Introduction to Dresden

198km (123 miles) S of Berlin, 111km (69 miles) SE of Leipzig

Dresden, once known as "Florence on the Elbe," was celebrated throughout Europe for its architecture and art treasures. Then came the night of February 13, 1945, when Allied bombers rained down phosphorus and high-explosive bombs on the city. By morning, the Dresden of legend was but a memory. (When Brits heard the news that British pilots had bombed Dresden, many viewed it as Churchill's revenge for the mass aerial bombardment of the old city of Coventry earlier in the war.) No one knows for sure how many died, but the number is certainly in the tens of thousands, and perhaps more. If you're interested in the subject, you might want to read Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse Five.

Today, Dresden is undergoing a rapid and dramatic restoration, and it is once again a major sightseeing destination. Dresden boasts beautiful churches and palaces, as well as many world-class museums -- among the finest in all of Germany.

In 2006, Dresden celebrated its 800th anniversary.