Dresden - Pilnitz Palaces

The palaces and palace park of Pilnitz near Dresden (which can be reached by boat: Weisse Flotte, departing from the Terrassenufer) are among the finest palace complexes created during the reign of Augustus the Strong. On the banks of the Elbe stands the Wasserpalais (Water Palace), and on the opposite side of the pleasure garden (Lustgarten) is its exact counterpart, the Bergpalais (Hill Palace; by M. D. Pöppelmann and Z. Longuelune, 1722-24). Both palaces are in the clearly articulated style of Late Baroque, with a profusion of chinoiserie. The side wings (by C. T. Weinlig and Exner, 1788-91) and the New Palace (Neues Palais; by C. F. Schuricht, 1818-26) are still in Baroque style; in the Fliederhof and the Schlosswache (Guard-House) the neo-classical style takes over. Craft Museum

In the Bergpalais is the Craft Museum (Museum für Kunsthandwerk), which is a section of Dresden's State Art Collections. Its collections include fine furniture, musical instruments, glass, pewter, Dutch and French faience and stoneware and textiles. Also of interest are the Weinling Room (c. 1800) and an exhibition on "Industrial Design in the 19th and 20th Centuries".