Dresden's Architectural Jewels (Self Guided), Dresden

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 city's classic skyline – especially after the fall of communism, from 1989. Several elements of the Baroque architecture that formed Dresden’s reputation as a first-class architectural destination have been modified, rendering these beauties a true magnet for tourists.

Presently there are almost 13,000 listed cultural monuments in Dresden. Here are some of the most notable of them, from an architectural standpoint:

Katholische Hofkirche – an imposing Catholic church, in service since 1751; apart from being the final resting place for various kings and members of the former Wettin royal family, this cathedral is renowned for its organ, historic High Altar and 18th-century sculptures and allegories;

Stallhof – once a showplace for jousting tournaments, dating back to the 16th century, today it plays host to more sedate events, such as Middle Age Christmas market; the beautifully Italianate features of the Stall Courtyard include Classical pillars and a huge 101-meter external mural sweeping Schlossplatz Square, known as the Procession of Princes;

Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) – the most prominent building at the ever-evolving, partially reconstructed Neumarkt. Built in the late 1720s, this church, half-destroyed during World War II, is a symbol of Dresden’s terrible war-time devastation – a memorial for peace, comprising 43 per cent of the original structure, retrieved from the rubble.

To explore in more detail some of the most impressive architectural jewels of Dresden, take this self-guided walking tour.