Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

DREAMSCAPES SPRING/SUMMER 2024 34 M eißen, situated on the banks of the river Elbe, spoils the visitor with its pic- turesque views, charming old town, and surrounding vineyards bearing the fruit of its famed local wine. The city is the cradle of Saxony, mixing lively traditions and a vibrant creativity. Meißen is also the home of Germany's first luxury brand—the exceptional Meissen porce- lain that dates back to Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, who founded the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. This fabled industry has endured for 300 years, producing porcelain decorative figurines and dinnerware known as "white gold." It con- tinues to flourish today. Original designs still remain in production. Flawless creations like jays roosting in a tree and opulent vases to countless collectible pieces use the same time- honoured techniques. You also can see modern spins on old creations at the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. One of the newest designs is of an imperial fortune dragon by product designer Zhuoyu Hou, which shows how the company has innovated in its manufacturing. White Gold. Up Close. Hands On. The Meissen Porcelain Manufactory recently opened a second level in the manufactory's own mine, which is the smallest in Europe. Its two sole miners extract kaolin, the pure clay that gives porcelain its signature milky white colour. For everything you need to know about Meissen porcelain, head to the manufactory and be sure to visit the Meissen Theme World. You can get behind the scenes of the craftsmanship on a guided Manufactory Tour and learn how porcelain paste is made using kaolin and how white porcelain is produced. Or, touch this white gold and handle the ingredients yourself in a DIY workshop and design your own Meissen porcelain mug. At the on-site Museum of Meissen Porcelain Foundation, discover this rich heritage through a vast collection of hand-painted porcelain that is up to 300 years old. Celebrating Saxon Culture While the City of Meißen (Meissen) is famous for porcelain, this is not its only intangible cul- tural heritage. The city celebrates its Saxon culture and traditions in other ways. Climb up to the spire of the Frauenkirche for a spectacular view and hear the church's ringing porcelain bells. Visit the oldest private brewery in Saxony or enjoy a four-course dinner served on Meissen porcelain in the Café and Restaurant Meissen. A little lighter bite but still in the Baroque manner is the city's signature sweet, Meissner Fummel, which dates back to the 18 th century. It's hollow and so fragile that it breaks at the slightest vibration. But life here is so placid, it seems unlikely. TRAVEL PLANNER For information on Meissen porcelain and the City of Meissen, visit erlebniswelt-meissen.com/en/ DID YOU KNOW? When you purchase a combo castle and demonstration workshop ticket at the Meissen Porcelain Manufac- tory, you can see the porcelain production and tour the Albrechtsburg Castle, Germany's oldest castle and the manufactory's first production site. DS BY KAREN BURSHTEIN Discover White Gold in MEISSEN PHOTOS: MEISSEN/ELLEN-FOTOGRAFIE | BLACK FOREST PRODUCTION GMBH

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