Germany > The old center of Dresden

The breakfast buffet starts at eight o’clock, we were told. When we step onto the terrace, almost all the tables are already occupied by breakfasting guests. Apparently, everyone wants to make good use of the day. So do we! Today we are driving to Dresden in Germany. Along the way, about sixty kilometers east of Prague, we visit the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora, also known as the Bone Church. The road to Kutná Hora winds through local roads. We drive through the rolling landscape, passing several small villages. Kutná Hora is clearly a more tourist-oriented destination. Dozens of buses are parked in the lot. Its proximity to Prague makes it an ideal excursion from the Czech capital. An ossuary is a place where human bones are stored. At the small chapel, a line of people waits to go inside. We join the queue. Inside, an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 human skulls and bones are stored. The skulls are not only stacked high, but decorations have also been made from the bones. Garlands of skulls hang from the ceiling, candlesticks are made of bones, and in the center hangs a large chandelier of human bones. It feels so bizarre that you no longer feel like you are looking at human skulls. It resembles more an attraction at Disneyland. Yet all the skulls are real. The nearby Gothic Church of Sedlec is simply decorated. The English brochure indicates that the church was built in the 13th century. Via a spiral staircase, we reach the choir of the church.

Germany - The bizarre bone church of Kutna Hora

A wooden walkway runs under the roof, offering a good view of the church interior. The Chapel of the Madonna, at the side of the church, stands out with its Baroque style within the otherwise Gothic church. On the other side of the town lies the St. Barbara Cathedral. The Gothic arches on the exterior of the cathedral are particularly beautiful. Just as we reach the church, light rain begins to fall. The clouds over the cathedral give the scene a slightly somber feel—a good reason to get back in the car and continue to Dresden just over the border. At half past one, we enter the city. Our last hotel of this trip is on the edge of the old town. We booked the hotel with a parking space. Approaching the hotel, we see that we must pass under a gate. Fortunately, the clearance is 2.60 meters, and we only need 2.50 meters. We park in the rear courtyard and check in. We are given a code to open the room door, which we can use until noon tomorrow. This way, we do not need to check out at the reception in the morning. With the map in hand, we walk into the city. The first thing we spot on the map is the Baroque Zwinger Palace. The Zwinger was built in the 15th century in the space between the city walls. From the large courtyard with fountains, we can fully appreciate its size.

Germany - The restored Frauenkirche in Dresden

Each side is impressive, and every detail is beautiful. The adjacent Semperoper, the opera house, is equally magnificent. On the other side of Theaterplatz lie the Hofkirche and the Residenzschloss side by side. The old town seems like a chain of stunning historic buildings. The streets give no hint that Dresden was heavily bombed during the war years. The entire old center has been fully renovated in the original style. The Katholische Hofkirche was built in 1739 under Elector Augustus III of Poland. The Baroque church houses 78 statues of saints

Germany - After the war years the center of Dresden was fully restored

. Its tower is 85 meters high. On the wall of the Residenzschloss hangs a 100-meter-long depiction of the Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes). All rulers, princes, dukes, and city leaders from 1127 to 1904 are shown as if walking in a parade. The center of the city is the round Frauenkirche at Neumarkt. This Evangelical-Lutheran church in High Baroque style was built between 1726 and 1743. During the war, the church was practically destroyed by bombings. During the DDR period, the ruins served as a reminder of the war. Restoration only began in 1994. We wander through the streets of the old town. Everywhere is beautiful—the Albertinum, the Rathaus, and the Ministry of Finance across the Elbe. At a terrace at the foot of the Frauenkirche, we order something to eat. With a toast, we close the last evening of our trip.