Zwinger, Baroque palace in Dresden, Germany
The Zwinger complex features ornate pavilions, courtyards, fountains, and galleries arranged in a rectangular layout with symmetrical architecture and stone sculptures throughout the grounds.
Built between 1710 and 1728 under Augustus the Strong, the palace initially served as an orangery and festival venue before architect Gottfried Semper added the gallery wing in 1855.
The palace houses three major collections of Dresden State Art Museums: the Old Masters Picture Gallery, Mathematics-Physics Salon, and the Porcelain Collection.
Located at Theaterplatz 1, the Zwinger opens Monday through Friday from 6:00 to 22:00 and weekends from 8:00 to 22:00, with direct access from Postplatz station.
The complex takes its name from the medieval German term for a fortress area between defensive walls, though it never served military purposes.
Location: Dresden
Inception: 1711
Architects: Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann
Architectural style: baroque architecture
Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access
Address: Sophienstraße, 01067 Dresden
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 06:00-22:00; Saturday-Sunday 08:00-22:00
Phone: +4935149142000
Email: besucherservice@skd.museum
Website: https://skd.museum/en/besuch/zwinger-mit-semperbau
GPS coordinates: 51.05306,13.73389
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:04
Saxony holds numerous destinations beyond the usual tourist routes. The region contains medieval castles, expansive natural landscapes and technical monuments from different centuries. The Saxon Switzerland area with its Bastei Bridge and sandstone formations attracts hikers, while the Albrechtsburg in Meißen and Königstein Fortress display historic architecture. Castles such as Kriebstein, Moritzburg and Weesenstein document various periods of German building tradition. The Ore Mountains house technical museums including the Frohnauer Hammer and Seiffen Toy Museum, which provide insight into traditional craftsmanship. The Glashütte Watch Museum presents the development of German watchmaking. The Göltzschtal Bridge in Vogtland demonstrates 19th century engineering. Natural areas like the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape and smaller destinations such as Tiefenbach Waterfall round out the offerings. Dresden provides not only the Zwinger but also Pillnitz Palace and the Blue Wonder Bridge.
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
70 m
Taschenbergpalais Dresden
144 m
Wallgrabenbrücke
135 m
Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon
78 m
Dresden Porcelain Collection
109 m
Semper Gallery
86 m
Cholerabrunnen
141 m
Kronentor (Zwinger, Dresden)
74 m
Schinkelwache
127 m
Wallpavillon
101 m
Nymphenbad
88 m
Haus der Dresdner Kaufmannschaft
156 m
Eckbrunnen im Hof des Taschenbergpalais
136 m
Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Denkmal
108 m
Glockenspielpavillon
106 m
Zwingergraben
106 m
Französischer Pavillon (Zwinger, Dresden)
66 m
Mönchsbastion
84 m
Stolperstein dedicated to Ernst Fritz Gottschling
116 m
Sophokles statue
149 m
Deutscher Pavillon
68 m
Stolperstein dedicated to Hermann Max Dietze
116 m
Shakespeare statue
149 m
Porzellanpavillon
82 m
Schalenbecken auf dem westlichen Zwingerwall
128 m
Bastion Baumschule
139 m
Gedenktafel Wiederaufbau Schauspielhaus Dresden
155 m
Gedenktafel Rudolf Sigismund Blochmann
146 mReviews
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