Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Court Church), Dresden (must see)

The Catholic Court Church is Dresden’s most important Catholic church and one of the city’s finest Baroque landmarks. Designed by the Italian architect Gaetano Chiaveri, it was commissioned by Elector Frederick Augustus II and completed in 1751. It was built at roughly the same time as the Lutheran Church of Our Lady, reflecting a striking contrast in Dresden: the city’s population was largely Protestant, while its ruling family was Catholic.

Originally known as the Court Church of the Most Holy Trinity, the church was built for the royal family’s use and connected to Dresden Castle by a decorative elevated walkway. It became a cathedral in 1964. Its richly decorated exterior is crowned by 78 statues of saints, apostles and Christian virtues, while the interior is more restrained and spacious. Because outdoor Catholic processions were forbidden in Protestant Dresden, a special procession ambulatory was incorporated into the church, allowing religious ceremonies to take place indoors.

Several details are particularly interesting for visitors. Look for the baptismal font, whose gilded metal lid was designed in 1721, and the magnificent organ associated with the renowned Saxon organ builder Gottfried Silbermann. Music lovers may also be interested in the church’s long tradition of performances.

The cathedral was badly damaged during the 1945 bombing of Dresden and was subsequently restored, with major restoration completed in 1962. Beneath the church, the Wettin family crypt contains the remains of numerous Saxon rulers, including Augustus III, Augustus the Strong and Friedrich August III, the last King of Saxony. Augustus the Strong’s body is buried in Kraków, but his heart rests here in Dresden.