Photo courtesy of Commons.wikipedia.org

Though people have been living in the area that Dresden occupies since 7500 BCE, the city itself was not founded until the late 12th century by Slavic settlers.  In 1485 it became the seat of the dukes of Saxony, and in 1806 became the capital of Saxony.  It remains today as the capital of the state of Saxony.

Sister City History

Dresden and Columbus became sister cities in 1992 after about a year of diplomatic exchanges.  The relationship with Dresden is still very strong, and includes student exchanges and artistic exchanges and displays.

Economy

The economy of Dresden is dominated by three major industries:  the semiconductor industry; the pharmaceutical industry; and mechanical and electrical engineering.  Tourism is also another important industry in Dresden, thanks to its historic roots and the beauty of its architecture.

Education

Dresden is a center of higher education as the home of more than nine universities.  These universities include:  the Technische Universität Dresden; Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft; Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden; Palucca School of Dance; Carl Maria von Weber University of Music; Hochschule für Kirchenmusik; Evangelische Hochschule für Sozialarbeit; and the Dresden International University.

Culture

Dresden’s culture is experiencing a resurgence after World War II.  The performing arts, especially theather and the opera, are very important, as well as Dresden’s sports teams, including the soccer team Dynamo Dresden, the hockey team ESC Dresdner Eislöwen, and the American football team the Dresden Monarchs.  Dresden prides itself on being one of the ‘greenest’ cities in Europe, with more than 50 square kilometers devoted to parks and forests within the city.