Innere Neustadt (Dresden)

The Innere Neustadt (Inner New City) is a neighborhood in Dresden within the administrative district of Neustadt. The name is derived from "Neuen Königlichen Stadt" (New Royal City), the name given to the former district of Altendresden when it was rebuilt after a fire before 1732. In contrast to the Äußere Neustadt (Outer New City), the Innere Neustadt was within the city fortifications and, for that reason, is also known as the historic Neustadt.

Location

The Innere Neustadt is located in the administrative district of Neustadt, across the Elbe from the Innere Altstadt (Inner Old City). The river flows in an arc around the Innere Neustadt. Four bridges connect the district with the southern bank of the Elbe. The streets leading to the bridges cross the Innere Neustadt and run more or less directly to Albertplatz (Albert Square). This is at the northern end of the district and is the focus of almost all major streets.

Cultural and architectural features

Several of Dresden's cultural institutions and museums are in the Innere Neustadt. At Albertplatz is the Erich Kästner Museum, and, in the Japanisches Palais (Japanese Palace) is the State Museum of Ethnology. On the Hauptstraße (Main Street) are the Dresden Soccer Museum and the Kügelgenhaus, the Museum of Dresden Romanticism. In Rähnitzgasse is the Kunsthaus Dresden (Dresden Art House). Not far from the Kunsthaus Dresden is the Societaetstheater (Society Theatre). The Jägerhof is the home of the Museum for Saxon Folk Art and the Puppet Theater Collection of the State Art Collections.

On Königstraße is the Jazzclub Tonne. In addition to the City Festival, held mainly on Hauptstraße, the Filmnächte (Movie Nights) take place on the Neustadt Elbe Meadows in the summer.

In the Innere Neustadt are also many important buildings for Dresden. The reconstruction of the neighborhood until 1732 was carried out in baroque style. Baroque town houses can still be found mainly on Königstraße. One of the buildings unchanged since 1733 is number 13 in Großen Meißner Straße ('Large Meissen Road'). The historically important complex of buildings survived the wartime destruction of Dresden and now forms the central part of the Hotel Bellevue.

The Dreikönigskirche ('Three Kings Church,' from the three wise men/magi) was the seat of the Saxon parliament from 1990 to 1993. Along the banks of the river Elbe are the government buildings of the so-called 'government quarter' and the Japanische Palais.

The very famous Golden Rider is in the Innere Neustadt on Neustädter Markt ('New City Market') and on Albertplatz is the artesian well. The largest fully automatic public parking garage is in the Innere Neustadt.

Until February 1945, the large Neustädter Rathaus (New City Town Hall) was on Neustädter Markt. After its destruction the Rathaus was not rebuilt, a Plattenbau complex taking its place instead. An initiative has been founded with the goal of reconstructing the Rathaus and restoring the Neustädter Markt.

Traffic and Infrastructure

The most important streets are the Hauptstraße (a pedestrian street), connecting to the Augustus Bridge, Albertstraße, connecting to the Carola Bridge, and Königstraße. Further important streets are Antonstraße (the extension of the Marien Bridge), Bautzner Straße, and Große Meißner Straße.

A total of eight trams run in the district on two east-west and three north-south routes. The most important tram hub is Albertplatz. Except for bus line 81, which connects to the Innere Neustadt at the Neustadt train station, no city bus lines service the district, only regional buses.

The Innere Neustadt is bordered in the west by the causeway of the rail line connecting Dresden to Leipzig. The train station Dresden-Neustadt in the northwest of the district is served by local and long-distance trains.

Business and Government

Key economic sectors of the Innere Neustadt are gastronomy and retail. As in the Innere Altstadt, many hotels and restaurants are located in this part of the inner city. The largest hotel is Hotel Bellevue, of the Westin hotel chain. Both Königstraße and Hauptstraßse are important shopping districts in the center of Dresden.

The State Chancellery and all ministries of the Free State of Saxony are centered on Carolaplatz, forming the government district. Currently, there are eight ministries in historical as well as newly constructed buildings. The State Archives are also located in the government district.

The local office for the entire Neustadt (Innere and Äußere) is located in this part of town.