Dresden’s city center has been a construction site for decades now because World War II has left deep scars in the cityscape. Like no other building the Dresdeners have taken the castle to their hearts, except for the Frauenkirche, of course. Where electors and kings used to reside a unique museum compound has evolved. Instead on splendid electoral apartments, the expositions of the Dresden State Art Collections focus on the (former) possessions of the Wettin dynasty. What only few used to have access to, is now available for everone’s eyes.
Hence, it is not surprising that the castle bursts at the seams when the next part of the building is opened to the public after a long period of construction. Last weekend it was the Dresden Armory that was to be admired in the Giant’s Hall for the first time. The exhibition is named after larger-than-life depictions of men which adorned the walls in the 1500s. However, later on the baroque rulers disapproved of what was en vogue back then and hastily divided the hall into chambers. Now though – after almost 300 years – the Giant’s Hall of the Dresden castle shines in its old new glory.
To locals, the armory is familiar from its old exhibition facility in the Dresden Zwinger: It is a collection of weaponry and (knight) armour assembled by the Saxon ruling family. Some were actually used whereas others were acquired for decorative purposes. The collected equipment not always served a clear function. Sometimes they were used to legitimate and demonstrate the electors’ power. Forge work of this high artistic quality and technological standard were beyond the monetary abilities of most of the lesser contemporaries.
For better understanding of the exhibited armour, these are arranged in joust scenes wherefore the visitor passes through an impressive world of shiny metal composed of fighting armoured knights on life scale horses made of wood. In addition to daggers and rapiers, the walls are decorated with paintings of electors in their representative armour. These exact armours can be witnessed in the display cabinets below/beneath/beside. The youngest visitors are especially fascinated by the samples in their own sizes which is very welcome by their grandparents who took them to the museum.
Here is my conclusion of a (silvery) shiny day in the Dresden Palace: The armory is worth a visit, no matter whether you enjoy it all by yourself, take your partner or even your entire family with you!