A Slavic settlement known as Drezdany set on the northern bank of the river was merged with a German town on the southern bank in 1206, now the core of present-day Altstadt, with the Slavic part coming to be known as Neustadt. The founder of Dresden was Dietrich, Margrave of Meissen. As a result, from 1270 the city operated as the capital of the margravate, and was later home to the King of Bohemia and then the Margraves of Brandenburg. Restored to the Wettin dynasty in 1319, the city was the seat of the Dukes of Saxony in the 15th Century. Under the rule of King Augustus the Strong of Poland, porcelain became popular in Dresden and Meissen, and the ruler summoned many architects and painters from all around Europe. In the period from 1806-1918, Dresden operated as the capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, and Napoleon made it his base during the Napoleonic Wars. 

In the 19th Century, Dresden was an industrial hub, specialising in automobile production, food processing and medical equipment, meanwhile becoming an international centre for the sale of art and antiques. Early 20th-Century Dresden was well-known for its camera and cigarette factories, particularly the Yenidze, a structure with a multicoloured glass roof designed to resemble a mosque. The Bombing of Dresden in World War II and the subsequent 40 years of membership in the GDR dramatically changed the city's landscape. Since the re-unification of Germany, Dresden has been reviving as a cultural, political and economic venue.

Having renovated the majority of its lost treasures and attracting tourists all year round with its impressive architecture, best known is perhaps the Frauenkirche at Neumarkt, built from 1726-1743 and once known Europewide for its 93-metre-tall dome, which had long remained Dresden’s most evocative ruins. The DDR government deliberately let its blackened hulk remain as a reminder of the horrors of war. The church was rebuilt and re-consecrated for its 800th anniversary in 2006.

Another landmark, Risendenzschloss, or the Dresden Royal Palace, dates back to 1709. Sadly, the site was destroyed by British bombers in 1945. The restored Katholische Hofkirche, the largest church in Saxony, impresses with its façade decorated with 38 Biblical and historical figures in high Baroque style. Kreuzkirche, home of the Kreuzchor, the well-known boys' choir of Dresden, is a combination of Baroque and Art Nouveau.

Apart from sightseeing, you can always enjoy a day in the Grosser Garten Park, which is the greenest and the most vast area of the city. Commissioned in 1676, it now serves as a resort and an arena for cultural and entertainment events. The Botanical and Zoological Gardens attract families, and the tour around the park on a miniature railroad is a great option for all those who wish to see as much as possible within a short time. One more attraction worth mentioning is Sea Life, a massive new aquarium which provides an informative introduction to the North and Baltic Sea habitats.