This article gives an overview about the architecture of
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
, Germany.
Main architectural examples
Marienplatz and Stachus
At the center of the city is the
Marienplatz
Marienplatz (English: Mary's Square, i.e. St. Mary, Our Lady's Square) is a central square in the city centre of Munich, Germany. It has been the city's main square since 1158.
History
During the Middle Ages, markets and tournaments were held ...
– a large open square named after the
Mariensäule
The Mariensäule (lit. 'Mary's Column') is a Marian column located on the Marienplatz in Munich, Germany. Mary is revered here as '' Patrona Bavariae'' (Latin: Protector of Bavaria).
History
It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedis ...
, a
Marian column
Marian may refer to:
People
* Mari people, a Finno-Ugric ethnic group in Russia
* Marian (given name), a list of people with the given name
* Marian (surname), a list of people so named
Places
* Marian, Iran (disambiguation)
* Marian, Queenslan ...
in its centre – with the
Old
Old or OLD may refer to:
Places
*Old, Baranya, Hungary
*Old, Northamptonshire, England
*Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD)
*OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Mai ...
and the
New Town Hall. The New Town Hall's tower contains the
Rathaus-Glockenspiel
The Rathaus-Glockenspiel in Munich is a tourist attraction clock in Marienplatz, the heart of Munich, Germany.
History
Part of the second construction phase of the New Town Hall, it dates from 1908. Every day at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. (as well as ...
, an ornate clock with almost life-sized moving figures that show scenes from a medieval jousting tournament as well as a performance of the famous "
Schäfflertanz
The Coopers' Dance (german: Schäfflertanz) is a guild dance of coopers originally started in Münich. Since early 1800s the custom spread via journeymen and it is now a common tradition over the Old Bavaria region. The dance was supposed to be he ...
" (roughly translated "Barrel-makers' dance". According to the (disproved) tradition, the "Schäffler" supposedly were the first to dance in the streets after the plague ended, thus encouraging the people to cheer up and go outdoors). The old Gothic arsenal building close to Marienplatz houses the
Munich Stadtmuseum
The Munich Stadtmuseum (German: "Münchner Stadtmuseum") or Munich City Museum, is the city museum of Munich. It was founded in 1888 by Ernst von Destouches. It is located in the former municipal arsenal and stables, both buildings of the late ...
.
Three gates of the demolished medieval fortification have survived to this day: the
Isartor
The Isartor at the Isartorplatz in Munich is one of four main gates of the medieval city wall. It served as a fortification for the defence and is the most easterly of Munich's three remaining gothic town gates (''Isartor'', '' Sendlinger Tor'' a ...
in the east, the
Sendlinger Tor
The Sendlinger Tor (translated: ''Sendling Gate'') is a city gate at the southern extremity of the historic old town area of Munich. It served as a fortification for defence and is one of Munich's three remaining gothic town gates (the other tw ...
in the south and the
Karlstor
Karlstor in Munich (called Neuhauser Tor until 1791) is one of what used to be Munich's famed city wall from the medieval ages till late into the 18th century. It served as a major defensive fortification and checkpoint.
It is located at the w ...
in the west of the inner city. The Karlstor is the oldest building at
Stachus
Stachus is a large square in central Munich, Bavaria. The square was officially named Karlsplatz in 1797 after the unpopular Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria. Munich natives seldom use that name, calling the square instead ''Stachus'', afte ...
, a grand square dominated by the
Neo-Baroque Justizpalast (Palace of Justice). The nearby
Lenbachplatz
Lenbachplatz is located in Maxvorstadt, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most popu ...
is dominated by the
Bernheimer-Haus
The Bernheimer-Haus, also known as the Bernheimer Palace, is a residential and commercial building located on Lenbachplatz 3 in Munich. The building was built in 1888/89 by architect Friedrich von Thiersch with a Baroque Revival architecture, neo-b ...
and the
Wittelsbacherbrunnen. The adjacent tower is the only relic of the Maxburg, a
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
palace which was destroyed in World War II.
The architecture of the Gothic Munich was still strongly influenced by the citizenry and not much different from the other ducal cities such as
Landshut
Landshut (; bar, Landshuad) is a town in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also t ...
