Dachau was first mentioned in documents in 805 during the reign of Charlemagne. The castle was built atop the 504 m hill around 1100. During the 16th century, it was replaced by a Renaissance palace. At the beginning of the 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars, three of the four wings were so badly damaged that they had to be torn down. Today, Dachau Palace consists of the remaining west wing. Its main attraction is the unique, coffered ceiling carved out of wood which was put back into position in the festival hall in 1979 after a long odyssey, making it the most beautiful Renaissance hall north of the Alps. Since 1908, the palace has been a venue for exhibitions. Today, it hosts concerts of international acclaim.
