Dresden (Sorbian: Drježdzany; etymologically from old sorbian Dreždany meaning people of the riverside forest) is the capital city of the German Federal State of Saxony and situated in a valley on the River Elbe. The city's population is 490,000 (2006) and the population in its agglomeration is 1.1 million. Dresden is part of the metropolitan area Saxon Triangle with a population of over 3.2 million.

Dresden has a long history as capital and Royal residence for the Kings of Saxony with centuries of extraordinary cultural and artistic splendor. The controversial Bombing of Dresden in World War II and 40 years of GDR changed the face of the city dramatically.

Since German re-unification Dresden has been an important cultural, political, and economic center in the Eastern part of the Federal Republic of Germany.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.