In medieval times, Zwinger meant a fortress between outer and inner walls. This area stood between Dresden's 12th century city wall and the outer wall. Architect Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann built the baroque palace and gardens in 1709, but by then the inner wall had vanished. The fortress name stuck anyway.

Saxon kings were passionate art collectors. A century after Pöppelmann's work, the Semper Gallery opened here. It later became the Gallery of Old Masters. Most paintings survived World War II because they were stored outside Dresden. Only 200 burned when hit during transport. The Porcelain Collection displays treasures from 1708, when Dresden discovered porcelain's secret recipe and Europeans finally copied Chinese white gold.

The Crown Gate features a cupola referencing Eastern European onion domes in Saxon colors green and gold. Four Polish eagles hold up the Polish crown. Italian painter Canaletto captured the Zwinger in 1751, preserving exactly how Dresden looked.

VoiceMap's self-guided audio tours reveal how Saxon rulers built one of Europe's finest art collections and connect the palace to Dresden's reputation as the Florence of Germany.