Dessau

Germany

Dessau, now Dessau-Roßlau, has a population of approx. 90.000 and is the third largest city in the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany. Dessau is historically the capital of the principality (later dukedom) of Anhalt(-Dessau). In the 20th century it became famous for the "Bauhaus" & "Junkers". Buildings and parks in and around Dessau ("Garden kingdom of Dessau-Wörtlitz"), built in the second half of the 18th century during the time of enlightenment by prince Franz, became listed as world cultural heritage as well as the Bauhaus buildings.

Dessau is located on the river Mulde which discharges into the Elbe just north of the city. The meadows of Mulde and Elbe are protected biosphere reservation.

Main attractions of the city are: Bauhaus building

  • Bauhaus building, Gropiusallee 38. 10:00-18:00. The "Bauhaus building" (1926 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 at 11:00 and 14:00, additional tours on weekends (€4). Ticket counter is on the first floor. €8.50 for adult.
  • Master Houses, Ebertallee 1 -7 (5 minutes walk from the Bauhaus/10 minutes from the station. Tues-Sun from 10:00-17:00 (Apr-Oct until 18:00). The Master Houses (1926 by Walter Gropius), dwelling houses for the Bauhaus techers ("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 distroyed during WWII, the Gropius villa was replaced by a detached house of the 1950s. Guided tours (in German) start at the Bauhaus building (tickets on the first floor) Tue-Sun 12:30 and 15:30. The price of €9 includes entrance fees. €5.
  • Georgium, Puschkinallee (5 minutes walk from the Bauhaus, 10 minutes from the station. 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 (Tue-Sun: 10:00-17:00, €3).
  • Luisium, Waldersee (3 km north east oft the city centre. The Luisium is an English landscape park, which continues into the meadows of Mulde and Elbe. Small palace (rather a villa). Admission to the park is free (beware of boars.), to the palace: May to Sept: Tue-Sun: 10:00-17:00, admission €4,5; with a guided tour only.
  • Technikmuseum, Kühnauer Straße 161a (1,5 km west of the city centre. Daily 10:00-17:00. 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. €3.

Bauhaus building, Gropiusallee 38. 10:00-18:00. The "Bauhaus building" (1926 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 at 11:00 and 14:00, additional tours on weekends (€4). Ticket counter is on the first floor. €8.50 for adult.

Master Houses, Ebertallee 1 -7 (5 minutes walk from the Bauhaus/10 minutes from the station. Tues-Sun from 10:00-17:00 (Apr-Oct until 18:00). The Master Houses (1926 by Walter Gropius), dwelling houses for the Bauhaus techers ("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 distroyed during WWII, the Gropius villa was replaced by a detached house of the 1950s. Guided tours (in German) start at the Bauhaus building (tickets on the first floor) Tue-Sun 12:30 and 15:30. The price of €9 includes entrance fees. €5.

Georgium, Puschkinallee (5 minutes walk from the Bauhaus, 10 minutes from the station. 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 (Tue-Sun: 10:00-17:00, €3).

Luisium, Waldersee (3 km north east oft the city centre. The Luisium is an English landscape park, which continues into the meadows of Mulde and Elbe. Small palace (rather a villa). Admission to the park is free (beware of boars.), to the palace: May to Sept: Tue-Sun: 10:00-17:00, admission €4,5; with a guided tour only.

Technikmuseum, Kühnauer Straße 161a (1,5 km west of the city centre. Daily 10:00-17:00. 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. €3.

  • Wörlitz Gardens. 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 passerger ferries which shortcut lakes 0,60 -1 Euro. Wörlitz Palace, Gothic House, Stein (with artificial volcano) have exhibitions, admission 3 to 5 Euro. 17 km to the east of Dessau, a good hour of cycling, or take the Wörlitzer Eisenbahn from the Dessau main station (approx 8 Euro return).
  • Cycle. along the Elbe or Mulde rivers and explore hidden beaches. The Elbe was named by the Romans albis fluvius (white river) for its bright sandy beaches.
  • Oranienbaum. baroque ensemble of palace, park and town. Built for a Dutch princess who married to Dessau, some roots of the Dutch Royal Family are here.
  • Ferropolis. the city of iron, 20 km east of Dessau. 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.

