The History of Dresden Fortress

Around 1170
Probable royal founding of the city protected by a well-fortified castle on the ford on the left side of the Elbe

1206
First recorded mention of Dresden

1216
First mention as a "civitas", city

1299
First recorded mention of city walls

1427
Construction begins on a ward wall

1519
Construction of a rampart under Duke Georg; the "Frauenkirchen" settlement is incorporated.

1545
Construction starts on a bastion fortress under the Elector Moritz to the right of the Elbe (in an ancient Italian style); Old Dresden is incorporated

1546
Construction begins on the bastion fortress on the Residence side (to the left of the Elbe)

1555
After a construction period of ten years, work is finally completed on Dresden fortress.

1567
Wolfgang Hilger constructs a foundry in the small bastion

1590 - 1592
Extension of the small bastion to the north east by Paul Buchner ("Jungfernbastion")

1632
Construction begins on the Dutch bastion fortress around Old Dresden

1748/49
Conversion of the Venus bastion (Jungfernbastion) to a garden under Earl Brühl

1759/60
Old Dresden is destroyed during the Seven Year's War

1809
The razing of the fortress begins; demolition is broken off due to the battle on the 26th and 27th August, during which French troops fortify the city with earthworks.

1814
The fortifications in the Brühlsche Terrasse area are made open to the public.

1815 - 1830
All the parts of the fortress above ground are finally razed

1945
Parts of the fortifications are used as an air raid bunker from 1965
apart from periods to allow conservation work to take place and the excavation of the fortress area

From 1989
Excavation by the Dresden Association Brühlsche Terrasse e.V. (Link)

1993
Dresden fortress is part of the newly founded palace management Schlösser und Gärten Dresden