Zwinger can almost be considered the symbol of Dresden. Born at the behest of Augustus the Strong, commissioned in 1710 to Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, the palace is now one of the greatest examples of German baroque. Inside the building there are several collections:

Porzellansammlung: contains the Japanese and Chinese porcelain collections of Augustus the Strong and the famous Meissen porcelain.
Glockenspielpavillon, Sophienstraße. D-01067, Dresden. Tel. +49 0351 49 14 622.

Gemäldegallerie: inside Sempergallerie, in the west wing, the prestigious collection of Renaissance paintings begun by Augustus the Strong was reunited. There are numerous works by Italian artists of great fame, including Raphael, Giorgione, Canaletto, Botticelli and Mantegna.
Semperbau, Theaterplatz 1. D- 01067, Dresden. Tel. +49 0351 49 14 622.

Rüstkammer: also located in Sempergallerie, houses a large collection of weapons of all kinds. Semperbau, Theaterplatz 1. D- 01067, Dresden. Tel. +49 0351 49 14 622.

Math and Physics saloon: exhibits research tools and a series of watches produced from the sixteenth century onwards.
Semperbau, Theaterplatz 1. D- 01067, Dresden. Tel. +49 0351 49 14 622.

Is housed inside the Albertinum and hosts the Gemaldegalerie Neue Meister. The museum exhibits paintings made by impressionist and expressionist masters, including Monet, Renoir, Courbet, Gauguin and Van Gogh.
Brühlsche Terrasse. D- 01067, Dresden. Tel. +49 0351 491 46 22.

Other important museums of Dresden are:

Transportation museum: Auguststraße, 1. D-01067, Dresden. Tel. +49 0351 86 440. www.verkehrmuseum.sachsen.de

Hygiene museum: Lingnerplatz, 1. D-01069, Dresden. Tel. +49 0351 484 66 70
www.dhmd.de