Sightseeing in Dachau - what to see. Complete travel guide

Dachau is a town on the south of Bavaria, Germany. The distance between it and Munich estimates 17 kilometers and the population of the city is approximately 41 thousand of people. The city was founded in XVIII century; the location of the town was not the easiest one as it occupied the territory full of swamps. However, Dachau was located in the middle of the street connecting Augsburg and Munich and so here took place multiple fair trades. From time to time this town was chosen as a place of rest of Bavarian princes, kings and other noble people. The windows of the local palaces featured amazing views and when the weather was good guests could enjoy stunning panoramic views of Munich and the Apls.

Dachau got the status of the town on November 15, 1933. On the same year the first and largest concentration camp in Germany was organized here in the building of former gunpowder factory. Because of swamps surrounding Dachau at some period of the town’s history it was very popular among painters who lived in it or visited the town from time to time.

Starting from XVI century in the town survived a part of the medieval castle and many other sights as the local town hall, Garden Palace, ancient churches of St. Jacob and St. Nicolas. Currently Dachau is very popular among tourists. People arrive to see the town with long history and rich cultural life. Here you can also visit the former concentration camp that has been turned into a museum, walk on picturesque parks of the town, enjoy looks of the ruins of the local castle and visit old center of Dachau. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In the immediate vicinity of Dachau, there is an incredibly interesting Village of Artists - an amazing open-air museum. Once, the best artists from all over Germany presented their works here. Today, on the territory of the cultural complex, literally every week there are interesting events. Modern artists, photographers and designers present their masterpieces here, and events dedicated to various areas of national culture are held in the museum.

Excursions to the nearby town of Altomunster, which has preserved a very interesting old monastery, are very popular among tourists. There is also another attractive feature of the town - ancient breweries, which now also organize fascinating excursions. Here fans of a foamy drink can taste rare sorts of beer, which have been prepared from unchanged recipes for several hundred years.

The beautiful Church of Versohnungskirche, also known as the Church of Reconciliation, has been preserved in the city. It was built in 1967, on the territory of a concentration camp. This church is considered one of the darkest in the world, which fully corresponds to its location. The religious monument is built exactly in the same style in which the concentration camp buildings were once built. The interior decoration of the church, executed in dark tones, also seems very oppressive. For more than 50 years, the unusual church has been functioning. Every week, there are Sunday services, and on weekdays it often hosts interesting cultural events.

In Dachau, there is an incredibly interesting museum of local lore, in which more than 2,000 historical exhibits are collected. The opening of the museum took place in 1905. For several decades, its exposition so increased that it required a new building for its storage. The museum has been located in the present building since 1987. Its visitors can see a collection of ancient amulets, handicrafts, and miniature models of historic streets and landmarks of the city.

In just a few minutes, guests of Dachau can reach the nearby Altes Schloss. It was built in the 17th century according to Wilhelm V's order. Today, in the walls of the historic building there are several museums, including the original Museum of Nurseries. Some of the halls of the historic castle are used as exhibition galleries.