Frauenkirche

Overview

The Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) is a Lutheran church whose massive stone dome — called the Stone Bell — dominates Dresden's skyline. Destroyed in the 1945 firebombing, its ruins stood as a war memorial for 50 years before a meticulous reconstruction completed in 2005.

Highlights

• Stone Dome: At 67 meters high, it is one of the largest church domes in Europe, weighing 12,000 tonnes.
• Interior: A luminous Baroque nave with pastel colors, gilded balconies, and a restored altar by Johann Christian Feige.
• Darkened Stones: Original fire-blackened stones are visibly integrated into the lighter new sandstone facade.

History

Built between 1726 and 1743 by George Bähr, the church collapsed on 15 February 1945, two days after the Allied bombing. Reconstruction began in 1994 using original plans and 3,800 recovered original stones. The gold cross atop the dome was donated by the British as a symbol of reconciliation.

Visitor Tips

• Free admission to the nave; dome climb costs €8.
• Saturday vespers at 17:00 feature the Silbermann organ.
• Duration: 30–60 minutes (add 30 min for dome climb).