Building data

There is a lot to learn about the Dresden Frauenkirche. Selected measurements, key figures and historical facts are compiled here.

Old & new

Including the lower church and the reintegrated parts of the ruins, the Frauenkirche consists of about 45% historic stone material. 8,425 old ashlars were reused, 7,110 of them in the facade. About 80% of the altar is made of original material: 1,642 fragments are back in their original place.

The dome

The »Stone Bell« is made entirely of sandstone. It weighs 12,000 tons. It is 24 meters high with a diameter of 26 meters making it the largest stone dome north of the Alps. Inside, a spiral walkway with a 14% gradient leads 2.5 times around the dome – up to the lantern with viewing platform at a height of 67 meters.

Bells

The Frauenkirche has eight bells. Four each are located in towers C and E. Seven bells are new, one (Maria) comes from the old Frauenkirche. The bells weigh between 291 and 1,750 kg and have diameters between 69.4 and 140.4 cm. The largest is the peace bell Isaiah.

Organ

The Kern organ of the Frauenkirche has 4,876 pipes, the smallest of which measures less than one centimeter and the largest over five meters. 68 sounding stops are distributed among four manuals and pedal. Principal and reed stops are of 87.5% tin, flutes and other parts contain more lead. The organ prospect was made of 20 cubic meters of Saxon basswood.

Facts & figures

Height of the church (with spire cross) 91,23 m
Length of the church (west/east) 50,02 m
Width of the church (north/south) 41,95 m
Enclosed space 91.620 m³
Height of the dome 24,00 m
Outer diameter of the main dome 26,15 m
Height of the visitor platform on the lantern 67,06 m

 

Total weight of the church building 60.000 t
Weight of the dome and the lantern 13.000 t
Steel structures (anchors, gallery girders, window frames) 570 t
Electrical cables laid (during reconstruction) 85.000 m
Wood (doors, bell frames, flooring, pews etc.) 800 m3
Gilding (gold leaf) 600 g

 

Height of the nave up to eye of the inner dome 36,65 m
Number of pillars 8
Number of galleries 5
Seats (nave | galleries) 1.664 (622 | 1.042)
Material of the pews fir wood
Painting sections in the inner dome 8 sections / 8 miniatures

 

Glocke Diameter Weight
Thanksgiving bell Hanna 69,4 cm 291 kg
Baptismal bell Philippus 78,5 cm 392 kg
Memorial bell Maria 84,6 cm 328,5 kg
Prayer bell David 85,0 cm 475 kg
Wedding bell Josua 96,4 cm 645 kg
City bell Jeremia 108,6 cm 900 kg
Proclamation bell Johannes 125,1 cm 1.228 kg
Peace bell Jesaja 104,4 cm 1.750 kg

 

How long did the reconstruction take (debris removal to consecration)? 1993-2005
What proportion of the overall structure is made up of historic stone material? ca. 45%
How many facade stones are old? 7.110
What was the total cost of the reconstruction? 182.6 million euros
What were the mere construction costs? 131,1 million euros
How much was donated for the reconstruction? 102,8 million euros
How long was the construction delay? none (finished one year earlier!)
How much was the budget overdrawn? 2% (i.e. less than inflation!)