Schloss Dachau

About the museum

The origins of Schloss Dachau lie in a high-medieval castle of the counts of Dachau. In the 16th century the Bavarian dukes discovered the site as a country seat and made it a favorite retreat of the Munich court. Under Duke Wilhelm IV and his son Albrecht V, the castle grew from 1546 into a mighty four-wing complex; in the wing facing the garden, a large great hall (Festsaal) was built.

Its most important decoration is the coffered ceiling that the Munich joiner Hans Wisreutter created between 1564 and 1566. It counts among the outstanding Renaissance ceilings of southern Germany; the panels bear the coats of arms of the Wittelsbach patrons and their wives. Elector Max Emanuel had the hall wing and its staircase remodeled in the Baroque style by Joseph Effner from 1715 to 1717.

At the start of the 19th century, most of the castle was demolished; only the Baroque-remodeled hall wing remained. The palace garden on the ridge goes back to a Renaissance garden from 1578, designed by Friedrich Sustris. Effner laid out large embroidery-pattern flower beds in 1715; in the early 19th century Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell simplified the layout and had fruit trees planted. Garden walls, a long linden arbor, and an orchard recall the different eras.

Today the Bavarian Palace Administration (Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung) looks after the castle. The surviving hall wing is open to visitors for a fee, the building houses a café-restaurant, and the great hall can be rented for events. The palace garden is open to everyone daily and offers a wide view of the Alps.

Highlights

• Renaissance coffered ceiling in the great hall (1564–1566)
• Baroque staircase by Joseph Effner
• Palace garden with Alpine views and free access
• Beekeeping garden with information boards and round beehives
• Café-restaurant in the palace

Permanent exhibition

• Festsaal mit Renaissance-Kassettendecke – The surviving hall wing of the palace, with the artful wooden ceiling of 1564–1566 and the Baroque staircase.

Operated by

Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen (Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Schleißheim)

Admission & discounts

Prices for 2026. The palace garden is open to the public free of charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: not available
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Two accessible parking spaces in the public lot in front of the palace; the path to the entrance is about 20 m long with no slope. The café entrance is step-free, but the door can only be opened by a wheelchair user with assistance. Two elevators (cabin 90 × 140 cm, door width 89 cm). The accessible toilet is on the second floor, is only accessible during café opening hours, and can only be used from the left. The palace garden slopes steeply (over 6%) from the parking lot, but the garden paths themselves are easy to navigate by wheelchair. No tactile guidance system and no induction loop; written information is available.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Navigation address: Schlossstraße 7, 85221 Dachau.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

Café-restaurant in the palace (tel. 08131 2607818, schlossdachau.com); tickets are also sold there.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 585 guests.

The great hall with its vestibule can be rented for concerts, standing receptions, seated dinners, and lectures (up to 585 people).

Plan your visit