Rebuilt church is a marvel of Dresden, Germany

Travel

House of worship, war monument, giant jigsaw puzzle: Over several centuries, the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) has been all three. From its completion in 1743 as a Lutheran church, to its collapse near the end of World War II, to its reconsecration in 2005, the Frauenkirche has long had a special place in this medieval city. Not only has the church been restored to its original grandeur, but the surrounding Neumarkt in the city center and other nearby areas are in the midst of a building boom.

The Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden, Germany, was rebuilt over an 11-year period and reconsecrated in October 2005. Except for two sections, the church and much of the city center were destroyed by Allied bombing in February 1945.

Two stone sections and a pile of rubble were all that remained of the Frauenkirche after the February 1945 Allied bombings n Dresden. A statue of Martin Luther was restored to its plinth long before the church was rebuilt.

Hundreds of the original sandstone blocks were salvaged, cleaned and reused in the rebuilding of the Frauenkirche. It's easy to tell the original stones; they're the dark ones.

Though rebuilding continues, much of the Dresden skyline has been restored to its pre-World War II beauty. The tall stone building in the center is the new Frauenkirche. The domed building on the left is an art academy. This view is looking south across the River Elbe.

Tourists view Dresden from the cupola's platform at the Frauenkirche. Since its reconsecration in 2005, about 4 million people have visited the church.

A new gilded cross was placed atop the Frauenkirche in June 2004. One of the London craftsmen who worked on it, Alan Smith, is the son of a Royal Air Force pilot who flew a Lancaster in the World War II bombing raids.

The new organ at the Frauenkirche has 4,790 pipes. Below the organ, some of the pieces from the original altar were salvaged, restored and used in the rebuilding of the interior.

Looking down from the church's dome reveals visitors sitting in the Frauenkirche's pews during a service.

One of the entrances to Dresden's Zwinger museum complex is through the Crown Gate.

Don't miss "Self-portrait With Saskia," which is among the Rembrandts on display at the Old Masters Gallery in the Zwinger.

The porcelain collection at the Zwinger includes thousands of Asian pieces, but the 90 large, white animals such as this lion made in nearby Meissen, deserve a special look.

This ornate suit of armor in the armory at the Zwinger museum in Dresden, Germany, is among the huge collection of combat weapons on display.

The Dresden Green is nearly 41 carats of dazzling pear-shaped green diamond (bottom of setting), and is displayed at the Residenzschloss, just east of the Zwinger.

This is a detail of the "The Court at Delhi During the Birthday of the Grand Mogul Aureng-Zeb," displayed at the Residenzschloss. It's a 4-foot-wide, incredibly elaborate tableau depicting a celebration at the Delhi court.

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The Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden, Germany, was rebuilt over an 11-year period and reconsecrated in October 2005. Except for two sections, the church and much of the city center were destroyed by Allied bombing in February 1945.

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