The Anhalt-Wittenberg region was the focal point of the Reformation, as well as being home to many innovative artists and thinkers. In Dessau, the Bauhaus art school and the Bauhaus master houses have been designated as a site of world cultural heritage by UNESCO. There is also a long-established theatre tradition in the town, while Wörlitz Palace, with its constantly changing exhibitions, is a magnet for visitors. Dessau Bauhaus
The Bauhaus in Dessau has been at the forefront of avant-garde art and architecture since the 1920s. Under Walter Gropius the State Bauhaus became synonymous with cutting-edge architecture and design in the 20th century. Built in the mid-1920s, it rose to international fame as an innovative centre for classical modernist art and design. With their modernising ideas, artists such as Gropius, Klee, Kandinsky and Feininger heavily influenced the design of houses and townscapes at the time. The arrival of the Bauhaus university was a major milestone in Dessau's history, and these days it is more than just a school or a museum, it is a nerve centre of architectural design, theory and research. Anhalt Theatre
Dessau's Anhalt Theatre is a multi-genre theatre that stages musical events (opera, operettas, musicals) as well as plays, dance theatre and performances by Anhalt's philharmonic orchestra. It is the largest theatre in Saxony-Anhalt, and has a total stage area of 1,450m², as well as approximately 1,100 seats in the Great House, 150 seats in the foyer and around 80 seats in the studio. Younger children will love the puppet theatre, which has its own venue and stages an array of guest performances. Wörlitz Palace
Wörlitz Palace, the earliest neo-classical building in Germany, was built between 1769 and 1773 to a design by Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorff. It served as the summer residence of Prince Leopold III of Anhalt-Dessau. Wörlitz Park, with its landscaped gardens, buildings and artistic features, is renowned across Europe as a fusion of aesthetic splendour. The palace's original interior has been open to visitors since it was first created in the 18th century.