Dresden Zwinger

It is often mistakenly labelled as “palace”, maybe out of sheer helplessness: In fact, until today it is not quite clear what kind of building the Dresden Zwinger actually is. Its intended purpose that Augustus the Strong, also king of Poland, had in mind simply changed too often. To the military’s dismay he had the Dresden fortifications mostly razed. A festival ground was laid out on the part near the royal palace that soon became the backdrop for extravagant celebrations. In 1709, the development of an orangery began which was actually never used as such. Instead, a structural ensemble was formed that was supposed to be the atrium of a new royal palace, which was eventually never built so that the Zwinger remained incomplete. What emerged became a masterly synthesis of the baroque arts. The harmony of architecture and sculpting mesmerises visitors until this very day. Those who walk through the Zwinger too quickly might just miss the perfect materialisation of baroque joie de vivre, the Nymph Baths with their cheerful fountains. Soon the Zwinger became a museum venue and houses famous museums of the Dresden State Art Collections until today. Not only does it embody outward beauty but inward beauty just the same.