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2019 Saxony: Where Arts and Culture Have the “Wow” Effect

Saxony in Germany’s southeast is the place to be for discerning travelers, offering arts and culture of international standing. Not only musicians, painters and master builders, but also nature itself, have created great works of art here. Each year, approximately 9.7 million German and international guests decide to spend their holidays in Saxony. Adding day trippers, this number rises to more than 30 million. Some of the 2019 highlights in Saxony include:

The Joy of Saxon Towns and Cities
Saxony’s charm is manifold and the region’s towns and cities are a delight, full of splendid architecture, fascinating history and joy of life. Today’s visitors can create their very own personal experiences in places that are steeped in history, be it Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz or smaller towns such as Meissen, Pirna or Plauen. Annaberg-Buchholz, Bautzen and Freiberg are perfect for leisurely strolls. Görlitz, Zittau or Zwickau feature romantic cobblestone lanes and bustling market squares. Grimma, Kamenz, Radebeul and Torgau offer fascinating insights into Saxony’s cultural history.

Best in Class Music
In 2019, Leipzig celebrates the 200th anniversary of Clara Schumann, with the annual Schumann Festival Week (September 12-29, 2019) putting the remarkable compositions and piano concerts of the famous pianist center stage. Other classical music favorites are Dresden Music Festival (May 16 – June 15, 2019), Bach Festival Leipzig (June 14-23, 2019), and Moritzburg Festival (August 10 to 25, 2019). Lovers of jazz and Dixieland tunes should put the Dixieland Festival in Dresden on their agenda (May 12-19, 2019) and combine it with Görlitz Jazz Days a few days later (May 22-26, 2019).

Explore Saxony on the Art Trail
From anonymous Gothic masters to the New Leipzig School of contemporary time and including the Cranach family of painters, Canaletto, Caspar David Friedrich, Ludwig Richter, Max Klinger, Otto Dix and Oskar Kokoschka, A.R. Penck and (last but not least) Georg Baselitz and contemporary art star Gerhard Richter—the history of art in Saxony is not short of big names and internationally renowned artists who have lived, worked and left their traces in this region. “The Allure of Art – History, Museums, Workplaces,” a new, free brochure, curates everything worth knowing about Saxony’s unique art scene in one place—the most important museums, galleries, innovative arts spaces and art schools.

2019 Reopenings
“The Chocolate Girl,” one of this year’s art highlights focusing on one of the most famous paintings of Dresden’s Old Masters Gallery, remains on display until January 6, 2019 in the Zwinger. After comprehensive renovation, the Old Masters Gallery and Sculpture Collection are set to reopen in December next year. Another reopening scheduled for 2019 is the west wing of the Residenzschloss, Dresden’s Royal palace and former residence of the House of Wettin. Five of the ceremonial halls and historical rooms, dating back to the 16th century and destroyed in 1945, are being restored to their original state and are due to reopen next year on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of their inauguration and wedding of Frederick August, Elector of Saxony, and Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria. The splendid spaces will feature many original items and include, among others, two antechambers and a bedroom with a huge imperial bed. Last but not least, Fortress Dresden, currently closed for renovation, will also reopen in 2019 with the multimedia exhibition “Splendour. Tears. Disaster. Closer Than Ever.”, providing insights into the world of Germany’s oldest fortress.

If yet another special occasion for a trip to Saxony is needed, 2019 will also see the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Wall, including what promises to be a very emotional “Festival of Lights” in Leipzig on October 9, 2019. All event highlights in Saxony’s cities and regions are listed in the “Cultural Highlights in Saxony 2018-2019” brochure.

For more information, visit www.visitsaxony.com

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