Dachau: Artists’ History, Old Town and Court Garden

Art History and Museums

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Dachau was one of Europe’s most important artists’ colonies; its heyday was around 1900. The permanent exhibition at the Dachau Picture Gallery documents the origins and development of landscape painting in Dachau, from its beginnings well into the 20th century, with around 200 paintings and a selection of sculptures. The artists’ colony is at the center of the exhibition. The permanent collection also includes landscapes and genre paintings from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Dachau District Museum focuses on a different subject: across three floors, it presents the cultural history of the town and district. In addition to its permanent exhibition, the museum regularly hosts special exhibitions. This lets you pair the art history of the Picture Gallery with a broader view of the cultural history of the town and region.

Old Town, Church and Palace

Dachau’s historic old town is protected as an architectural ensemble and invites you to stroll and linger. The Picture Gallery, District Museum, St. Jakob Parish Church, town hall and Dachau Palace are all easily reached on foot in the historic old town. The Picture Gallery has a roof terrace, added high above the old town in 2005 as part of its renovation.

St. Jakob is recognizable by its highly visible, 44-meter-high octagonal tower, which rises above Dachau’s old town. On the south side of the nave is an 18th-century sundial. As well as the time, it shows the month and zodiac sign. Guided tours are regularly held at Dachau Palace; check the latest dates if you plan to take a tour.

Court Garden and Walking Routes

The Dachau Palace Court Garden includes a Baroque lime-tree arcade, old garden walls, fruit trees, flower beds and a small adjoining wood. Five honeybee colonies live in the English Garden section of the court garden. Information boards along the bee trail explain the beehives, adding a garden-related theme to your walk.

The “Path of Remembrance” follows twelve information boards along the route from Dachau railway station to the visitor center at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. The route has provided information since 2007; it is three kilometers long and takes about 45 minutes on foot. You can plan it as a separate activity. The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on December 24. Check the visitor information before your trip.

Getting There and Planning Your Visit

The S2 S-Bahn line runs directly from Munich Central Station to Dachau station without a change; the journey takes around 20 minutes. Allow for the approximate journey time given and check the connection before setting out. From the station, City Bus 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. You can also check these timetables again before your visit.

The stated opening hours for the Dachau Picture Gallery are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The stated hours for the District Museum are the same. Check the latest opening information for both museums before your visit. This will help you fit museum visits, a walk through the old town or court garden, and a visit to the memorial site into your stay.

Discover more destinations: Pellheim, Markt Indersdorf, Hebertshausen, Schwabhausen, Bergkirchen.

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