Dresden Panometer

The Panometer Dresden occupies a former gasometer on Gasanstaltstraße in the Reick district and offers a unique take on the art exhibition. The round building, with its large, empty interior, is ideally suited to presenting the giant 360-degree panoramas by the artist Yadegar Asisi. The name of the venue is a portmanteau of "panorama" and "gasometer," coined by Asisi himself. Since it opened in 2006 to mark the city's 800th anniversary, several hundred thousand visitors have experienced its changing exhibitions. The site lies within sight of the railway line to Děčín and provides a distinctive setting for immersive presentations of historical and natural scenes.

The focus at present is on two historical panoramas, which are shown in alternation. "Dresden in the Baroque Era" lets you look out from the tower of the Catholic Hofkirche over the Saxon royal seat in the age of Augustus the Strong. It depicts baroque splendor, with buildings such as the Zwinger, the Frauenkirche, and the Brühl Terrace, based on historical cityscapes by artists such as Bernardo Bellotto. The second panorama, "Dresden 1945," conveys the tragedy of the destruction wrought by the Allied bombing raids in February 1945. Viewed from the City Hall tower, you take in an apocalyptic landscape of rubble, with plumes of smoke and fires. Both works are complemented by a fitting soundscape by the composer Eric Babak, which heightens the sense of being in the scene.

In addition to the historical depictions, since early 2024 the Panometer has also shown the nature panorama "Amazonia." It portrays the geological formations of the tropical rainforest, river lowlands, and the indigenous people who live there, along with the wildlife as day turns to night. In the accompanying exhibits along the walkway between the panorama and the outer wall, you can find more information about how the works came about and about the history of Dresden. Among other things, you'll see historical city maps, original illustrations from the 18th and 19th centuries, and exhibits such as facade ornaments from destroyed buildings. This combination of large-format painting, historical context, and acoustic backdrop makes the Panometer an impressive place for remembrance and cultural experience.