A towering sandstone structure. That’s the Dreikönigskirche before you. Its Baroque Revival tower pierces the Dresden sky. Did you know this church has a history stretching back to 1404? The original Dreikönigskirche stood further south. It was a Gothic church. Destroyed by the Hussites it was rebuilt. Fire again destroyed it in 1685. It was then rebuilt only to be demolished in 1731-32. That’s because it stood in the way of Augustus II’s new Baroque city plan.
The Dreikönigskirche you see today is the Baroque replacement. Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann designed it. George Bähr who built the Frauenkirche designed its interior. Construction lasted from 1732 to 1739. The church was consecrated on September 29 1739. Interestingly the altar faces west not east. This unconventional placement caused controversy. The original western entrance remains a testament to this unusual decision.
Sadly World War II severely damaged the Dreikönigskirche. Only the facade and tower survived the bombing of February 13 1945. The church remained a ruin for decades. Local resistance prevented its demolition. Finally in 1977 the decision to rebuild was made. Reconstruction started in 1984 concluding with reconsecration in 1990. The interior is vastly different from its original state. It now seats only 450 people instead of 3000. It’s now more of a community center Haus der Kirche than a traditional church.
The Dreikönigskirche’s 87.5-meter-high tower is a marvel. It was built from 1854 to 1857. 3867 cubic meters of sandstone from Saxon Switzerland went into its construction. The tower’s sculptures depict the Four Evangelists and the Three Kings. It’s open for visitors since 1999 offering breathtaking views of Dresden.
Inside you’ll find Johann Benjamin Thomae’s Baroque altar. Carved from sandstone it shows the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Sadly it’s damaged and unrepaired. Also noteworthy is the Dresden Totentanz a danse macabre relief. Carved in 1534 this artwork originally resided in Dresden Castle. After the castle fire of 1701 Augustus II donated it to the Dreikönigskirche.
From its humble Gothic beginnings to its Baroque reconstruction. From its wartime destruction to its modern rebirth. The Dreikönigskirche’s story is a testament to Dresden’s resilience. A story you can now experience firsthand.