On June 4-5, 2009, President Obama visited the eastern German city Dresden. You can follow in the president’s footsteps for free or low cost, and within a few blocks get a taste of Germany and a feel for how the leader of the free world travels while abroad.
The Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski
President Obama doesn’t do the Motel 6 when he’s on the road. Nope, he stayed in a group of rooms called the Crown Prince Suite (which includes four bedrooms and two salons and one kitchenette where smoking is allowed) which cost the American taxpayers 5,000 Euros that particular night of June 4. He checked out the next day. But given that the US government booked the hotel’s 200-plus rooms for that night (basic rooms go for 200 Euros a night according to my hotel guide), it was an expensive night for taxpayers.
I walked through the nicely furnished suite of rooms numbered 239-245, seeing the room President Obama slept in (Room 244). I even touched the bedspread! The hotel guide wouldn’t tell me what he ate though. Normally, the public can’t go up here (unless they book the suite), but they are allowed to enter the lobby just like President Obama did, and for free. Ask for a brochure at the counter.
Located at Taschenberg 3, 01067 Dresden, Germany. Phone +49 (0) 351 4912 812.
Inside and Outside The Historic Green Vault of The Royal Palace (Residenzschloss)
President Obama got a tour of the Das Historisches Grunes Gewolbe (The Historic Green Vault), taking in a place with some of the most lavish jewels, sculpture, and miniatures that I’ve ever seen. What I found most interesting were the ivory crucifixes that had Christ in different positions that I haven’t normally seen him in, and I was also captivated by the intricately-made chess pieces. President Obama also talked for an hour with German Chancellor Merkel in one of the special rooms called The Coat-of-Arms Room. It’s also called the Bronze Room or Room Number 6, which is publicly accessible during a visit. Following his private discussion, a joint press conference was held just outside The Historic Green Vault under a glass roof, which is also publicly accessible.
Much of Green Vault’s collection was procured during the time of August the Strong from 1723 to 1730. One must go through a chamber before entering and leaving in order to keep the room temperature the same (President Obama did, too). There’s an air of solemnity in this place as people ponder the relics. When you purchase a ticket, you have a 15 minute window to get inside, and can stay there until closing if you want. You’re also expected to take an audio guide with you, too, and if you don’t use it (I don’t like using audio guides), people give you funny looks.
Located on Sophienstrasse and Schlosstrsse streets. Phone for reservations to The Historic Green Vault is +49 (0)351-4914-2000.
The Frauenkirche
It is one of the most beautiful churches in Europe (first completed in 1743), and its existence today is even more remarkable when you consider that it was utterly destroyed in the firebombing raids in February of 1945. Yet with time and about 100 million Euros of donations from around the world, the church rose from the heap and was fully rebuilt in 2005. Visitors like President Obama must’ve noticed the church’s exterior, where you can see blackened stones in place like checkerboard squares: that’s because those stones were recovered from the ruins and put back in place. I took in a noontime devotions and organ music service that was heavily attended. I was captivated by the beautifully-restored Baroque-like interior. There’s even “luxury boxes” on the second floor. President Obama lit a candle for peace while there.
Located at An der Frauenkirche 12, 01067 Dresden, Germany. Telephone: +49 (0) 351- 6560-6100. Open church visits are free, but special events and tours have admission prices.
The Zwinger
President Obama and German Chancellor Merkel visited one of the most opulent complexes in Dresden, Germany before he left the city on June 5. It was built during the early 18th century by August the Strong, and contains a large courtyard that gave me a peaceful feeling as I walked through it. Currently, the Zwinger contains a number of collections of artwork like the Old Masters Picture Gallery as well as vast porcelain collection that contains 20,000-plus pieces (in German the latter place is called called the Porzellansammlung).
Located at the corners of Sophienstrasse and Ostra-Allee in Dresden, Germany. Admission charges for entries into the museums. Courtyard walking is free.
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Roy A. Barnes attended the German National Tourist Office’s “The Making of Christmas” press trip, but he wasn’t told to write about President Obama’s visit nor how to write about it. Also note that a Euro is currently worth about $1.20 when you see prices quoted. Barnes is a frequent contributor to The Traveler Blog and writes from southeastern Wyoming.
