Palais Branconi

Palais Branconi is a neoclassical city palace at Zerbster Straße 36 with sections of its original facade still visible despite wartime damage that affected the structure. The building displays characteristic design elements typical of its period, though deterioration has marked much of its surfaces over the decades.

The palace was built between 1795 and 1796 by architect Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorff as a grand residence in Dessau. Severe destruction came during the 1945 bombing raids, an event that fundamentally changed the building's appearance and condition.

The palace served as an important cultural gathering place in the early 1900s with theatrical performances and entertainment. Today, visitors can sense how the building once drew people seeking artistic experiences in the city.

The building is currently not open to visitors as it requires significant structural repairs and remains unsafe to enter. You can view it from the street and see how restoration efforts may eventually transform this space into a public cultural venue.

The building was once known as Kristallpalast, a name reflecting the elegance and luminosity visitors experienced inside. After the war, theater operations continued here from 1949 until 1990, when safety concerns finally ended all use.

Location: Dessau-Roßlau

GPS coordinates: 51.83790,12.24600

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:23