Things to do in Dresden

Dresden is the capital of Germany's Saxony region and it sits on the Elbe River close to the Czech Republic border. The city's history dates back to Slavic settlements in the 12th century and during the 18th century, many of its most famous elegant buildings such as the Zwinger and the Frauenkirche were built under the reign of Augustus the Strong and his son, Augustus III. Today Dresden is perhaps best known for the controversial Allied bombings during World War II that almost completely wiped the city off the map, the backdrop of Kurt Vonnegut's iconic satirical novel, Slaughterhouse-Five. The city is home to spectacular Baroque architecture, the Saxony State Opera and several historical museums.