Page 121 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Germany

DRIVE 11: On the Trail of the Sun King 119

AUGUSTUSBRÜCKE 0 metres 200
Semperoper Elbe 0 yards 200
THEATER-
PLATZ
T E R R A S S E N U F E R
SCHLOSS- T E R R A S S E N U F E R
PLATZ
Hofkirche
Zwinger Brühlscher Terrasse Staatlische
Kunstsammlungen
THEATERPLATZ Fürstenzug AUGUSTUSSTRASSE SALZGASSE Festung Albertinum
Dresden
Johanneum
Residenzschloss Frauenkirche Above Baroque Zwinger, the showpiece
NEUMARKT SALZGASSE of Dresden Below Field of flowering crops
OSTRA-ALLEE
SCHLOSSSTR LANDHAUSSTRASSE SCHIESSGASSE along the road to Dresden
ST PETERSBURGER STRASSE MEISSEN
POST- GALERIESTRASSE
PLATZ EAT AND DRINK
WILSDRUFFER STR
Kulturpalast
ALTMARKT Zum Löwen moderate
WALLSTRASSE
Pasta, meat, fish and some vegetarian
MARIENSTRASSE
SEESTRASSE
dishes feature on the menu at this
hotel restaurant. For a large appetite,
try the Argentinian steak. The wine bar
“balcony of Europe” in Dresden’s Rüstkammer and Porzellansammlung. next door is good for an apéritif.
heyday. Ascend a staircase, to the left, Exit via the Glockenspielpavillon, Heinrichsplatz 6, 01662; 03521 411 10
to access the Brühlscher Terrasse atop named for its carillon of porcelain bells, Vincenz Richter expensive
the town’s fortifications and pass the former palace guard- This restaurant, housed in a snug
Continue down the terrace, house, now a ticket booking cen tre, 16th-century tavern, has been run by
towards the tiered spire of the to reach the Residenzschloss 8 over four generations of the Richter
Hofkirche and the Schlossplatz, (open Wed–Mon), the colossal family, who also sell their own wines.
beside the State Parliament. electors’ palace. Augustus’s trea s- An der Frauenkirche 12, 01662; 03521
45 32 85; closed Sun dinner & Mon
First, though, turn left on ury (Grünes Gewölbe) within
to Augustusstrasse for the has many bejew elled gold DRESDEN
Fürstenzug 3, a 102-m and porce lain trinkets. Ascend the Sophienkeller moderate
(335-ft) long frieze, made of tower (late Mar–Oct: open Wed–Mon) Waitresses in period costume serve
24,000 Meissen china tiles, for a view over the skyline. Exit left hearty fare such as roast suckling pig
in this restaurant in the stone cellars
which depicts eight centuries from the palace to see the antith- opposite the Zwinger.
of Saxon rulers in a medieval esis of such decadence, the Taschenburg 3, 01067; 0351 49 72 60;
pag eant. Behind this is Sculpture on a dome Kulturpalast, now the tourist www.sophienkeller-dresden.de
the Renaissance courtyard in Dresden office, an example of stark Alte Meister expensive
of the royal stables, the Com munist archi tec ture. Walk Modern international dishes such as
Johanneum 4, which houses a alongside it to return to Neumarkt grilled fish with potato and saffron
transport museum (closed Mon). to relax in its cafés, and then take risotto are served in this stylish café-
Return to the Schlossplatz. The Landhausstrasse back to the car park. restaurant at the back of the Zwinger.
Theaterplatz 1a, 01067; 0351 481 04 26
Italian-designed Catholic Hofkirche 5 ª Follow signs for Pillnitz along
was Augustus’s bid to appease the the south bank of the river, across a Villandry expensive
A relaxed locals’ restaurant and bar
Pope, who had begun to suspect bridge and then along the north bank specializing in Mediterranean cuisine.
that the elector’s conversion to for about 6 km (4 miles). Parking is Jordanstrasse 8, 01099; 0351 899
Catholicism was just a ruse to claim available at the Schloss on the left. 67 24; www.villandry.de; closed Sun
the Polish crown. Take a look at its
all-German interior, fur nished with
a Rococo pulpit by court sculptor
Balthasar Permoser. Then walk round
to Theaterplatz and the prestigious
Semperoper 6, which replicates
the opera house where composer
Richard Wagner pre miered works
such as Tannhäuser. The show piece
of Dresden is the Baroque palace,
Zwinger 7, next door. Ascend via
its outstanding Wallpavillon gate way
to walk the balus trade. It has three
museums (closed Mon): the
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister,
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40
118-119_175705_BR_GER.indd 119 18/07/16 12:30 pm