Dresden has earned a special nickname with its unique buildings, rich collections, and as a place of fine arts: Elbflorenz. At the same time, Dresden has become a symbol of the sudden destruction of a city. Olaf B. Rader describes in this richly illustrated volume the history of Dresden from the first settlement of the Elbe valley basin, through the glorious rise of the Saxon residence city and the bombing during World War II, to the present day. Art and culture have established Dresden's reputation. Therefore, the focus of the book is on the cultural history of the city, which Olaf Rader masterfully relates to other aspects - politics, society, economy, and religion. He tells of churches and cross particles, of rulers and their magnificent buildings, the Semper Opera, as well as the Semper Barricade, of the Romantics and their colors.