Dresden Castle & Green Vault
Residenzschloss / Grünes Gewölbe
The palace of the Electors of Saxony. The Green Vault houses Europe's richest court treasures and craftwork, a true Baroque treasure house.
Dresden Castle (Residenzschloss) was the residence of the rulers of Saxony. It was badly damaged in World War II and restored over many years. It now houses several museums. The Green Vault was established by Augustus the Strong in 1723 and is one of Europe's earliest public museums. It has two parts. On the first floor, the Historic Green Vault recreates a Baroque mirror room in its original appearance. Its walls are crowded with gold and silver, ivory, amber and jeweled objects. Entry is by timed ticket, with limited numbers, so book on the SKD website in advance. On the second floor, the New Green Vault displays individual treasures in glass cases. Highlights include the miniature group "The Court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb" by court goldsmith Johann Melchior Dinglinger, the 41-carat Dresden Green Diamond, and a cherry stone carved with 185 faces. The Green Vault suffered a jewel theft in 2019, but most of the stolen items have since been recovered. The palace also houses the Armoury, the Turkish Chamber and the Cabinet of Prints. You can climb the Hausmann Tower. The palace is closed on Tuesdays. Check the official website for current hours.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–18:00; closed Tue (check website)
Nearby sights
- Dresden Cathedral (Hofkirche)
- Semperoper
- Zwinger
- Procession of Princes
- Dresden Transport Museum
- Altmarkt & Striezelmarkt
- Brühl's Terrace
- Kreuzkirche