Dresden Frauenkirche completes reconstruction in 2005
On October 30, 2005, the Dresden Frauenkirche, after decades of planning, fundraising and reconstruction, reopens its doors to the public.
Then came the air raid of February 13, 1945. Some 650,0000 bombs were dropped on the city which was reduced to ruins. The church held out for two days, collapsing on February 15. The 300 people who had gathered in the crypt for safety managed to get out before the church crumbled into 22,000 square meters of rubble. However, the remains of the two walls remained intact, and the altar was only damaged, not destroyed. The heads of the angels on the altar survived, though they were darkened by the fire. The bronze statue of Martin Luther, a key figure in the 16th century Reformation, was not smashed to bits, either. It stands in front of the church and hails from 1885.
Dresden’s Frauenkirche: Baroque splendor – Prague Blog
Completion of Reconstruction of Frauenkirche, Dresden
Issued by Germany in 2005
Designed by Andrea Voß-Acker
Dresden Frauenkirche in 1957 and 2015
Released in 2023 by Germany
Designed by Thomas Steinacker
The push to rebuild the famous church began during WW2, but didn’t become reality until after German reunification. In 1992, Dresden city council hired architect and engineer Eberhard Burge to plan and organise the reconstruction, using plans for the Baroque Dresden Frauenkirche as laid out by original architect George Bährs. Over the next 13 years, the Frauenkirche was gradually rebuilt. It was reconsecrated and opened to the citizens of Dresden On October 30, 2005.
The Dresden Frauenkirche looks back on a long history. The various previous churches were already consecrated to Mary, Mother of God, and were named Frauenkirche. In the 18th century, the famous George Bährs domed building was built, which shaped the cityscape of Dresden for two hundred years. Destroyed shortly before the end of the Second World War, the ruins of the Frauenkirche remained as a memorial in the heart of the city until the unique reconstruction project began in 1993. Since 2005 the Frauenkirche has once again been an open church for the city.
History of the Frauenkirche Dresden
2024 looked at Orson Welles’ radio play War of the Worlds. A little pre-Halloween fun.