porcelain, however, but also an ... UNESCO World Heritage

Well my apologies for the apparent mistake but I took it from this German Tourist Office web site heading - made it seem that something in Meissen is a UNESCO thingy.

sorry bout that. I'm sure Ingo is right.

http://www.germany.travel/en/towns-c...-heritage.html

Yes of course Ingo is right - not on the UNESCO Germany list.

There's a lovely hotel in Meissen up by the Dom called the Burgkeller. It's part of the Romantik Hotel group and is very nice.

Thanks, Trophywife but I'm staying in Dresden. Three hotels is enough on this trip! :)

Pal - yeah, I couldn't find Meissen on the UNESCO list. They probably meant that Meissen is on one of the routes designated by the Germany TI.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/687

adrienne - maybe you have this mentioned on your list - it is on my to do list - the world's largest most powerful engine.

If I were in the area I would visit but haven't done so. It certainly wasn't chosen for its beauty!

No bot a beaut - the picture shown is so SO grim - emblematic I guess of Germany's Black Country.