Dresden Cathedral

Dresden, Germany

Dresden Cathedral (Hofkirche) stands as one of Dresden's foremost landmarks. It was designed by architect Gaetano Chiaveri from 1738 to 1751. The church was commissioned by Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland while the Protestant city of Dresden built the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) between 1726 and 1743. The Catholic Elector decided that a Catholic church was needed in order to counterbalance the Protestant Frauenkirche.

In the crypt the heart of King Augustus the Strong is buried along with the last King of Saxony and the remains of 49 other members of the Wettin family, as well as the remains of people who married into the family, such as Princess Maria Carolina of Savoy, wife of Anthony of Saxony.

The church was badly damaged during the bombing of Dresden of the Second World War and was restored during the mid-1980s by the East German government. Today it is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dresden-Meissen.

The cathedral features a carefully restored organ, the last work of the renowned organ builder Gottfried Silbermann. It also contains a Rococo pulpit by Balthasar Permoser.

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Details

Founded: 1738-1751
Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Thirty Years War & Rise of Prussia (Germany)

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Jiboo piu (10 months ago)
Very beautiful. It's a Catholic Church that gives Lutheran vibes. The architecture is baroque and a few monuments look almost "communist" or somehow very spartan. Definitely worth visiting
Alejandro Montiel (11 months ago)
This Catholic Cathedral was completed in 1751. It is the most important Catholic cathedral in the city. It was badly damaged during the Second World War but it was restored in the 1960's. If you walk from the Main Station you will reach it in 15-20 minutes.
Kendall Byrge (11 months ago)
Truly a spectacular building and area. Personally, my favorite view is from the front of the Zwinger and looking over.
José Antonio Oliveira (11 months ago)
Free admission. You will find some painting master pieces in this church. There are also some days with organ concert for a very small fee. It's also a good place to pray a bit for everyone who lost their lives and family members in the bombings of 1945. ?
Someone S (18 months ago)
This baroque church stands grandiously in close proximity to the Augustus Brücke, now completely renovated. This splendid church stands out at Schloßplatz with its numerous statues at the roof and around the building. The inside reveals the portraits of saints, but also statues of a more modern touch. The Church has also been recently renovated. It's undoubtedly worth a visit, both as a tourist, for its interior and exterior beauty and, as a Catholic for the mass and the kindness of the priest Büchner.
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