Prager Straße

Prager Straße is one of Dresden's best-known shopping streets, connecting the main train station with Altmarkt square. Originally laid out between 1851 and 1853 as a link to what was then the Bohemian Station, it quickly developed into a splendid commercial street lined with grand townhouses. After it was almost completely destroyed in World War II, the area was radically redesigned in the 1960s. In place of the historic perimeter-block buildings, a modern urban landscape more than 700 meters long and over 60 meters wide took shape, regarded as one of the first pedestrian zones in Germany. The urban planning concept drew on international models and placed great emphasis on clear structures, open spaces, and open architecture.

Today the street is defined by a mix of East German architecture and later new construction. On one side stands the so-called Prager Zeile, a 240-meter-long apartment building modeled on the work of Le Corbusier. Opposite are three hotels named after rock formations in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, as well as the striking Rundkino (Round Cinema) with its delicate facade design. Another landmark is the Centrum-Galerie, built on the site of the demolished Centrum department store and echoing its distinctive honeycomb facade. Here you'll find a wide pedestrian zone with numerous shops, restaurants, and cultural highlights such as the deconstructivist Cineplex Kristallpalast.

The street is also a place of remembrance and lively city life. A memorial plaque commemorates the founding of the civil rights group Group of 20 in 1989. Cultural events are also held here regularly, including the international Dixieland Festival in May. Prager Straße thus offers an impressive look at Dresden's urban development from the 19th century to the present day and is a central meeting place for locals and tourists alike.