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Dessau
Overview
Dessau (German pronunciation: [ˈdɛsaʊ]) is a district of the independent city of Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt at the confluence of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland (Federal State) of Saxony-Anhalt. Until 1 July 2007, it was an independent city. The population of Dessau is 67,747 (Dec. 2020).
Facts
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Source
WBP almanac
External sources
Media
From Wikipedia2,401 words
WBP editorial3
Beyond Bauhaus: the riverside walk
While most visitors arrive for the famous design school, the meeting point of the Mulde and Elbe offers a quieter insight into Dessau’s character. A sunrise stroll along the levee reveals modest fishing villages that have survived industrial expansion, and the occasional water‑bird colony nesting on the riverbanks. Small wooden cafés line the path, serving locally brewed herbal tea that mirrors the region’s herb gardens. The waterway also serves as a subtle reminder of the city’s historic role as a transport hub, where barges once carried raw materials for factories that sprouted during the early twentieth century. Walking this stretch gives a sense of scale that contrasts sharply with the monumental Bauhaus campus, grounding the visitor in lived, everyday landscapes.
A taste of Anhalt in the city centre
Dessau’s culinary scene is quietly anchored in the traditions of Saxony‑Anhalt. Seek out the weekly market on the historic Altmarkt, where stalls display freshly harvested beetroot, spiced with the region’s signature mustard seed. Local butchers still cure their own pork, producing a smoky sausage that pairs well with a crisp, locally produced Riesling. For a more refined experience, the former municipal guesthouse has been converted into a restaurant that reinterprets the classic 'Zwiebelkuchen' with a modern twist, using heritage grain flour from nearby farms. These modest food rituals, often overlooked by guidebooks, provide a tangible link to the agrarian roots that have shaped the city’s identity for centuries.