Dresden Castle, Royal palace and museum in Dresden, Germany
Dresden Castle is a four-wing complex of pale stone with steep red tile roofs, built around a courtyard in Dresden's Altstadt. Its Hausmannsturm, a tall central tower with a dark bulbous dome and slender spire, rises above the roofline; a smaller tower with a pale green onion dome stands to the left and another domed tower to the right. Rows of rectangular windows pierce the multi-storey facade, and a long stone balustrade with figures runs along the lower level.
Construction began in the 13th century as a fortress and gradually transformed into a grand residence from the 15th century onward. After severe wartime damage, restoration work continued over many decades into recent times.
The Green Vault, founded by Augustus the Strong in 1723, holds Europe's largest treasure collection; the Historic Green Vault on the ground floor requires advance booking, while the New Green Vault on the second floor does not. The Numismatic Cabinet, dating to the early 16th century, displays about 3,300 coins and medals from a collection of nearly 300,000 pieces. The Turkish Chamber, part of the Armory, focuses on art from the Ottoman Empire.
A visit can take several hours depending on interest, as exhibitions occupy different wings and floors. Comfortable shoes help when walking through the sprawling complex with many stairs and corridors to cross.
One of the courtyards holds a large mural made from Meissen porcelain tiles depicting a procession of princes. It stretches over 100 meters (330 feet) and shows riders in historical costumes.
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