Zwinger means in German, the exterior courtyard of a palace. The name of the compound derives from its initial location, between the external city wall and the inner wall. The beauty of the palaces' compound and the richness of its art collections, are amazing and unique among the baroque palaces of Germany.
The place was created by the architect Daniel Matthaus Poeppelmann and the sculptor Belthasar Permoser in 1728-1710. At the entrance to the compound is the "crown gate", decorated with a golden dome. This gate has become the symbol of Dresden, and appears in many photographs of The Zwinger.
The most beautiful part of the Zwinger is a structure called Wallpavillon. This pavilion is renowned for the sculptures of Permoser. Other famous parts are the porcelain collection, the "old artists gallery" (Gemaeldegalerie Alte Meister), which is a gallery of wonderful paintings, including the "Sistine Madonna" by the Italian painter Raphael, and the "Historical Museum of Saxony" called "the armory" (Ruestkammer) with an impressive collection of weapons and a Zoological Museum.
For more than 100 years, the Zwinger was open to the south. In 1855, it was closed by building the Italian Renaissance-style gallery, which was designed by Gottfried Semper.
The Zwinger courtyard has wonderful garden and fountains. In summertime the stage in the courtyard is used for cultural events.
