Dresden overview

Situated on a valley next to the zigzagging Elbe River, the ex-UNESCO World Heritage city of Dresden is where Baroque-styled buildings are so widespread that they are often overlooked. But the fact that these historical monuments can still be found in Dresden, even after the WWII bombing, is a bit of a wonder. During the waning days of the war, an Allied campaign in 1945 bombed Dresden and reduced the once beautiful baroque city into a pile of rubbles. Unbelievably, the wrecked city had rebuilt itself after the devastation on a grand scale. Nearby to Dresden's old Altstadt district, the contrasting modern Neustadt area is home to an enormous concentration of new buildings, and entertainment and night spots. However, with development also comes the destruction of historical monuments. Last 2009, Dresden had its World Heritage status officially slashed for constructing a highway bridge across the heritage site.