Dessau-Roßlau

 is an independent city (kreisfreie Stadt) and urban district in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Elbe and Mulde. The town was formed by merger of the independent city of Dessau with the town of Roßlau in the course of the Kreisreform Sachsen-Anhalt on 1 July 2007. Dessau-Roßlau is the third largest town of Saxony-Anhalt by population, after Magdeburg and Halle.

Dessau
Dessau is the largest population centre within Dessau-Roßlau, with approximately 77,000 inhabitants (2006). Most of the town is located on the left bank of the Mulde, south of its confluence with the Elbe. Dessau was first mentioned in 1213, and became the capital of a small state (Anhalt-Dessau) in the 14th century. Between 1863 and 1918, it was the capital of Anhalt. Since the second half of the 19th century, Dessau is an industrial city. With the famous art and architecture school Bauhaus, located in Dessau between 1925 and 1932, and the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm the city features two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Roßlau
Roßlau has approximately 13,000 inhabitants (2006). It is located on the right bank of the Elbe, near its confluence with the Mulde, about 7 kilometers north of the centre of Dessau. Roßlau was first mentioned in 1215. Before it merged with Dessau, it was part of the district Anhalt-Zerbst.

Politics
Seats in the municipal assembly (Stadtrat) as of 2007 elections: and the Lord Mayor
 * Christian Democratic Union (CDU): 13
 * The Left: 10
 * Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD): 8
 * Pro Dessau-Roßlau (independent): 5
 * Free Democratic Party (FDP): 4
 * Bürgerliste (independent): 3
 * New Forum: 3
 * Alliance '90/The Greens: 2
 * Free Voters: 1
 * German People's Union (DVU): 1

International relations
Dessau-Roßlau is twinned with:
 * 🇫🇷 Argenteuil, France, since 1959
 * 🇦🇹 Klagenfurt, Austria, since 1971
 * 🇩🇪 Ludwigshafen, Germany, since 1988
 * 🇩🇪 Ibbenbüren, Germany, since 1990
 * 🇵🇱 Gliwice, Poland, since 1992
 * 🇱🇹 Nemenčinė, Lithuania, since 1995
 * 🇨🇿 Roudnice nad Labem, Czech Republic, since 2004