Dresden Frauenkirche

The Dresden Frauenkirche (German: Dresdner Frauenkirche, literally Church of Our Lady) is a Lutheran church in Dresden, Germany.

Built in the 18th century, the church was destroyed in the firebombing of Dresden during World War II.

 The Frauenkirche is a sandstone church erected on a comparatively small base area. The master builder George Bähr opted for a centralised building with an octagonal outline, i.e. the lower part of the church has the form of an octagon. The structure is topped by four corner towers and crowned by a circular dome with a stone lantern.  
 
This dome is distinctive on many counts. Built totally of sandstone, it weighs in at more than 12,000 t. It is said to be the largest stone dome north of the Alps thanks to its height of 24 m and diameter of 26 m. The dome's shape is also unique with the curved base giving it a bell-like look, which is why the Frauenkirche was also nicknamed the ‘Stone Bell’.  
 
Last but not least, the present structure is so impressive because its generally light façade is set off by a scattering of the original, darker-coloured stones across many parts of its surface. The Frauenkirche will thus continue to bear witness to its own history for a long time to come.