Dachau

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This article is about the Bavarian town. For the Nazi concentration camp, see Dachau concentration camp. For other uses, see Dachau (disambiguation).
Dachau
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Dachau
Dachau (Germany)
Dachau
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Bavaria
Admin. region Upper Bavaria
District Dachau
Lord Mayor Peter Bürgel (CSU)
Basic statistics
Area 34.85 km² (13.5 sq mi)
Elevation 482 m  (1581 ft)
Population 40,570  (31/03/2007)
 - Density 1,164 /km² (3,015 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate DAH
Postal code 85221
Area code 08131
Website www.dachau.de
Location of the town of Dachau within Dachau district
Map

Coordinates: 48°15′37″N 11°26′3″E / 48.26028, 11.43417
Dachau: Church of St Jakob
Dachau: Church of St Jakob

Dachau is a town in Bavaria, in the southern part of Germany. It is a major district town—a Große Kreisstadt—of the administrative region of Upper Bavaria, about 20 km north-west of Munich. It is now a popular residential area for people working in Munich with roughly 40,000 inhabitants. The town contains a historic town centre with an 18th century castle.

Dachau was founded in the 8th century. It was home to many artists during the late 19th and early 20th century; for instance, Ludwig Thoma was born here.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Prehistoric times and Early Middle Ages

There are signs of settlement as far back as the Stone Age. The earliest known reference to Dahauua[1] dates back to 805 AD: on August 15, on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, during Charlemagne's reign, the lady Erchana of the Aribons bequeathed all her landed property in "Dahauua", consisting of 5 Colonenhöfe and some serfs, to the Diocese of Freising upon her death. The deed on which this is recorded has the earliest known reference to Dachau. 2005 was the 1200th anniversary of this occasion.

[edit] Middle Ages

From the 12th century, Dachau was a summer residence for several Bavarian princes. Between 1240 and 1270, Dachau was granted market privileges, first by Duke Otto II, and then by his son, Duke Ludwig II the Strenge.

[edit] 16th century

Between 1546 and 1577, the Wittelsbachs built Dachau Palace in the Renaissance style. From June 1715 to Autumn 1717, Joseph Effner converted the Palace to a more modern style.

[edit] Second World War

In 1933, the Dachau concentration camp was built by the Nazis.. It became the prototype for all other camps. During its operation, 190,591 prisoners died or were exterminated.

[edit] Geography

[edit] Geographical location

Dachau is located just 20 km to the north-west of Munich. It is situated by the river Amper, with a boundary demarcated by lateral moraines formed during the last ice age and the Amper glacial valley. It is also close to a large marshy area called Dachauer Moos.

[edit] Neighbouring municipalities

Adjacent municipalities are Bergkirchen to the West, Schwabhausen and Hebertshausen to the north and Karlsfeld to the south. To the east, Dachau is bordered by the municipality of Oberschleißheim, which is part of the rural district of Munich.

[edit] Parts of the town

Dachau in autumn 2002
Dachau in autumn 2002

Dachau consists of three central divisions:

  • The old town: Altstadt, Mitterndorf, Udlding, Etzenhausen, Unterer Markt
  • Dachau East: Oberaugustenfeld, Unteraugustenfeld, Polln, Obergrashof, parts of Prittlbach
  • Dachau South: Himmelreich, Holzgarten, parts of Gröbenried

The areas Pellheim, Pullhausen, Assenhausen, Lohfeld and Viehhausen were incorporated into Dachau in 1972.

[edit] Sights

  • Dachau Concentration Camp memorial Site: Dachau is best known for its proximity to the relatively well-preserved site of the infamous Dachau concentration camp, the first large-scale concentration camp in Germany, converted from an old gunpowder factory by the Nazi regime in 1933.
  • Dachau Palace: A medieval castle which became the favourite residence of the Bavarian dukes in the 16th century. It was renovated into an enormous four-wing complex. Only one wing exists today.
  • Palace garden: a landscape garden.
  • Church of St. Jakob (St. James)
  • Old town
  • Town hall
  • Dachauer Moos: a wetland area.
  • Church of St. Nicolas, Mitterndorf (1496)

[edit] Twin towns

[edit] People

Famous people who lived, worked or were born in Dachau:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dahauua: possibly meaning "clayey wetland"

This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of 2006-11-24.

[edit] Literature

  • Hans-Günther Richardi: Dachauer Zeitgeschichtsführer. Stadt Dachau, Dachau 1998 (German)

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Towns and municipalities in Dachau
Coat of Arms of Dachau district