The artists' colony at a glance
Decades before the concentration camp opened in 1933, Dachau had an artists' colony. It had its main period at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. Among the painters connected with it were Adolf Hölzel, Ludwig Dill and Arthur Langhammer. Carl Spitzweg and Lovis Corinth also stayed in Dachau repeatedly.
A scholarly overview places the colony roughly between 1870 and 1914. It was not an organization with a founding date and a closing date, but a period in which painters worked here. The Historical Lexicon of Bavaria names two turning points: Hölzel's move to Stuttgart in 1905 and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
The painters
The city of Dachau names Adolf Hölzel, Ludwig Dill and Arthur Langhammer as painters of the artists' colony. Carl Spitzweg and Lovis Corinth came to Dachau repeatedly.
Hölzel's move to Stuttgart in 1905 is one of the two turning points named in the scholarly overview of the colony. The other is the beginning of the First World War in 1914.
For visitors today, the colony can be traced in two ways: on foot along the artists' trail, which follows the painters' perspectives in the town, and in the museums of the old town. Both are described below.
Visiting the memorial site from Munich
A guided visit to the memorial site with train and bus from Munich. Only licensed guides may lead tours on the grounds.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided visits from Munich
Guided visits to the Dachau memorial site from Munich. Before booking, please check with the memorial site that the guide is licensed to lead tours on the grounds.
The artists' trail
The artists' trail (Künstlerweg) is 5.7 km (3.5 mi) long and begins at the town hall in the old town. Along the way you can follow the perspectives of the landscape painters at places within the town.
The trail is a walk through the town. It is not a route to the memorial site of the former concentration camp, which lies in the district of Dachau-Ost and is reached by bus 726 from the station.
To reach the start, take bus 719 or 720 from Dachau station to the stop Rathaus. The old town page describes the town hall and the memorial plaques behind it.
Museums and prices in 2026
Prices for the two museums in the old town, as of October 2026.
| Museum | Address | Adults | Children 6 to 18 / reduced | Under 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District museum (Bezirksmuseum) | Augsburger Str. 3 | €5 | €3 | Free |
| Picture gallery (Gemäldegalerie) | Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 3 | €7 | €5 | Free |
Both museums are open Tuesday to Friday from 11 am to 5 pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Monday is not a regular opening day. They are also closed on Shrove Tuesday, Good Friday and on 24, 25 and 31 December. Payment is in cash only.
The reduced rate applies to trainees, school and university students, people with severe disabilities and their necessary companions, and federal volunteers with proof. Between special exhibitions, the reduced rate applies at the picture gallery.
Family, combination and group tickets
Further rates for both museums.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Family ticket, district museum (2 adults, up to 3 children) | €9 |
| Family ticket, picture gallery | €12, or €9 between special exhibitions |
| Family combination ticket | €15, or €12 at the lower rate |
| Combination ticket, adults | €10, reduced €8, valid for 12 months |
| Annual ticket | €22 plus €1.50 handling fee |
| Groups of 10 or more, district museum | €4 per person |
| Groups of 10 or more, picture gallery | €6 during special exhibitions, otherwise €4 |
| School classes | €1 per student, accompanying adults free |
The district museum is not barrier-free. The picture gallery is partly barrier-free.
The Neue Galerie is closed
The Neue Galerie, which used to be the third venue of the Dachau museums, closed on 1 May 2025 as a result of budget cuts. No reopening has been announced for 2026. There are plans for contemporary art and a museum forum, but these are not a replacement gallery that is already open. Older guidebooks and websites may still list the Neue Galerie with opening hours and prices.
The town and its later history
The artists' colony is only one part of the town's history. On 22 March 1933 the Nazi regime opened a concentration camp on the grounds of a disused powder and munitions factory in Dachau. More than 200,000 people were imprisoned in the camp and its subcamps, and at least 41,500 died. If you plan to visit the memorial site on the same day, allow about half a day for it. The memorial site visit page explains opening hours and visitor rules.
The artists' colony: frequently asked questions
Which painters belonged to the Dachau artists' colony?
Among them were Adolf Hölzel, Ludwig Dill and Arthur Langhammer. Carl Spitzweg and Lovis Corinth also stayed in Dachau repeatedly.
When are the museums open?
The picture gallery and the district museum are open Tuesday to Friday from 11 am to 5 pm and on weekends and public holidays from 1 pm to 5 pm. They are closed on Mondays.
How much is admission?
Adults pay €7 at the picture gallery and €5 at the district museum. Children aged 6 to 18 pay €5 and €3, and children under 6 enter free. Cash only.
Is the Neue Galerie open?
No. The Neue Galerie closed on 1 May 2025, and no reopening has been announced for 2026.
Where does the artists' trail start?
At the town hall in the old town. The trail is 5.7 km long.