Pillnitz Castle

Pillnitz Castle was rebuilt in the 1720s for Augustus the Strong as a summer residence in the exuberant Chinese-style (Chinoiserie) fashion that swept European courts in the 18th century, with sweeping curved roofs, pagoda-inspired eaves, and lacquer-red and gold decorative elements. The palace is actually three distinct buildings: the Riverside Palace (Wasserschloss) with its open arcade and terrace steps descending directly into the Elbe, the Hill Palace (Bergpalais) with its pagoda roof perched above the vineyard, and the New Palace (Neues Palais), a later classical addition from the 19th century. The Pillnitz Park is one of the most beautiful palace gardens in Saxony, featuring the famous camellia tree planted in 1801 that still blooms each spring, a botanical garden with exotic species, a historic palm house, and the restored kitchen gardens with their geometric raised beds. The castle interior now houses the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) with galleries of historic furniture, tapestries, porcelain, glass, and fashion from the Renaissance through Art Nouveau. Pillnitz is reachable by Dresden tram line 2 from the city centre in about 35 minutes, or by the historic paddle-steamer on the Elbe river itself (a 90-minute journey that is a tourist attraction in its own right). Combine with a walk through the Dresden Elbe Valley vineyards.