On Vacation Guide Book Dresden | Page 27

The Zwinger building was built at the beginning of the 18th century on the square that once served as a fortress between the inner and outer fortifications of the city. The remains of the mighty fortress wall are clearly visible on today's ditch Zwinger. The building, like today, was built over several years and had different stages of construction. Walls and carillon pavilions in the middle of arched galleries, four corner pavilions and a long gallery with a crown gate in the middle frame of a symmetrically rectangular courtyard decorated with lawns and fountains. The north lead is Semperbau. In search of a winter home for his large collection of orange trees and other potted plants in 1709, Augustus Stark instructed his master joiner Pöppelman to arrange a greenhouse in the nursery garden. Later, the plant should also be used for court celebrations. - The 0 3   - festive culture of the Baroque served not only as entertainment and amusement of court society, but above all as a way of representing wealth and sovereign power. In 1712 Langgaleri was built, in 1714 - Cronentor. The nursery was officially opened in 1719 on the occasion of the wedding of Prince Friedrich August with the daughter of the Habsburg emperor Maria Jozeta. However, the final completion of construction to accommodate the majestic collections was only until 1728. Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann acted as the architect and Balthasar Permoser as the sculptor - they are two outstanding virtuosos who made the Dresden Zwinger a unique work of art. The famous copper engraving of the Pöppelmanns to his plans has been preserved to this day. Due to the bombing of Dresden in February 1945, the nursery was almost completely destroyed. Since 1945 there has been a reconstruction. Parts were reopened in 1960. Now you can walk majestically on the roof of the Zwinger and enjoy water games, orange trees in the summer months. The Mediterranean spirit of Augustus the Strong and the surrounding garden with Zwingerteich is an oasis in the center of the city.