Meissen

The entries on this site document the students’ experience in Dresden and on their many excursions to surrounding areas of historical, cultural and social significance.  It is intended to provide readers an impression of their progressive engagement and growing familiarity with Dresden, Saxon and German customs and inhabitants. The students begin their journals in their native language and as the program progresses, their blogs shift to the language they are studying, documenting their incremental acclimation and acquisition of their second language in progress.

Olivia Connaughton

Before traveling to Meissen, I was unsure of what the city had to offer, as I honestly did not even know where it was located in relation to Dresden. When we arrived, what first caught my eye were the uneven brick streets and how many hills there were. Although it was only a bit after nine in the morning, I was very surprised at how quiet the streets were because in Dresden, it appears the city becomes very crowded very early. The architecture of the cathedral in Meissen was very interesting; I enjoyed how the symmetrical cathedral was built from one side and then across to the other, that the pillars of the cathedral had the look of curtains, and I liked the modernized appearance of the cathedral’s gothic style.

My favorite part of our trip was when we walked up all 304 steps to the top of the tower of the cathedral. Even though the steps were steep and in a tight space, it was very rewarding to see the amazing view of the city when we reached the top. Not only that, but also when climbing the steps, it was fascinating to learn the information regarding how the towers of the cathedral were built and the history of how the bells in the tower were destroyed and melted down and then reformed. The Albrechtsburg Castle was also very interesting to me, especially because until we saw it, I did not know what the qualifications were for a building to be recognized as a castle. The Albrechtsburg Castle was not a castle at all, as it was used for celebrations and not for military protection. I was mesmerized by the detailed paintings and the porcelain in the castle, and I did not realize how intricate the process of making porcelain was. Even though all of us became severely tired throughout the day and were ready to come back to Dresden a little earlier than expected, the trip to Meissen was very successful and well worth it.

Brennan Corrigan

Meissen is a beautiful town of cobbled streets and tiled roofs, all topped with the Cathedral of Meissen and the castle Albrechtsburg. The cathedral is a towering Gothic building which we had the opportunity to climb, to the top of its stone towers. Looking down from the height is dizzying, but it gives a great view of Meissen, set into the countryside of forests and vineyards, cut through by the river Elbe. Inside, we saw original 12th century stained glass and the huge pointed arches of the nave. My favorite part of cathedral architecture is recognizing how the people of the time put all of their best engineering toward them – they are cutting-edge achievements for their time.

Albrechtsburg is technically a palace (Schloss), built for pleasure, not a castle (Burg) built for shelter in war. Inside we weren’t allowed to take pictures without paying a fee, but the inside is full of statues and dramatic wall paintings of the history of the city.

There was also a small museum about the history of porcelain; Meissen was the first city outside of China to house a porcelain factory.

 

Ryan Giavasis

On Thursday June 14, 2018 we visited the city of Meißen, Germany. Taking the Bahn from Dresden for about 30 minutes North we arrived and walked to the bridge that gives entry into the city center. From here one could see the Albrechtsburg. After a decently lengthy walk up the mountain, we were given a tour of the church that was built c. 950. The tour allowed us to see the ornate church that continued to be added onto until about the 18th century. After witnessing a gorgeous view at the top of the church we continued our tour into Albrechtsburg. This massive building was rarely used more than a vacation home but holds many centuries of art style and history. Likewise, this facility was home to Germany’s foundations of porcelain where the first large production kilns were placed for production.

My favorite part of this excursion was seeing the blending of art and architecture that developed in the palace. In one wing we would see Baroque style and history of the individuals that lived during this period. A quick walk to another wing would open to the renovations that happened in the 17th-18th century. Although the tour leader didn’t like it, the addition to what people at that time thought the palace would look like is still a fantastic piece of history that was well noted. The blending of different periods really puts into perspective the longevity of Germany’s life. Likewise, the ability to tangibly experience these magnificent sites is a completely new experience that I’ve never had. This being our first excursion outside Dresden excites me in what else we may see in a country with such dense history.

 Andrew Gochenaur

On Thursday June 14, 2018 we visited the city of Meißen, Germany. Taking the Bahn from Dresden for about 30 minutes North we arrived and walked to the bridge that gives entry into the city center. From here one could see the Albrechtsburg. After a decently lengthy walk up the mountain, we were given a tour of the church that was built c. 950. The tour allowed us to see the ornate church that continued to be added onto until about the 18th century. After witnessing a gorgeous view at the top of the church we continued our tour into Albrechtsburg. This massive building was rarely used more than a vacation home but holds many centuries of art style and history. Likewise, this facility was home to Germany’s foundations of porcelain where the first large production kilns were placed for production.

My favorite part of this excursion was seeing the blending of art and architecture that developed in the palace. In one wing we would see Baroque style and history of the individuals that lived during this period. A quick walk to another wing would open to the renovations that happened in the 17th-18th century. Although the tour leader didn’t like it, the addition to what people at that time thought the palace would look like is still a fantastic piece of history that was well noted. The blending of different periods really puts into perspective the longevity of Germany’s life. Likewise, the ability to tangibly experience these magnificent sites is a completely new experience that I’ve never had. This being our first excursion outside Dresden excites me in what else we may see in a country with such dense history.

