Here is a delightful farmhouse with self-contained accommodation big enough for two families, as well as two B&B rooms in the family's main house. David Sturge is English and his wife is German, so English is definitely spoken!
You can stay for many types of craft weeks or just for a holiday in a pretty village in nice countryside. Besides cycling, walking, visiting castles, etc. Dresden and Leipzig are within easy reach.
The owners have carefully renovated the farmhouse themselves using ecologically sound materials and methods. Constanze Sturge's paintings hang on the walls, and there are fresh flowers in the rooms. The house for rent has its own sunny garden and the farmhouse is in a big garden.
A great place for any group or combination of travellers to enjoy this undiscovered part of Germany - and the prices are very reasonable even at today's euro exchange rate.
A very good hotel in a good location for the main sights in Dresden. It is about a ten-minute walk to the Zwinger and the Semper Opera. Trams 10 and 11 stop close by and are very convenient.
The hotel is very comfortable. The staff are friendly, helpful and efficient. Breakfasts are excellent and the restaurant is very good, although choice is a little limited.
Ostra Alle 33
www.parkplaza.com
Wandering up a quiet sidestreet back through Dresden’s Neustadt to our hotel one balmy June evening, we came across a couple of empty tables under a window near an archway, decorated with a simple white stone and flower composition, and apparently just waiting for someone to sit down. So we did, of course. After a short pause, a young red-haired guy drifted languidly out of the archway, introduced himself as Ollie the owner, asked us where were from, chatted pleasantly for a bit, and then inquired if we would like to try some local Saxon wines, and of course we said yes.
In a few moments we were sipping at a chilled, floral, round-bodied local white which absolutely enraptured us, with Ollie occasionally sauntering out to check how things were going. Well, things went so well, we made a couple of other visits back to Ollie’s bar during our week-long stay to try some more Saxon wines, enjoy Ollie’s conversation, and, on our last night, to have a delicious light snack of regional cheeses, Spanish and Italian ham, and, this time, a whole bottle of the wine we fell in love with, Schloss Proschwitz, all interleaved with Ollie’s cheerful and friendly banter.
He told us at one point that his family lived quite far away and he didn’t see them too often, but then he shrugged and grinned and said: “Anyway, here, my guests are my family.” What better attitude can a barman have? So, if you’re in Dresden, pop along to Bar Gold, just off Königstrasse in Neustadt, in the Prisco Passage, sip some good Saxon wine, and say hello from Stuart and Bianca!
If you visit Dresden you must go to The Green Vault. It is, simply, the most stunning collection of treasures, mainly collected by Augustus the Strong in the early 18th century.
The range, number and quality of objects on display is simply breathtaking. There are objects in ivory, rock crystal and coral. There are ornate, amazing clocks and caskets. It is difficult to pick out one highlight, but I would suggest that the Throne of the Grand Mogul Aurangzeb is the star.
In many other museums you might find one piece like this among some really rather dull stuff. In The Green Vault it is but one of a constellation, even galaxy, of star pieces. It is the best museum/gallery I have ever seen. Be prepared to spend a long time here.
The New Grunes Gewolbe (Green Vault)
Residenzschloss, Sophienstrasse.
Near The Zwinger and Semper Opera House.
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