Undoubtedly, the Elbe River is the best decoration of Dresden, its main attraction. Its rapid course remembers many events from the past, and how many are yet to come! The shores of this truly beautiful waterway of Saxony are filled with majestic castles, emerald parks, elegant bridges. The river valley where the city is located is declared by UNESCO as a part of the world heritage. And it really is worth seeing for every traveler. Not a single tourist can remain indifferent to what he sees. And no one will regret the time spent on the trip.
On the river you can make an exciting cruise, which resembles a time travel, an excursion into history. Admiring the magnificent buildings, it is difficult not to admire. A special place among the sights of Dresden is Pilnitz - the residence of Augustus the Strong. The huge building was built for the monarch by Daniel Pepelman according to a special project. The sophisticated Baroque style, taken as the basis of the building in 1720, is striking. The park area is decorated with Chinese-style gazebos, which the Elector loved.
Dresden, the Elbe River invites you to sail off the coast on a small boat, sailing under large and small bridges, each of which is very picturesque. Between them towers the spiers of ancient castles of different ages. For example, Ekberg Castle and a building built specifically for the Prince of Prussia in 1850. It is notable for a rounded gallery in a classic style. The interior is decorated with symbols of power - the Prussian eagle and portraits of the ruling dynasty at that time. Today, concerts and congresses are held here. For some time a restaurant was working on the terrace.
The buildings are surrounded by the Augusta Bridge - a masterpiece of architecture, which is famous for the Elbe River. Behind it are two Catholic churches, completely destroyed by World War II, but recreated in its original form. Today, one can admire the opera house there, also restored after the fire of 1868. The Elba River has another miracle, which has been dubbed a monument of industrial culture. A large metal bridge called Blue connected the two villages, facilitating the crossing between them.
The Elba River is mentioned in the oldest works of the Greek geographer Strabo. Back in the eighteenth year of our era, he painted it on his map in the center of Europe and named Elfr. This word has Old Norse roots and means a fast-flowing river. However, modern scholars doubt that the name of the main river in Saxony is related to the Scandinavian language. If only because Elba has no access to the Baltic Sea and Scandinavia. Most scientists believe that the toponym comes from the word "albo", which translates as "light, white." Or from the Gallic word "albis" (means "white water"), Latin "albis" (that is, "light") or the Celtic "elb" - "river".
Be that as it may, one thing is clear: the mighty Elba River (on the map it can be found in the center of Europe) adorns our planet. It is the pearl of not only the city of Dresden, but also the heart of the land of Saxony.