It's off to church today

We decided this morning we would visit the Frauenkirche Church at midday to hear the daily organ recital, as well as a short prayer service, which unfortunately was in German, but I think we still managed to get the gist. The pipe organ is truly magnificent but, of course, Alison was still able to find fault in how it was being played. We heard three pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, quite fitting since Bach himself played in the original church in 1736. In case you're interested, Richard Wagner, Hitler's favourite composer, also conducted and premiered his Biblical scene, the Feast of the Pentecost, here in 1843.

This image depicts the church after the firebombings and today, fully restored

Like most other buildings in Dresden (around 98 percent), the Frauenkirche was completely destroyed in 1945 by allied firebombing. The few buildings left partially standing were levelled and the rebuilding of the city commenced after the war in Europe concluded. Nobody really knows how many people died in the firestorm, but estimates as high as 60,000 wouldn't be too far off the mark. Dresden was considered at the time one of the most beautiful cities in the whole of Europe, and why it was chosen as the target for firebombing is a bit of a mystery. There is a theory that it may well have been in retribution for Hitler's failed firebombing of London and Coventry years earlier. Who can ever get inside the minds of generals and politicians.

The thing we find the most fascinating about the Frauenkirche Church is that it literally laid in ruins until 1993, when the rubble was removed for the reconstruction to commence. The church was finally finished in October 2005. We just can't get our heads around this church literally rising from the ashes. Dresden is a remarkable place, a real tribute to post-war construction. 

Inside the church - it does look very 'new'.

The church's impressive dome

Part of the original stone wall. Most of the buildings were constructed using the original stone, supplemented only when needed by new material.

In fact, everything about Dresden, particularly the old town, is fascinating. It is almost impossible to believe that what you see in front of you is scarcely more than 30 years old. As Dresden lies in the former GDR, not much reconstruction work really began until after the wall came down; I guess the East Germans had other priorities. 

Some of the buildings completely destroyed and rebuilt in the last 30 or so years. Could you pick the restoration work?

Everywhere you look, the reconstruction goes on, 74 years after those fateful few days.