Margo Hertzer

This past Thursday (6/14/18) I travelled to and toured Meissen, Germany. Although most people have never heard of Meissen, I was excited to visit it. The book The Arcanum is set in Meissen, since it recounts the discovery and history of Porcelain in Europe which occurred in Meissen. After reading this book, I was looking forward to putting visuals to the descriptions I had read. When we were in Meissen we toured Albrechtsburg, a castle that used to be where the Porcelain was manufactured. As we were walking through, I was struck by the fact that the people I read about in the book walked the same hallways as I was. That is the main reason I love visiting historical sites; I find it so fascinating that people have used the same building for hundreds of years. I can touch the same walls, admire the same paintings, and walk the same paths that people of a completely different era did. In a way, it makes me feel insignificant because I realize that I my life is not long in the scheme of things. However, at the same time I feel connected to the past and feel a responsibility to help the world continue progressing forward.

Jessica Kavinsky

On Thursday, we traveled to Meissen to visit Albrechtsburg and the Meissen Dom. We took the Bahn there and got to enjoy the views of the countryside. Upon our arrival in Meissen, we saw the castle from below. It surprised me how new it looked. It didn’t appear to have any wear on it like many of the other older buildings we saw in Dresden and in other parts of Europe.

Walking up to the castle was enjoyable because all the houses were painted pastel colors and it seemed like a quaint German ton. When we got to the top we visited the Meissen Dom. When we entered, the gothic architecture was amazing. It was a classic example of gothic vaulting. I was surprised to learn that the halting was called “curtain vaulting” because when you looked down the main nave the vaulting looked like large, stone curtains. It was . We then walked to the stop of the church spires and got to see the city from above. I was most impressed how close we got to see the detailed work of the spires and all the different types of gargoyles. From below you don’t get a chance to experience that.

We then moved to Albrechtsburg Schloss. I learned why it appeared so new. Albrechtsburg was not used very frequently and was not used for military purposes. It was used mostly for entering and was kept in good condition. The interior was gorgeous and was very opulent. Overall I enjoyed Meissen. The architecture was gorgeous and it showcased how Germany looked years ago.

Haley Kendrick

Our trip to Meissen started off on a tired note. We had to be at the train platform by 8:15am, which meant quite the early start. Once there, though, it was amazing! The train ride there provided some lovely views of both city and country landscape. I still have not gotten past the novelty of taking trains places. I think it is so fun!

We got to tour both the cathedral and Albrechtsburg Castle. One of my favorite things to do while exploring a new city is to tour its old churches, so this was a great day for me. Going up all the way past the bell towers and to the highest point was terrifying but worth it. The view of Meissen was AMAZING. The steps could use some repairs though.

All in all, Meissen was a beautiful city and I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit it and learn more about the history of both Meissen and the region.

Emma Lloyd

On 14.6.18 we took a trip to a town about 30 minutes outside of Dresden called Meissen. It was a beautiful town, with the Elbe running through it. While we were there we took a tour of the Cathedral and learned about the history of when it was built. First it was a small church, but then a gothic church was built around it with a lot of traditional gothic architecture. Traditional Gothic buildings have a lot of high ceilings and pointed arches. It was a really beautiful and old building. There we were able to climb the 304 steps up to the top. Up there the view was amazing, and you could see the entire city. After that we went to get a small lunch and tour the Albrechtsburg Castle.

The castle was a beautiful white building on the outside, and the inside was just as beautiful. I really loved the ceilings in every room. They were all very arched and high, but the designs on them were what took my breath away. We were also taught a lot about porcelain. The castle was turned into a porcelain factory since it was never actually used as a castle. Then we saw an actual gothic toilet. It’s literally a wooden seat with a lid, and then a 35 m chute that went all the way down to the basement. One of the most interesting facts about the castle was the large spiral staircase that was completely held up by itself. It didn’t have any support on the bottle, it was very cool. Other architects tried to copy the design of the stairs but were unable to do make the stairs support themselves in the same way. After the castle, we got the tradition Spaghettieis, which is amazing, and then went back to Dresden. Overall, it was a very amazing and beautiful day.

Melissa Ma

This past Thursday explored the beautiful, quant city of Meißen. I was greeted by modest, red roof-topped houses and colorful walls, plenty of trees, a cobbled road, and a hill. As our group trekked its way up to our first stop, we approached an enormous gothic cathedral. The cathedral itself took over 200 years to build; interestingly enough, the Meißen Cathedral was structurally built in a chronological fashion, making the east the oldest part section of the structure, and the west the youngest.

Our first challenge of the day was getting to the top of this cathedral. With over 20 flights of stairs ascended, I finally reached the peak of this cathedral. The view was stunning; I was able to see the outline of the town and how it grew throughout the years.

Next, our group toured the Albrechtsburg. Our guide proudly stated that this is the best preserved gothic structure; however, this was probably due to the lack of foreign attack on the defenseless construction. It was originally built as a living space, not a castle for military reasons. Throughout the tour we were reminded of the importance of porcelain to the city; in fact the structure was turned into Europe’s first porcelain factory!

We ended the day with a decompressing trip to an ice-cream shop and rode the train back to Dresden. It was a beautiful experience and I hope to visit again!

Brooklyn McGue

Today we visited the Cathedral and the Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen. During a tour of the Cathedral, I thought it was very interesting to learn about the changes it has been through since first being open, especially the expansion from the original building and how it was transformed from a catholic to a Lutheran church. Although we were scared of the height, I was grateful to be able to walk up to the top of the towers and see the beautiful city from above. We also toured the Albrechtsburg. I think we were all intrigued to see the origins of the porcelain that we have learned so much about already. I thought it was exciting to see the inside of the more modern era gothic castle that was so elegantly designed. The curtain arches and windows and the beautiful paintings were a pleasant surprise when visiting what used to be a porcelain factory. I also enjoyed viewing the last standing gothic toilet in the castle.

Chloe Nelson

Brett Pittsley