Exploring Dachau Old Town and Palace Hill

We ended our visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site at around 4.15pm on 7 May 2026. With some time left before nightfall, we decided to stop at the old town of Dachau and make our way up the hill to Dachau Palace.

Before the uphill walk, we paused along the cobbled streets of Dachau’s old town. The settlement itself is very old, first documented in the 8th century - making it more than 1,200 years old. It developed as a small medieval market town in Bavaria, shaped by its position along regional trade and agricultural routes, and later by its connection to the ducal residence above.

The “old town” (Altstadt) still preserves its historic character today, with narrow lanes, traditional Bavarian houses, and small central squares that reflect its medieval layout. Though now part of the wider Munich metropolitan region, it retains a distinct identity separate from the city.

Once we reached the top, we had a panoramic view of Amper River valley below.

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Dachau Palace (Schloss Dachau) rises above the town and began as a medieval fortification overlooking the Amper River valley. By the late Middle Ages, it had become an important seat for Bavarian nobility due to its strategic position.

In the 16th century, under the Wittelsbach dukes Wilhelm IV and Albrecht V, it was transformed into a Renaissance-style summer residence, expanded into a four-wing complex. It remained largely unchanged until 1715, when Elector Max Emanuel commissioned the refurbishment of the banqueting hall wing, adding a modernised façade and staircase. In the early 19th century, King Max I Joseph ordered the demolition of three of the four wings, leaving only the Baroque banqueting hall tract that survives today.

The palace gardens, known as the terrace gardens, were designed in the Baroque style as a series of stepped levels descending the hill. Once highly formal, with geometric layouts and ornamental planting, they were designed to frame long views across the valley toward the Alps. While later softened into a more park-like landscape, the terraced structure and dramatic sightlines remain the defining features of the site.

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We chose to take a different route from Dachau Palace down to the old town. As we wandered through the streets, we came across a shop that operated as a restaurant and decided to stop for dinner. After enjoying a hearty Bavarian meal, we made our way back to the hotel.