The story of this place
The Dresden Residenzschloss was the seat of the Saxon Electors and Kings for centuries. Within it, Augustus the Strong created the Grünes Gewölbe, the Green Vault, around 1723 — one of the oldest museums in Europe and the richest treasure collection on the continent, glittering with gold, jewels, ivory and the 41-carat Dresden Green Diamond. The palace was gutted in the 1945 firestorm, its treasures fortunately evacuated, and rebuilt over decades. In November 2019 thieves smashed into the Historic Green Vault in a brazen daylight-defying raid, stealing jewellery of immense value; several pieces were later recovered. The reconstructed vaults again display the fabulous baroque riches that made Dresden 'Florence on the Elbe'.