Whimsical Baroque: Dresden’s Zwinger Palace

The palace is surrounded by geometric Baroque gardens. Named after the fortress that previously stood there, the vast courtyard comprises symmetric parquets, water features, and Baroque buildings, with carved sculptures. Andrew Mayovskyy/Shutterstock

Originally designed as a site for court festivities, the 18th-century Zwinger complex now houses three museums. A hub of history, art, and culture, the elegant complex is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Germany, built during the reign of Augustus II, former king of Poland and elector of Saxony.

The Zwinger, also known as the Zwinger Palace, originated in 1709 after Augustus II visited the Versailles Palace. Inspired by its beauty and grandeur, Augustus commissioned architect Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann and sculptor Balthasar Permoser to bring his vision to life, in his hometown of Dresden. Based on the plans of Augustus himself, Pöppelmann designed six large Baroque pavilions connected by ornate galleries to encircle a large courtyard made up of gardens and an orangery.

Originally, Augustus II envisioned Zwinger Palace as a festival venue for royal festivities and tournaments in Saxony. Unfortunately, Augustus never saw his project come to life, and construction was paused after his death. It was only a century later, in 1855, that the architect Gottfried Semper completed the Zwinger Palace and added the Semper Gallery toward the Elbe river, in the Neoclassical style.

From then on, the Zwinger Palace expanded and became an important museum complex, with the Old Masters Picture Gallery, the Dresden Porcelain Collection, and the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments within its Baroque walls. While the bombing of Dresden during World War II destroyed most of the complex, a renovation team reconstructed the original 18th-century buildings between the 1950s and the 1960s.

The main entrance to the complex is known as the Crown Gate (Kronentor in German). Along this 18th-century Baroque gateway are decorative and whimsical statues on the stone balustrades along the triumphal arch, which is topped with an ornate gilded crown. Andrew Mayovskyy/Shutterstock

The Carillon Pavilion (Glockenspiel Pavillion in German) is located at the southeast end of Zwinger’s courtyard. The 18th-century structure is topped by a sculpture of Hercules holding a globe on his shoulders, a reference to Augustus I. The building holds a collection of porcelain bells, made by the famous Meissen Porcelain Factory. The bells play a melody every 15 minutes; longer melodies play at specific times of the day. Depending on the season, the bells play pieces by Bach, Mozart, and Vivaldi. picture.factory/Shutterstock

The two-story Baroque façade of the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments (Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon in German) dates to 1728, and features elaborate motifs and decorations. Notable are rows of symmetrical windows and roof sculptures. Today, this building hosts a museum of historic clocks and scientific instruments, such as globes and astronomical devices. Stanislav Samoylik/Shutterstock

The Semper Gallery is the only Neoclassical building in the complex. Designed by architect Gottfried Semper and constructed between 1847 and 1854, the two-story façade hosts a series of arched windows framed by columns and porticos. The Semper Gallery is home to the Old Masters Picture Gallery, a vast art collection of over 750 paintings from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Jolanta Wojcicka/Shutterstock

The Nymphenbad, or Nymph’s bath, is located in the northwest corner of the complex. The small enclosed courtyard features a Baroque fountain decorated with natural motifs and classical statues. In Roman times, these types of baths, called a nymphaeum, were monuments consecrated to the nymphs, ancient water deities. The baths were a place to celebrate or to relax, which was the original purpose of the palace.  (Cezary Wojtkowski/Shutterstock)

The carved statues of satyrs around the complex reference Bacchus, the god of wine and festivals. The sculptures can be found along the roofs and balconies of the complex. They are shown as supporting the stone structure and are surrounded by flora and fauna. Round curves and countless embellishments that surround the sculptures were made by Balthasar Permoser and his assistant, Paul Hermann. Mije_shots/Shutterstock

What kinds of arts and culture articles would you like to read? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at [email protected]