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Former city in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Photo: Sven Scharr, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Dessau, now Dessau-Roßlau, has a population of 68,000 (2020) and is the third largest city in the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany. Dessau is historically the capital of the Principality (later Duchy) of Anhalt. In the 20th century it became famous for the Junkers aircraft factory and the Bauhaus school of architecture and design. Dessau boasts two UNESCO World Heritage listings: the "Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm" consisting of landscape parks and buildings in and around Dessau, built in the second half of the 18th century during the time of enlightenment by prince Franz; and the Bauhaus buildings.
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The "Bauhaus building" (1925–26 by Walter Gropius) is a trendsetting building for modern architecture and thus listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is 5 minutes walk from the main station (use west exit, not the main exit). It houses a postgradual college ("Bauhauskolleg") and exhibition rooms. It is possible to walk about parts of the building freely. There are guided tours in German daily (not on Mondays between Nov–Feb) at 11:00, sometimes additional tours at peak times (€7). English speaking tours every Friday at 12:00 (€9}. Ticket counter is on the first floor.
Meisterhäuser
The Masters' Houses (1925–26 by Walter Gropius), homes for the Bauhaus teachers ("masters"), are an ensemble of originally one single and three double houses. They are named after their first users (Gropius, Moholy-Nagy/Feininger, Muche/Schlemmer, Klee/Kandinsky). The houses Gropius and Moholy-Nagy were destroyed during WWII, the Gropius villa was replaced by a detached house of the 1950s. New Master Houses were added in 2014 by the Berlin architecture firm Bruno Fioretti Marquez. Guided tours in German daily (not on Mondays between Nov–Feb) 12:30 (€7). English speaking tours every Friday at 13:30 (€9). Tours start at the Bauhaus building.
One of the world's largest collections of Bauhaus design and architecture.
Dessau-Törten Housing Estate
The townhouse complex on Dessau's southern edge was one of the first examples of Bauhaus architecture and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing. It was built in 1926–1928 to overcome the housing shortage of that period. The living area of each house is quite small (57–75 m²), but each had a garden of 350–400 m² that were intended for self-supply with vegetables. Only a few houses are conserved completely in the original Bauhaus style (e.g. Doppelreihe 35, Mittelring 38), while most façades have been modified according to their owners' taste. Konsumgebäude, a kind of cooperative supermarket at the centre of the complex, was designed by Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius as well. Nowadays it serves as a museum on the history of the architectural complex (guided tours in German, Mar-Oct daily at 15:00).
Employment Office
Erstwhile (un)employment office, designed by Walter Gropius and built 1928–1929. Nowadays, it hosts the public order office, driving licence and vehicle registration office of Dessau.
The Georgium park, part of the world cultural heritage, is a landscape park with baroque and English elements of late 18th century, which stretches almost from the station north up to the Elbe river. There is unlimited access to the park (beware of boars in the nighttime though). Georgium palace houses a painting gallery (Tu-Su 10:00-17:00, €3).
Burial place of the Dukes of Anhalt, built 1894–1898 in a Neoclassical and Renaissance Revival style. The dome is 43 metres high. The park surrounding the mausoleum is used as Dessau's zoo.
The Luisium is an English landscape park, which continues into the meadows of Mulde and Elbe. Small palace (rather a villa).
Hugo Junkers technology museum
The exhibition allows to discover the amazing engineering work of the aircraft pioneer Hugo Junkers. It is possible to see some real airplanes like a legendary JU52 and get more information on the different working areas of Hugo Junkers.
Aristocratic town house from the mid-18th century.
Marienkirche
The city's main church, built 1506–1523 in a Gothic style. A statue of Prince Leopold I of Anhalt ("the Old Dessauer"; 1676–1747), Generalfeldmarschall (field marshal) of Prussia, stands in front of the church.
Räucherturm
Remnant of a food processing plant, now covered in street art and featuring a stairwell to use its roof as a lookout tower.
Given that Anhalt was once a separate state, its capital of course has its own theatre, staging dramas, operas, musicals, concerts of the philharmonic orchestra and puppet theatre. It has one of the largest revolving stages in Germany and accommodates an audience of 1100. The building, completed in 1938, is an impressive example of Nazi-era stripped classicism.
Rococo château, built 1752–1757 for Princess Anna Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Dessau. The complex includes Baroque gardens and an orangery. It hosts a picture gallery and serves as a concert venue.
Baroque ensemble of palace, park and town. Built for a Dutch princess who married to Dessau, some roots of the Dutch royal family (House of Orange) are here.
Make a tour to the largest English landscaped park on the continent. Created in the 1770s, it shows finest garden architecture, animated by parks in England like Kew, Stourhead, Stowe. Vistas within the park and to surrounding landscape. The access to the park is free, some manually operated passenger ferries which shortcut the ponds cost €0.60 to €1. Wörlitz Palace, Gothic House, Stein (with artificial volcano) have exhibitions, admission €3 to €5. From Dessau to Wörlitz, it is a good hour of cycling along the "Fürst Franz" bike trail, or take the Dessau-Wörlitzer Eisenbahn from Dessau main station (35 minutes; 10 Euro return).
"The city of iron". A unique ensemble of five of open cast mining giants placed around an open air arena seating 20,000. Staging festivals, like the annually Melt festival in July, and concerts. Metallica liked the setting, so check out the programme.
In an old brewery building, this restaurant serves traditional local food. They brew their own beer.
Mixed crowd of locals, Bauhaus staff and visitors. They offer snacks and light meals.
This restaurant, built 1929 by Bauhaus architect Carl Fieger, sits directly on the south bank of the Elbe river. Terrace out to the river, splendid views. Traditional and experimental food using fresh local produce.
The place is totally not your normal restaurant. The way it’s decorated is not what you’re expecting in Dessau, maybe in Berlin.
inside the city park (Stadtpark)
Opened in May 2022, Walter Café & Bar is the latest addition of the Clubhostel's ambitious owners. Apart from the usual selection of tea, coffee etc, it has a few simple meals and cakes on the menu during the day. The bar sometimes features live music, poetry slams and other cultural events; check the calendar online.
Jugendherberge Dessau
A traditional German youth hostel, mostly geared towards families and school groups.
Opened in 2020, this fancyish hostel is located smack bang in the centre of Dessau. Has a locked garage for bicycles, carparks, fully-equipped guest kitchen, gaming room (with table soccer and board games), snack vending machine (which also sells toothpaste, USB chargers and USB cables), laundry room and some outdoor seating in the backyard. German-style breakfast buffet is available for €8.80. Staff is friendly and always happy to answer questions. Hotel-style rooms are also available, as is a holiday apartment (at a different location). The breakfast area is a café by day and doubles as cocktail bar from Thursday to Saturday nights.
Ever stayed in a world cultural site? You can at the Bauhaus dormitory. Simple standard, shared bathrooms.
Simple business hotel, Prices start at 80 Euro single B&B, 100 Euro double B&B.
4-star business hotel.
Offers a variety of books on art and architecture, also in English.
Offers designer products and Bauhaus-style furniture.
By car
The easiest way to get to Dessau is by car, using the motorway A9. It has three exits depending on where are you coming from.
By train
Regional trains connect from Wittenberg (30 minutes), Leipzig (60 minutes), Halle (50 minutes), Köthen (20 minutes) and Magdeburg (60 minutes) every hour and from Berlin (100 minutes) at two-hourly…
By bus
Germany's biggest long distance bus operator Flixbus has scrapped Dessau as a destination in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was the only one serving the city to begin with; come by train…
Most sites in or near the city centre, including Bauhaus building, Master houses, Georgium park, can be reached by foot.
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