I was there for the first time ever last summer. I had wanted to go for the past 40+ years. The beauty of a summer afternoon, with music playing by the river Elbe, the sun shining, pedestrians (both tourists and locals) enjoying the Alstadt Centre all within the shadows of the Frauenkirche was overwhelming. The past 70 years melted away instead I thought of the previous 300 years to that, as Dresden was the center of art and technology in Europe. The uplifting baroque architecture, the beauty and grace of such a wonderful place stunned me. It truly was worth the wait for me. I hope to go back soon!
25 000 dead in Dresden? Put one zero more and multiplicate x 2 and you have the exact casualties number. Dont forget what Churchill say'' give me the possibility to cocking 600 000 German refugies''.
I love the highlighting of workers here: the care to get the brickwork and masonry right, the golden dome being remade, being able to make and engage with the history supposedly reserved for great men (read: not labourers) is essential to a people’s perception of themselves. Increasingly, history is walled off for the powerful…
This reminds me of the St.-Nikolai-Kirche I visited in Hamburg around 2002, left as it is, as a reminder of the American bombings. No graffitis, no fence, no disrespect. I fancy the first vandal to lift a brush towards the church would end up thrown into the river Elbe.
I've been fortunate to visit Dresden twice in the past 10 years. It's wonderful, but I didn't know the history of the church. The opera house is spectacular, by the way!
Why? It marks the loss of a historical building, of memory and identity. It does not pretend originality where it is lost. The new stones will -- very soon -- oxidize and be as black as the old ones. You'll have to wait for a few years, so stay put wherever you are
People can destroy the physical, but the spirit cannot be destroyed so easily.
A well written and informative piece about the power of architecture in its ability to punish but also in its ability to unite.
I was there for the first time ever last summer. I had wanted to go for the past 40+ years. The beauty of a summer afternoon, with music playing by the river Elbe, the sun shining, pedestrians (both tourists and locals) enjoying the Alstadt Centre all within the shadows of the Frauenkirche was overwhelming. The past 70 years melted away instead I thought of the previous 300 years to that, as Dresden was the center of art and technology in Europe. The uplifting baroque architecture, the beauty and grace of such a wonderful place stunned me. It truly was worth the wait for me. I hope to go back soon!
My family and I lived in Dresden for 4 years a decade ago. Our apartment balcony was overlooked by the Frauenkirche - it's a view I'll never forget.
Fascinating.
25 000 dead in Dresden? Put one zero more and multiplicate x 2 and you have the exact casualties number. Dont forget what Churchill say'' give me the possibility to cocking 600 000 German refugies''.
I love the highlighting of workers here: the care to get the brickwork and masonry right, the golden dome being remade, being able to make and engage with the history supposedly reserved for great men (read: not labourers) is essential to a people’s perception of themselves. Increasingly, history is walled off for the powerful…
Amazing! Thank you for this
The original black and white film of the Lord of the Flies is one of the best film adaptations I’ve ever seen.
This reminds me of the St.-Nikolai-Kirche I visited in Hamburg around 2002, left as it is, as a reminder of the American bombings. No graffitis, no fence, no disrespect. I fancy the first vandal to lift a brush towards the church would end up thrown into the river Elbe.
I visited Frauenkirche this past winter and it was a truly spiritual experience that I’ll never forget. Loved reliving it through this article!
I've been fortunate to visit Dresden twice in the past 10 years. It's wonderful, but I didn't know the history of the church. The opera house is spectacular, by the way!
Excellent… thank you!
Thanks always for your writing. This piece is dramatically relevant in light of what is currently happening in Gaza.
Mixing the pristine new stone with the grubby old stone was a terrible decision. What a hideous patchwork.
Why? It marks the loss of a historical building, of memory and identity. It does not pretend originality where it is lost. The new stones will -- very soon -- oxidize and be as black as the old ones. You'll have to wait for a few years, so stay put wherever you are
At the very least, they could have steam cleaned them. Lazy buggers.
It's subjective, I understand, but it looks fantastic in my opinion, in addition to maintaining its link to the past.
Oh don't give me that Ship of Theseus crap. It can maintain a link to the past without being filthy.