Dessau is a town and former municipality in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland (Federal State) of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it has been part of the newly created municipality of Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 (June 2006).

Dessau is situated on a floodplain where the Mulde flows into the Elbe. This causes yearly floods. The worst flood took place in the year 2002, when the Waldersee district was nearly completely flooded. The south of Dessau touches a well-wooded area called Mosigkauer Heide. The highest elevation is a 110 m high former rubbish dump called Scherbelberg in the southwest of Dessau. Dessau is surrounded by numerous parks and palaces that make it one of the greenest towns in Germany.

Sights include: Castles and gardens

• Georgium Castle
• Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz, is a World Heritage Site landscape garden. It is an exceptional example of 18th century Age of Enlightenment landscape design in the English style.
• Dresden Elbe Valley
• Zoo at Mausoleumspark
• Wallwitzburg
• Rondell
• remains of the Dessau Palace (Johannbau)
• Georgium Palace and Park
• Kühnau Palace and Park
• Mosigkau Palace and Park
• Luisium Palace and Park
• Townhall, built in 1901
• The palaces of Waldersee and Dietrich, today used as libraries
• General post office
• New water tower
• Umweltbundesamt (formerly Wörlitzer Bahnhof)
• Footbridge crossing the river Mulde