germany233
DRESDEN
The city of Dresden in eastern Germany was once
the capital of a historic German state called Saxony.
Although there are still some beautiful buildings in
Dresden, including the former royal palace (below),
most of the city’s fine architecture was destroyed by
Allied bombing in World War II (1939-45). Dresden
has now been completely rebuilt, and many of the
buildings have been restored.SEmpER OpERA HOuSE
The architect Gottfried Semper (1803-79)
built his first opera house, the Royal
Theater, on Theaterplatz Square in
Dresden, in the years 1838-1841. Almost 30
years later it burned to the ground and the
opera was forced to move to temporary
premises. public pressure persuaded
Semper to create a second opera house
between 1871 and 1878. The new building
(right) followed the style of the Italian High
Renaissance. Following its destruction
during an air raid in World War II, it was
rebuilt in its original form between 1977
and 1985. Its exquisite acoustics and opulent
interior decoration make it a model for
opera houses throughout the world.DüRER
Born in Nuremberg, Albrecht Dürer
(1471-1528) is famous for his paintings and
engravings. He produced his first self-portrait
at the age of 13, and painted himself at intervals
throughout his life thereafter. He produced this
self-portrait (above) when he was 26. At the
age of 15, Dürer was apprenticed to michael
Wolgemut, Nuremberg’s chief painter and book
illustrator. He was inspired by the painters of
the Italian Renaissance and resolved to depict
people and things in realistic detail. In 1512,
Dürer became court painter to Emperor
maximilian, and gained international fame.BAvARIA
Covering the entire
southeastern part of
the country, Bavaria
is the largest state in
Germany. most of
the region is cloaked
by forests and farms.
In the south, the
Bavarian Alps form
a natural border with
Austria. Bavaria is a
magnet for tourists, who
come to see its fairy-tale
palaces (left) and spectacular
scenery. The region’s traditional
costume is Lederhosen (leather shorts),
suspenders, and a cap for men, and Dirndlkleider
(a full-length dress with puffed sleeves) for women.BROTHERS GRImm
Jakob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859) Grimm were
born in Hanau, near Frankfurt. Devoted to each other, the
brothers went to the same school and university, and lived
together until Wilhelm’s death. The Grimm brothers are
famous for their collections of German folktales, which
include the well-known tales of Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel,
Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty,
and Little Red Riding Hood. The brothers did not create these
stories themselves, but gathered them together from the
accounts of country folk, and old books. most
of the stories date back hundreds of years.The enchanting,
gray granite Schloss
Neuschwanstein is hidden
away in the Bavarian Alps.Dresden was
once admired as the
“Florence on the Elbe.”Snow White and
the Seven DwarfsUS_233_GERMANY_2.indd 233 21/01/16 4:59 pm