FRAUENKIRCHE - OUR LADY CHURCH

A discovery of the Frauenkirche is a must when staying in Dresden. This Protestant church dominates the rooftops of the old town from its 91 metres high. At the height of the Augustinian style, it was initially built between 1726 and 1743 by Georges Bähr, a Dresden architect, then by his student and successor J. G. Schmid. It is the most important Baroque Protestant church in Germany. In February 1945, without being directly affected by the air strikes, it collapsed under the effect of the heat caused by the bombardments of the American and British forces. The Frauenkirche remained in ruins under the communist regime of the GDR, which gave no priority to the reconstruction of a place of worship. After reunification in 1994, reconstruction work could finally begin. The Frauenkirche has since become a symbol of the city's rebirth. Its new appearance was inaugurated in October 2005. Donors from all over the world have worked to restore it, with an estimated cost of 125 million euros. In this sublime church with its restored baroque interior, it is now possible to attend many classical music concerts. Admission is free. It is done through one of the seven access doors.