Neustadter Markt (New Town Market), Dresden

Neustadter Markt (New Town Market), Dresden

The Neustädter Markt is a square in the Inner Neustadt (Inner New CIty) district of Dresden. It was probably laid out before 1200 as the village square of a Slavic settlement in what later became Altendresden. The most important landmark of the Neustädter Markt is the equestrian statue of August the Strong, the "Golden Rider".

Since 1920s, the name "Neustädter Markt" has been used to explicitly distinguish it from its two old town counterparts , Altmarkt and Neumarkt.

The bombing of Dresden in the Second World War resulted in the complete destruction of the Neustädter Markt and the adjacent buildings. The square was redeveloped as part of the Inner Neustadt development plan in the 1970s. Since then, together with the main street, it has been designated as a pedestrian zone.

The largest and probably best-known work of art on the Neustädter Markt is an equestrian statue of August the Strong - the Golden Rider by Ludwig Wiedemann. The Golden Cavalier Statue is not only a city landmark in Dresden but a reminder of its glorious part during the reign of Elector August the Strong who was also King of Poland.

The Golden Cavalier Statue shows the Elector August the Strong dressed as a Roman emperor astride his horse. The statue was commissioned by August III, the son of August the Strong and casted in 1734. The pedestal on which the sculpture stands was erected in 1884.

August the Strong was the best known and loved elector of Saxony. He collected works of art, sculpture, coins and chinaware and established many museums to house his collection. Dresden became a center of culture during his reign and earned the name, the Florence at the Elbe. In 1944, the statue was removed and kept safe in an underground cave in Pillnitz. This timely act preserved the sculpture from destruction during the 1945 bombardment of Dresden.

There are two sandstone nymph fountains on the Neustädter Markt. They were created by Johann Benjamin Thomae between 1738 and 1742 . Each depicts a nymph surrounded by mythical creatures. Fish mouths serve as water dispensers. Small water spouts are attached to the front pedestals.

There are also two similarly designed concrete fountains by Friedrich Kracht on the east and west sides of the square. The pools have a diameter of 15 meters and three-part fountain lamellae.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

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Neustadter Markt (New Town Market) on Map

Sight Name: Neustadter Markt (New Town Market)
Sight Location: Dresden, Germany (See walking tours in Dresden)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Dresden, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Dresden

Create Your Own Walk in Dresden

Creating your own self-guided walk in Dresden is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Dresden New Town Walk

Dresden New Town Walk

The Neustadt (New Town) of Dresden is a central district located on the north bank of the Elbe. Despite the name, this part of the city is not at all new and has been inhabited for as long as the Old Town on the opposite side of the river. Its “novelty” derives from "Neue Königliche Stadt" (New Royal Town), which is the title given to the area, formerly the district of Altendresden,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Dresden Introduction Walking Tour

Dresden Introduction Walking Tour

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Its modern form--and its name--comes from early Germanic people, who expanded East to mine the Ore...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Dresden's Architectural Jewels

Dresden's Architectural Jewels

If there is one thing Dresden is particularly famous for, it is the magnificent architecture. Although known primarily for its Baroque buildings, the city has several other architectural styles present too, such as Renaissance, Historicism, Modernism and Post-modernism.

Much of downtown Dresden was destroyed in February 1945 by Allied bombing, which in turn prompted the rebuilding of the...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles