The region between Dessau and Wörlitz boasts an array of culturally important historical attractions and locations where momentous theories and philosophies arose. In the natural history museum, the world of plants and animals found in the Elbe biosphere reserve is recreated in large life-like dioramas. The political history museum meanwhile, chronicles the development of the legal system and policing in the region, while Mosigkau Palace and Park is one of the few preserved rococo palaces in eastern Germany. Bauhaus in Dessau
Built in 1926 by Walter Gropius, Dessau's Bauhaus building was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996, and today once again serves as a dynamic hub of art and design. The Bauhaus Dessau foundation preserves Gropius's historical legacy, communicates it to the general public and continues to influence design in the modern world. Multilingual guided tours of the permanent exhibition are available for groups of up to 20 people. Advanced booking required. Audio guides accompanying the permanent exhibition (Bauhaus 1919-33) are also available. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and 24 and 31 December.
» Further informationMuseum of Political History in Anhalt
This museum chronicles the development of the legal system and policing in the Anhalt region. Individually themed areas give an insight into the history of police force and the fire service, all the way from the "Saxon Mirror", an ancient code of German law that represented the beginnings of the legal system, to the early 20th century, the Weimar Republic, right up to the present day. The exhibition includes a comprehensive collection of helmets, caps, sleeve badges and other insignia as well as equipment from police forces all over the world. Mosigkau Palace
This majestic rococo palace is situated just eight kilometres south of Dessau. Across a total of 20 rooms it houses a remarkable collection of paintings and works of art from the 17th and 18th centuries. The architectural highlight is the gallery room found in the main palace building. The ornate decorative panels of this stucco-decorated room are resplendent with a comprehensive range of baroque paintings by Flemish and Dutch masters. Natural History and Prehistory Museum in Dessau
Built around 1750, the building that houses this museum used to belong to the Leopold Dank Foundation. Its 40-metre-high tower, a striking feature of the townscape, was built around 1850 in the style of the Santo Spirito hospital in Rome. Touring the six floors of the museum's tower is like taking a tour through Earth's history. The exhibition "treasures from deep underground" illustrates how the region's landscape developed over millions of years. Life-like models of extinct species of animals are particularly popular with visitors.