When I first arrived in Dresden, I wasn't met with a view of an old, European city like I was expecting. The stretch from the Hauptbahnhof (main train station) to the next major road was all modern buildings. The historic center of the city appears to be resting on the banks of the Elbe River, completely surrounded by new, modern buildings and blocky apartment complexes. How did this city change from being known as the Florence of the Elbe for its beautiful architecture and art, to only having a small center that reflects this legacy? The key to this is Dresden's ever-changing environment naturally, politically and socially.
The earliest record of Dresden as a city dates back to the early 13th century. Over the years, Dresden grew into a major, capital city for many different kingdoms. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Dresden got its new Baroque style of buildings as well as a castle fit for the Kings of Saxony. It was these changes that earned Dresden the name of "the Florence of the Elbe" and its place as one of the world's most beautiful cities.
While Dresden has a rich history, it also has a complex history, specifically in the 20th and 21st centuries. During World War II, Dresden was the site of some of the first book burnings in Germany and was a strategic military base.
