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Zwinger
The Zwinger is a Baroque complex of pavilions and galleries around a large courtyard, designed by the architect Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann with sculptures by Balthasar Permoser. It was built in phases between 1710 and 1728 as a festival venue for the Saxon court; it was inaugurated in 1719, although the interiors were not finished until 1728. The side open towards Theaterplatz was later closed by Gottfried Semper with the gallery wing, built between 1847 and 1855. Among its most recognisable features are the Crown Gate (Kronentor), completed in 1714 and decorated with four Polish eagles, and the Rampart Pavilion (Wallpavillon), with the coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The bombing of February 1945 destroyed almost everything; reconstruction began that same year and by 1963 was largely complete. Today it houses the Old Masters Picture Gallery, the Porcelain Collection and the Mathematics and Physics Salon.
Add it to your trip on Wanloria →Things to do at Zwinger: 4 missions
- Spot the Polish eagles on the Crown GateEnter the courtyard and look at the Kronentor, completed in 1714. Count the Polish eagles around the crown of its dome.
- Find Raphael's Sistine MadonnaIn the Old Masters Picture Gallery, look for Raphael's Sistine Madonna and spot the two little angels leaning on the lower edge of the painting.
- Tell Semper's wing from the Baroque ZwingerStand in the courtyard and compare the style of the wing closing off the Theaterplatz side (Semper, 1847-1855) with Pöppelmann's pavilions of 1710-1728.
- Find the coat of arms on the Rampart PavilionCross the courtyard to the Wallpavillon and find the coat of arms of Poland-Lithuania on its façade.
Near Zwinger
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Zwinger?
Visiting Zwinger is free.
What are the opening hours of Zwinger?
Pinacoteca de los Maestros Antiguos: martes a domingo 10-17 h, lunes cerrado. Salón de Matemáticas y Física: martes a domingo 11-17 h. Colección de Porcelana: cerrada por obras hasta el 30 de octubre de 2026.
How much time do you need for Zwinger?
Allow about 2 h for the visit.
What is there to do at Zwinger?
Spot the Polish eagles on the Crown Gate, Find Raphael's Sistine Madonna, Tell Semper's wing from the Baroque Zwinger and Find the coat of arms on the Rampart Pavilion.
What is there to see near Zwinger?
Dresden Royal Palace (Residenzschloss) (125 m), Semper Opera House (Semperoper) (169 m) and Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (Hofkirche) (174 m).
Source: Web oficial - Colecciones Estatales de Arte de Dresde (SKD)