Dresden: Tourists experience places of diverse culture

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Dresden is a city where people from various cultures and religions have been coming together for centuries. Cultural and religious diversity shape not only the collections of the famous Dresden museums, they also enliven the city, for example, in the places of worship of the various religions and denominations or during the “Jüdischen Musik-und Theaterwoche” (Jewish Music and Theatre Week).

The Dresden State Art Collections offer a wide-ranging view of the art and culture of various countries and eras. The Turkish Chamber in the Dresden Royal Palace shows what the rulers of Saxony, who were fascinated by the Orient, collected in the way of art and handicrafts from the Ottoman Empire between the 16th and 19th centuries. A real eye-catcher in the “Turkish Chamber” is a magnificent Ottoman three-poled tent – an oriental dream made of gold and silk.

How diverse the religious orientations of the people of Dresden are can be seen in the city’s architecture. The construction of the Catholic Hofkirche Dresden (Cathedral) in Protestant Saxony was a big political issue back in the 18th century. Today, the cathedral of the Saxon Catholics is not just a place for mass, it is also a cultural meeting point. There are regular concerts, and the Silbermann organ is played every Wednesday and Saturday at 11:30 AM. There are also daily guided tours. The Russian Orthodox Church in the Dresden Südvorstadt is immediately visible because of its striking onion domes. The church is dedicated to Saint Simon of the Wonderful Mountain, and it is open to visitors every day from 10 AM until 5 PM.

The New Synagogue Dresden is a striking piece of modern architecture. Finished in 2001, it is situated close to the Elbe River and not far from Brühl’s Terrace, right on the spot where the old synagogue, which was destroyed in the Pogrom Night in 1938, was located. The Dresden association, Hatikva, offers guided tours. Throughout the city visitors will find 200 “Stolpersteine” (literally: stumbling blocks, which are in actual fact, small stones set in the pavement with names, dates, and the fate of the person engraved upon them). Located in front of the house where the person named on the stone use to live, they serve to remember Jewish Dresdeners who were driven from the city and killed in the Nazi era. On September 9, the Association Stolpersteine Dresden e.V. organized a cycling trip to the former homes of the city’s Jewish citizens who were persecuted during the Nazi era.

Dresden’s Jewish culture is alive and well, as can be seen at the Jewish Music and Theatre Festival. From October 15-29 there are concerts, readings, and exhibitions. On October 21, Vladimir Kaminer is going to rock the Dresden “Scheune,” first with a reading from his book “Goodbye Moskau,” and then as a DJ at the follow-up “Russendisko” (“Russian Discotheque”), which was the title of one of his earliest books. What cultural encounters are able to be brought forth, will be shown by Marina Baranova and Murat Coskun at a concert on October 25. The duo, known as the “Firebirds,” will perform in the hall of Dresden’s Jewish community.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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