Wörlitz Gardens. 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 passerger ferries which shortcut lakes 0,60 -1 Euro. Wörlitz Palace, Gothic House, Stein (with artificial volcano) have exhibitions, admission 3 to 5 Euro. 17 km to the east of Dessau, a good hour of cycling, or take the Wörlitzer Eisenbahn from the Dessau main station (approx 8 Euro return).

Cycle. along the Elbe or Mulde rivers and explore hidden beaches. The Elbe was named by the Romans albis fluvius (white river) for its bright sandy beaches.

Oranienbaum. baroque ensemble of palace, park and town. Built for a Dutch princess who married to Dessau, some roots of the Dutch Royal Family are here.

Ferropolis. the city of iron, 20 km east of Dessau. 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 the city centre there is the standard shopping choice. Two shopping malls in the city centre, Rathaus-Center (between Kavalierstraße and Zerbster Straße) and Dessau-Center on Franzstraße/Askanische Straße offer the same indoor.

Worth having a look at are:

  • Bookshop in the Bauhaus, Gropiusallee 38 (at the basement of the Bauhaus building. open daily 1000-1800. offer a variety of books on arts and architecture, also in English.
  • Galerie Bauart, Gropiusallee 81 (near Bauhaus/Meisterhäuser. open Fri-Sun 1200-1800. offer design articles and Bauhaus-style futniture.

Bookshop in the Bauhaus, Gropiusallee 38 (at the basement of the Bauhaus building. open daily 1000-1800. offer a variety of books on arts and architecture, also in English.

Galerie Bauart, Gropiusallee 81 (near Bauhaus/Meisterhäuser. open Fri-Sun 1200-1800. offer design articles and Bauhaus-style futniture.

There are several restaurants and bars in the city centre and on Zerbster Straße. There is a food court inside the centrally located shopping mall Rathauscenter.

Worth noting for their special flair are:

  • Brauhaus zum Alten Dessauer, Lange Gasse 16 (city centre, +49 340 2205909. Open daily from 1100 until midnight. Located in an old brewery building, this restaurant serves traditional local food. They brew their own beer. Main dishes around 10/12 Euro..
  • Bauhaus Mensa, Gropiusallee 38 (inside Bauhaus building. open 0800-1400.. Breakfast and Lunch. Self service, meals up to 5 Euro
  • Bauhaus Klub, Gropiusallee 38 (inside Bauhaus building, in the basement. 1000-2400 (sundays until 2000). Mixed crowd of locals, Bauhaus staff and visitors. They offer snacks and light meals.
  • Kornhaus, Kornhausstraße 146 (2 km north of the city centre. Open daily except Thurs 1100-2300. 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, main dishes around 10 Euro.

Brauhaus zum Alten Dessauer, Lange Gasse 16 (city centre, +49 340 2205909. Open daily from 1100 until midnight. Located in an old brewery building, this restaurant serves traditional local food. They brew their own beer. Main dishes around 10/12 Euro..

Bauhaus Mensa, Gropiusallee 38 (inside Bauhaus building. open 0800-1400.. Breakfast and Lunch. Self service, meals up to 5 Euro

Bauhaus Klub, Gropiusallee 38 (inside Bauhaus building, in the basement. 1000-2400 (sundays until 2000). Mixed crowd of locals, Bauhaus staff and visitors. They offer snacks and light meals.

Kornhaus, Kornhausstraße 146 (2 km north of the city centre. Open daily except Thurs 1100-2300. 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, main dishes around 10 Euro.

  • Wittenberg with the Luther sites, 40 km east
  • Leipzig, 60 km south
  • Halle, 60 km south west
  • Berlin is less than two hours away