Residenzschloss

The neo-Renaissance Residenzschloss was the home of Saxon kings until 1918. With postwar reconstruction nearly completed, the must-see Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) has returned to the palace. Picture it as the real-life equivalent of Aladdin's Cave, a mind-boggling collection of precious objects wrought from gold, ivory, silver, diamonds and other materials. There's so much of it, it's shown in two separate 'treasure chambers', both in the palace west wing (enter from Sophienstrasse).

The Neues Grünes Gewölbe (New Green Vault) presents some 1000 objects in 10 modern rooms on the upper floor. Among the most prized items are a frigate fashioned from ivory with wafer-thin sails, a cherry pit with 185 faces carved into it, and an exotic ensemble of 132 gem-studded figurines representing a royal court in India. The artistry of each item is simply dazzling. To avoid the worst crush of people, visit during lunchtime.

An additional 3000 items are exhibited below in the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe (Historical Green Vault). They are displayed on shelves and tables in a series of increasingly lavish rooms, just as they were during the time of August der Starke.

In the same wing, on the top floor, is the Kupferstich-Kabinett (Collection of Prints & Drawings).

For fine views, head up the Hausmannsturm (Palace Tower). Numismatists might like to pop into the Münzkabinett (Coin Collection), also in the tower.