Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug)
On Gingerguide's self-guided Dresden audio tour, Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug) is a stop worth about ~30 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type monument
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Dresden Dresden guide
About Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug)
The world's largest porcelain tile artwork, a 102-metre-long procession of 35 Saxon rulers on horseback, made of 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles, on Augustusstrasse.
The Fürstenzug, Procession of Princes, is one of the most extraordinary public artworks in Europe: a 102-metre-long mural on the outer wall of the Stallhof (Royal Stables) on Augustusstrasse, depicting 35 rulers of the Wettin dynasty on horseback, accompanied by a retinue of scholars, artists, craftsmen, and children. Originally painted as a fresco by Wilhelm Walther in 1876, the entire mural was transferred between 1904 and 1907 onto 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles to protect it from weathering. The tiles proved their worth: while almost everything around them was destroyed in the 1945 bombing, the Fürstenzug survived virtually intact. The rulers are depicted in roughly chronological order, beginning with Conrad the Great (1127) and ending with Frederick Augustus III (1904). The entire procession stretches 102 metres, making it the longest porcelain artwork in the world. The Meissen porcelain tiles, each about 20×20 cm, were fired at high temperatures and have proved virtually impervious to the elements.
Did you know? The Fürstenzug's 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles survived the Allied firebombing of 1945 virtually undamaged, fire and blast left the ceramic tiles unaffected while destroying almost everything around them.
How much time do you need at Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug)?
Around ~30 min works well for Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug) — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug)?
Yes — Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug) made the cut as one of 22 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Dresden. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Dresden
Hear the story of Procession of Princes (Fürstenzug)
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