Georgentor

The Georgentor, also known as the Georgenbau, is the first Renaissance building in Dresden. It stands in the Inner Old Town on Schloßplatz, between the Residenzschloss and the Stallhof. Originally conceived as a city gate leading to the Elbe bridge, it was rebuilt between 1530 and 1535 under Duke George the Bearded. The historic façade bore religious motifs such as the Dresden Dance of Death, which can now be seen in the Dreikönigskirche, as well as a Latin motto above the archway. In the 16th century the gate was walled up after traffic was rerouted to other roads.

Over the centuries, the building's purpose changed considerably. After the palace fire of 1701, it housed the state apartments of Augustus the Strong. Later it served as a mint and was remodeled in the 19th century, when the façade was redesigned in the Neo-Renaissance style and an equestrian statue of Duke George was placed in the gable. The last Saxon king lived in the building until 1918. After its destruction in World War II, it was rebuilt in the 1960s.

Today the Georgenbau is a cultural venue that is closed to car traffic but used by many pedestrians. Here you can visit the Coin Cabinet (Münzkabinett) with its historic coins and medals. The permanent exhibition "Worldview and Knowledge around 1600" also presents artworks from the former Dresden Kunstkammer. The offerings are rounded out by the Silver Armory Hall (Silberwaffensaal) and the Small Ballroom (Kleiner Ballsaal), which offer a glimpse into the building's historic use.