Treasures of Dresden & Meissen

The term ‘Treasures’ is now used in many contexts beyond its original meaning (not least in commercial travel literature!) but this proposal returns to its original meaning. The rulers of what is now Saxony derived great wealth from their own silver mines and were less inclined than more bellicose rulers to invest it on conquests, preferring to spend it on creating and acquiring great treasures for their capitals of Dresden and Meissen (some even worked with their craftsmen). The collections of bejewelled artefacts in the Kunstkammer or Green Vault were famed from the 16th century and in the 18th century Augustus the Strong enhanced the collections to include great works of art and porcelain. The greatest treasure is perhaps ‘The Court of the Grand Moghul’ decorated with gold, silver and over 5000 precious stones, which took 8 years to create (and 5 years for Augustus to pay for it).

Augustus employed the alchemist Bottger who failed to turn base metal into gold but instead created the fi rst European fi ne porcelain at Meissen, which is still connected to Dresden by Europe’s oldest steamer service on the river Elbe. Following the wartime destruction and the end of communist rule, Dresden’s fi ne buildings such as the Semperoper, the Frauenkirche church and Augustus’ Zwinger Palace are now fi nally restored to complement the treasures that were preserved in the Green Vault and other safe places. The introduction of a direct fl ight from London and the presence of fi ne hotels in the historic centre make this an excellent moment to visit Dresden.