Reopening of the Zwingerhof in mid-October

After four and a half years of renovation work, the inner courtyard of the famous Dresden Zwinger will be officially reopened on October 14. A ceremonial handover will take place next Tuesday with Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Finance Minister Christian Piwarz (both CDU), as announced by the Ministry of Finance. In the afternoon, the inner courtyard will open completely to all visitors for the first time since 2021 with presentations by the Zwingerbauhütte and the State Office for Archaeology.

Renovation longer and more expensive than planned

Originally, the renovation of the Zwinger courtyard was to be completed by the end of 2023. However, the work was more complex than initially planned, with the archaeological excavations alone lasting until March 2024. According to the Saxon State Real Estate and Construction Management (SIB) in June, the costs amounted to around 15.4 million euros - a good five million euros more than previously planned.

The Dresden Zwinger, which was commissioned by Elector Augustus the Strong, is considered the most important building of the late Baroque period and, with the Crown Gate, the city's landmark. After its inauguration in 1719, it served as a place of princely representation and courtly festivities as well as for storing the royal collections.