Saxony is a federal state, meaning it has its own parliament, government, and policies, making it very similar to states in the USA.  The Federal Republic of Germany consists of 16 federal states, and Saxony is the second largest.  Saxony welcomes millions of visitors every year.  There are many reasons to visit Saxony its culture, art, landmarks, people and much more combine to create a unique atmosphere that is attractive to all different types of people (Niedersachsen, 2001).

Saxony is located in the south-eastern courer of Germany, betwee Poland, and the Czech Republic and the four German states of Bavaria, Thuringen, Sachsen-Anhalt and Brandenburg.  Saxony is smaller than most of its neighbors, however, it is the wealthies and most influential of the German kingdoms (Milnes, 2001).
History

In the sixth century Saxony was settled by Sorbian tribes.  The rule of the House of Wettin, beginning in 1809 by Heinrich von Eilenburg, went on to last for 820 years.  In 1485 the land was divided between two brothers Albert and Ernst.  Albert took the eastern territory, which resemble present-day Saxony.  Just over a hundred years later Saxony fought on Napoleons side in the Battle of Leipzig and lost.  Consequently, many territories were handed over to Prussia.  Under the rule of Friedrich August 1, Dresden became the center of European art and culture and the capital of Saxony(Saxony, 2001).

In 1945 American and Soviet troops occupied the state.  For the entire year Saxony was under Soviet occupation.  When the constitution was revoked in 1947, Saxony was divided again, this time into the East German administrative districts of Leipzig, Karl-Marx-Stadt and Dresden.

Saxony was the beginning of the only successful German revolution.  Saxons were the first to peacefully fight for their rights.  Within a few months, in 1989 East and West Germany were combined and the division of Germany was over.  In 1990 Saxony became a state of the Federal Republic of Germany.  Professor Kurt Biedenkopf became prime minister (Saxony, 2001).

People

There are four and a half million people who populate the Free State of Saxony.  The Saxony is the most densely populated of the German states.  Saxony is in a sense a melting pot of cultures.  This is a place where the influences of all European cultures come together and by which, in turn, they are influenced (sachsen).  Saxony has produced many famous scientists, artists, statesmen and entrepreneurs.

Johann Sebastian Bach was from Saxony.  Bach, considered the greatest German composer, above even Beethoven, spent the last 27 years of his life as a music direct in St. Thomas’s School in Leipzig.  There he was known as an excellent choirmaster and organist.  In 1820 at a performance of his St. Matthew Passion he became famous overnight. 

Another famous Saxonian was Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz a computer pioneer.  Leibniz drafted a program for an ideal language.  His deliberations began the history of mathematical logic.  Simultaneously with Newton, Leibniz invented calculus.  He also developed a binary system using the digits 0 and 1, without which there would not have been the computer technology of today.

Carl Maria von Weber, born in 1786 was director of the German Opera in Dresden.  At the age of 1 he wrote an opera, “Das Waldmarchen”, which his father then performed.  Weber is regarded as having paved the way for many other famous writers such as Chopin, Wagner and Liszt.  His operas “Euryanthe” and “Oberon” are world famous and “Der Freischutz” is frequently performed in many German’s operas.

Culture

Saxony is full of fascinating galleries, libraries, famous compositions, traditional crafts and unique architecture (LFV-Art and Culture Tours,2001). There is the Sistine Madonna, a festival in the evening at the Semper Opera House in Dresden.  There is also a Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig.  Soon the Leipzig Fine Arts Museum will by Saxony’s major gallery.  Now around 2700 paintings are exhibited there.

In 1905 four men created art history in Dresden.  Fritz Bleyl, Erich Heckl, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff came together to form the Expressionist movement.  They were later joined by Max Pechstein and Emil Nolde, romantics like Casper David Friedrich, and New Functionalist painters like Otto Dix worked in Saxony(Saxony 2001).

Saxony is known for its woodcarving.  Craftsman from Seiffen have exhibited their works at the Leipzig trade fair since 1699.  The tradition of wooden toy making continues today.  Whether nutcrackers, candelabras or Christmas pyramid, every pies is made with detail, craftsmanship and detail.  Designs and motifs have remained unchanged for hundreds of years.

The Saxony cuisine can be broken down into three highlights.  The Saxons have a sweet tooth, so they add sugar and curd cheese to potatoes and turn them into a variety of cakes and sweet meats.  Besides sugar, their other passion is dipping or dunking sweet things into coffee and savouries into all kinds of sauces(Saxony 2001).

The architecture of Saxony is astonishing.  Its castle fortresses, Romanesque churches, medieval sacred building, Renaissance building, and unique 16th century houses combine to make Saxony an architectural jewel.  Dresden’s magnificent buildings date mainly from the Baroque era, a period when Saxon Electors were very generous patrons of art and culture.  Saxony is an excellent example of modern architecture given the enormous amount of new building activity (Art and Culture Tours, 2001).
 

Conclusions

Saxony offers a wonderful cultural experience.  There are many unique aspects to this region making it very attractive to many visitors of Germany.  The state welcomes millions of viistors every year.  There are many good reasons to visity Saxony, their culture, their people, their history, their arcitecture, and much much more.

   Niedersachsen.  (2001).  Niedersachsen Homepage.  Retrieved June 11, 2001 from http://www.niedersachsen.de

   Art and Culture Tours.  (2001).  Sachsen.  Retrieved June 13, 2001 from http://www.sachsen-tour.de

   Saxony. (2001). Saxony Homepage.  Retrieved June 12, 2001 from http://www.sachsen.de

   Milnes, Anthea (2001, May).  The Complete Guide to Saxony.  The Independent, p.3