Neustadt Porcelain Palace: An Overview
In the heart of Dresden, nestled on the banks of the Elbe, stands the enchanting Japanese Palace. This architectural marvel, with its unique history, has been a significant part of the city's landscape for centuries.
The Japanese Palace, originally named the Dutch Palace, was purchased by the Elector of Saxony in 1716 for 20,000 thalers. Matthias Poepplmann, a renowned architect, designed the palace, which was built in 1715. Initially, the palace was used to display foreign treasures, including Chinese dragon vases, reflecting its cosmopolitan origins.
Over the years, the Japanese Palace underwent expansions, but plans for clad outer walls and tiled roofs with porcelain remained unrealized. Despite this, the palace's distinctive Japanese-inspired roof construction gave it a unique identity, leading to its renaming.
The palace faced destruction during the Seven Years' War, but fortunately, its collection of 35,000 vessels was saved. After the war, the palace became home to the sculpture collection, the coin cabinet, and the 'electoral library.'
The Japanese Palace has been a cultural hub, hosting special exhibitions for 15 museums under thematic focuses. Currently, the Imaginarium of Czech art is on display. The palace also houses the Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden, the Museum of Ethnology Dresden with the Damascus Room, and temporarily, the Archive of the Avant-gardes.
The palace has witnessed significant historical events. For instance, it did not feature a philosopher but the first Saxon king, August the Just. Interestingly, the last owner of the palace before its destruction in 1945 was Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary.
Dietmar Sehn, a local author who grew up in the Inner Dresden New Town, has written several books about Dresden. In his childhood, he reminisces about sledding in the park near the Japanese Palace and exchanging his first kisses there. Sehn has a book titled 'Historical Crime Cases from Saxony' published by Sutton Verlag, ISBN: 9783963033001.
Today, the Japanese Palace is open to the public, offering visitors a glimpse into Dresden's rich history. For several years, the 'Palace Summer' festival took place on the palace's lawn, which was renamed 'Culture Summer' after a new operator took over last year.
The Japanese Palace, with its intriguing history and cultural significance, continues to be a beacon of Dresden's past and present, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in its enchanting allure.
