Dachau: Art History, Old Town and Court Garden

Dachau combines a historic old town with an artistic heritage dating back to the artists’ colony around 1900. The Gemäldegalerie, District Museum, St. Jakob’s Parish Church, Town Hall and Dachau Palace are all within easy walking distance in the historic old town. This makes it easy to consider art, local history and notable architecture together when planning your visit.

Artists’ Heritage and Museums

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, Dachau was one of Europe’s most important artists’ colonies; its heyday was around 1900. The permanent exhibition at the Dachau Gemäldegalerie documents the origins and development of landscape painting in Dachau, from its beginnings well into the 20th century. It includes around 200 paintings and a selection of sculptures, featuring landscapes and genre scenes from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The District Museum focuses on a different subject: across three floors, it presents the cultural history of the city of Dachau and the district. Regular special exhibitions complement the permanent exhibition. Visiting both museums offers two perspectives on the region: the development of an art form and the cultural history of the city and district.

Old Town, Church and Court Garden

With its 44-metre-high, octagonal tower, St. Jakob’s Parish Church rises above Dachau’s old town and can be seen from afar. On the south side of the nave is an 18th-century sundial, which shows the time, month and zodiac sign. The old town centre itself is also a destination for a stroll. It is a protected historic ensemble and invites visitors to wander and linger.

The Dachau Palace Court Garden features a Baroque lime-tree pergola, old garden walls, fruit trees, flower beds and a small adjoining wood. Information boards along the bee education trail explain the beehives; five colonies of bees live in the Court Garden’s English Garden. Alongside museums and architectural history, the garden’s varied features and its bees are also distinctive themes on a visit to Dachau.

Routes and Visit Planning

Since 2007, twelve information boards along the “Path of Remembrance” have provided information along the route from Dachau railway station to the visitor centre at Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. The route is three kilometres long and takes about 45 minutes on foot. This provides a practical guide for planning how much time to allow. The memorial site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on 24 December; check the details before setting out.

The S2 S-Bahn runs directly from Munich to Dachau railway station without a change; the journey takes around 20 minutes. From the station, the Citybus 719 runs to the old town every ten minutes on weekdays and Saturdays until 2 p.m. On Sundays and public holidays, routes 720 and 722 operate. Guided tours of Dachau Palace are held regularly; check the current dates in advance.

The Dachau Gemäldegalerie and District Museum are listed as open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Check current opening hours and timetables before your visit.

In the wider Dachau travel destination

The wider Dachau travel destination offers different highlights from those of the old town. The Karlsfelder See recreation area lies right next to the built-up area of northern Karlsfeld, covers 58.2 hectares and is used year-round for walking, jogging, cycling and relaxation. Another option is the approximately 2.5-kilometre-long “Lifeline Maisach” route along the River Maisach; it is accessible without barriers from Bergkirchen or Günding.

When looking for accommodation, you can first decide whether your stay will focus on the old town’s walkable attractions or activities in the wider Dachau travel destination.

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