A happy surprise for this tourist.

Dresden is as interesting for the visitor as any city in Europe.

Best of all, there are very few tourists here compared with Prague or Budapest.

Like many English speakers my age, I first learned of Dresden from Kurt Vonnegut’s book. The author was in Dresden during the devastating and controversial Allied firebombing of the city that left it in ruins.

Vonnegut survived the attack by hiding in a meat locker of the slaughterhouse, hence the name of his breakthrough novel, Slaughterhouse-Five (1969).

It’s grim. Bombs killed approximately 25,000 people, most of whom were civilians, and destroyed most of the major buildings.

I had low expectations on arrival, mainly wanting to connect to nearby National Park of Saxon Switzerland for cycling and hiking:

• Bastei Bridge (VIDEO)
• Schrammsteine Rocks (VIDEO)

Yet the city centre is known as the Jewel Box for the wondrous architecture.

Much has been rebuilt since WW II.

See my photos of Dresden in Black and White. An experiment for me. I’ve almost never edited in B&W.

Better are these tourist videos.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube. (4min)

Over 60% of the city is green space.

There is a huge green flood plain on the Elbe river.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.