Situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the border with the Czech Republic, Dresden is the capital city and, after Leipzig, the second-largest city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. Although it is a relatively recent city of Germanic origin followed by settlement of Slavic people, it has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. The city was known as the Jewel Box, because of its baroque and rococo city centre.
The controversial American and British bombing of Dresden in World War II towards the end of the war killed approximately 25,000, many of whom were civilians, and destroyed the entire city centre. After the war restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, including the Katholische Hofkirche, the Zwinger and the famous Semper Oper. Since German reunification in 1990 Dresden is again a cultural, educational and political centre of Germany and Europe.
Although Dresden is often said to be a Baroque city, its architecture is influenced by more than one style. Other eras of importance are the Renaissance and Historism, as well as the contemporary styles of Modernism and Postmodernism. It has some 13 000 listed cultural monuments and eight districts under general preservation orders. Dresden Elbe Valley was inscribed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2004, but in 2009 was removed it due to the building of a four-lane bridge in the heart of the cultural landscape.
Other postcards from my collection, depicting buildings in Dresden:
• Dresden Frauenkirche
About the stamps
The stamp is part of the series Blumen, about which I wrote here.
References
Dresden - Wikipedia
Sender: Jorn Hegner (direct swap)
Sent from Dresden (Saxony / Germany), on 05.06.2017
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