Introduction

Saxony's capital Dresden is located in what once was called Valley of the Clueless—as the city is encircled by mountains and hills, the signals of the West German TV stations never seemed to reach people's antennas, forcing them to watch the propaganda programes the Socialist party had hatched up for them. Once an important cultural and commercial metropolis featuring Germany's then most impressive architecture, Dresden was practically wiped out within two nights of air raids in February, 1945. The city has recently undergone much renovation and is now reaching the splendor it once had. Nowadays, it is marked by hard contrasts: most of the famous buildings have been restored or rebuilt from scratch; the Neustadt, formerly a beggars' quarter, is flourishing to a surprising extent; various parks and recreational areas contribute to its beauty. However, the city is not without its bad districts. While these contrasts have clearly been typical of German cities since World War II, one is inclined to claim that majesty and deformity are scarcely as close to each other as in Dresden. It almost seems as if each side was the prerequisite to its counterpart. Hellerau

Located in the city's very north, Hellerau is a quarter you might be predisposed to miss, but it's definitely worth a visit, being the first German 'Garden Town'. Its founding originates in Karl Schmitz's commitment to the city's plans, begun in 1907. Luckily enough, the remote district had not been a target for allied bombers in 1945, and remains a popular destination for all. Loschwitz

Dresden's most impressive bridge, the 'Blue Wonder' (Blaues Wunder), connects Blasewitz and Loschwitz. The latter is an excellent place to live in, provided that you can afford to rent or buy a residence here. Among the sights one should not possibly miss are the castles Schloß Albrechtsberg and Schloß Eckberg (now a luxury hotel). Especially when seen from the other side of river Elbe, Loschwitz's villas and châteaus afford a fantastic view. Fairly close to the north of Loschwitz, the quarter named Weißer Hirsch is situated along the edge of Dresden's very own forest, the Dresdner Heide. Weißer Hirsch

Driving from Bühlau towards Dresden's inner districts, one should look out for the automatic speed cameras. On a lighter note, the tiny yet appealing district Weißer Hirsch (White Stag), namesake of a traditional restaurant, is located here. This area is home to Dresden's upper class; they reside in charming dwellings, play tennis on tepid afternoons, enjoy the silent riverside atmosphere at the Elbhänge (Elbe slopes) or uses the cable railway towards Loschwitz. We, on the contrary, head for the city's inner parts and pass the Radeberger Vorstadt—host to the combined brewery and beer garden and the Waldschlösschen (Forest Castle)—to reach the Outer Neustadt. Äußere Neustadt

By far Dresden's most lively district, the Outer Neustadt (Äußere Neustadt) is the area to the north-east of Albertplatz. Originally an economically and culturally unimportant poor man's quarter, it was neglected by British and American bombers in World War II. The city's catastrophe became the Neustadt's opportunity to gain attention: although the quarter continued to deteriorate after the War, young folks and bohemian artists took over the neighborhood and deeply influenced the character it now has. Some of the pubs and clubs that had emerged during the Communist regime, like for instance the Planwirtschaft, do still exist, even though their appearance and character have altered since then. The German Reunification of 1990 made West German real estate enterprises keen to renovate the old turn-of-the-century houses, and it attracted more students and businessmen willing to rent or buy apartments. Progressively, the Neustadt's temper and charm have changed, its alternative culture partially moved to the quarter's outer parts. The Outer Neustadt is marked by its population's heterogenity: punk teens with giant dogs sleeping rough, hip-hop kids wearing only the latest American brand outfits, white-faced people with black clothing locally referred to as Grufties (Goths), young, well-off entrepreneurs running Internet companies, lots of students from all over the country, and of course—those who have been living here since they were born. It is a peculiar mishmash, but also an intriguing one. The list of places to visit encompasses bars like Dejà Vu or Scheunecafe, innovative upscale boutiques such as Koma or Palazzo, the gorgeous Martin Luther Church and Pfunds Molkerei, billing itself the world's most beautiful milk shop. Innere Neustadt

Heading west from Albertplatz, the splendid Königstraße (King's Street) leads us directly into the Inner Neustadt. This district burnt down in the fire of 1685, and World War II also left its mark. In the last years however, the quarter has been elegantly redeveloped, and currently it might be considered Dresden's most beautiful area. Indeed, the Inner Neustadt bears a resemblance to Munich and its well-looked-after baroque houses, its designer boutiques and extravagant restaurants entice many well-to-do travellers. Altstadt

Crossing Augustusbrücke (Augustus's Bridge) from here, the wonderful sight of Dresden's lovely silhouette—the famous Canaletto View - meets the eye. Particularly at night, when most buildings are beautifully illuminated until 1am, the Brühlsche Terrassen (Brühl's Terraces), the Semper Opera House and their surroundings constitute a majestic view. The bridge leads us into the Altstadt, originally the town's older part. It had been almost entirely annihilated in February 1945, and for years thereafter, only the sad remains of the Frauenkirche (Women's Church) had been left as a depressing legacy of the Second World War. Eventually, however, Dresden's public overcame the tragedy and began to reconstruct, redevelop and renovate the quarter that had once legitimised the city's international glory. Nowadays, the Theaterplatz is again one of Germany's most admirable places, even though it is permanently flooded with tourists from all over the world. Around this square, you'll find more architectural attractions than most other German cities have on the whole: irrespective of the aforementioned sights, there is the great Zwinger, the Castle (Schloß), the Cathedral (Kathedrale), the Fürstenzug and the Taschenberg Palais, to name but a few. The sophisticated reconstruction of the Frauenkirche is being performed using practically all of the original parts that could be preserved. Art lovers and history connoisseurs must not miss a visit the Albertinum and the Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe) that can be reached through Brühl's Terraces. Innenstadt

At the Terraces' other end, one should walk a few steps up Carola Bridge and turn around. Here, Dresden's divergence is most impressive: to the right, there is the city's picturesque silhouette that could not possibly have been painted more romantically; to the left, however, nothing but futuristic high-rises up until the very horizon. Following the St. Petersburger Straße, the road that Carola Bridge runs into, one is led into the city centre. That said, Dresden has no real centre in the sense of a huge shopping district, but at least there is the Prager Straße, a modern pedestrian zone featuring several contreversial architectural feats, such as the three almost identical Ibis Hotell towers, the Hertie building, and the two postmodern wells. The Prager Straße is a passable shopping street with all popular Western department stores like Karstadt or aforementioned Hertie, international chains such as H&M or Foot Locker, fast food restaurants, and a futuristic cinema called UFA Palace, incidentally Dresden's only film theater showing the latest movies (in English too, if only from Sunday to Tuesday). To the street's southern end, you'll find the central station at the Wiener Platz, one of Dresden's many construction sites, showing that the city is still reconstructing and advancing. Südvorstadt A stones' throw south of the main station, the university quarter unfolds. As Dresden University of Technology has no single campus, its facilities and institutes are widely spread over several districts, though the administrative center and the majority of academic buildings are situated around the Nürnberger Platz. Opposite the newly constructed Auditorium Centre (Hörsaalzentrum) where most Business, Economics and Law students attend their classes, you'll find the university cafetería. Meals for students are affordable at DM 2,80 (EUR 1,43) and the taste rather resembles English cooking. There are some student bars in the vicinity, though most students prefer the remote Neustadt for nightlife activities.