,
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt (, Austro-Bavarian: ) is an independent city on the Danube in Upper Bavaria with 139,553 inhabitants (as of June 30, 2022). Around half a million people live in the metropolitan area. Ingolstadt is the second largest city in Upper Bav ...
and
Straubing
Straubing () is an independent city in Lower Bavaria, southern Germany. It is seat of the district of Straubing-Bogen. Annually in August the Gäubodenvolksfest, the second largest fair in Bavaria, is held.
The city is located on the Danube form ...
. When Bavaria was reunited in 1506 Munich became capital of the whole of Bavaria. The arts then became increasingly influenced by the court and Munich began to outperform the other cities of the duchy.
Houses of worship in the inner city
The
Peterskirche
The ''Peterskirche'' ( en, St. Peter's Church) is a Baroque Catholic Church, Roman Catholic parish church in Vienna, Austria. It was transferred in 1970 by the Archbishop of Vienna Franz König, Franz Cardinal König to the priests of the Opus ...
close to Marienplatz is the oldest church of the inner city. It was first built during the
Romanesque period, and was the focus of the early monastic settlement in Munich before the city's official foundation in 1158.
Nearby St. Peter the Gothic hall-church
Heiliggeistkirche (The Church of the Holy Ghost) was converted to baroque style from 1724 onwards and looks down upon the
Viktualienmarkt
The Viktualienmarkt is a daily food market and a square in the center of Munich, Germany. It has been held daily since 1807, except on Sundays and public holidays.
The Viktualienmarkt developed from an original farmers' market to a popula ...
, the most popular market of Munich.
The
Frauenkirche (Dom zu unserer Lieben Frau – Cathedral of
Our Lady) is the most famous building in the city center and serves as cathedral for the
Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising (german: Erzbistum München und Freising, la, Archidioecesis Monacensis et Frisingensis) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Bavaria, Germany. . The Frauenkirche was constructed from red brick in the late
Gothic
Gothic or Gothics may refer to:
People and languages
*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes
**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths
**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
style within only 20 years from 1468. Also the late gothic churches of the churchyards of St. Peter and of the Frauenkirche, the
Kreuzkirche
The Dresden Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) is a Lutheran church in Dresden, Germany. It is the main church and seat of the ''Landesbischof'' of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony, and the largest church building in the Free State o ...
close to the Sendlinger Tor and
St. Salvator nearby the cathedral still exist. The former gothic
Augustinerkirche next to the Frauenkirche today houses the
German Hunting and Fishing Museum
The German Hunting and Fishing Museum (german: Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum) is a museum exhibiting objects connected with the history of hunting and fishing in Germany or other territories which nowadays belong to it.
Location
Located ...
.
The nearby
Michaelskirche is the largest
renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
church north of the Alps. The church was built by
William V, Duke of Bavaria
William V (29 September 1548 – 7 February 1626), called ''the Pious'', (German: ''Wilhelm V., der Fromme, Herzog von Bayern'') was Duke of Bavaria from 1579 to 1597.
Education and early life
William V was born in Landshut, the son of Alber ...
between 1583 and 1597 as a spiritual center for the
Counter Reformation
The Counter-Reformation (), also called the Catholic Reformation () or the Catholic Revival, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation. It began with the Council of Trent (1545–1563) a ...
. In order to realise his ambitious plans for the church and the adjoining
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...
, Duke Wilhelm had 87 houses in the best location pulled down, ignoring the protests of the citizens.
[Munich City of the Arts by Hans Nohbauer, p. 26]
The eldest Baroque church of the inner city is the
Karmelitenkirche
The Karmelitenkirche or Carmelite Church of St. Nicholas is a Baroque architecture, Baroque former church at Karmeliterstraße in Munich, Germany, Munich, Germany. It was built in 1654 to plans by by as a replacement for the old Carmelite Churc ...
at Promenadeplatz, which was constructed shortly before the Italian baroque was introduced in Munich under
Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy
Henriette Adelaide of Savoy (Enrichetta Adelaide Maria; 6 November 1636 – 13 June 1676), was Electress of Bavaria by marriage to Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria. She had much political influence in her adopted country and with her husband d ...
. The Italian court architects such as
Enrico Zuccalli
Enrico Zuccalli (''Johann Heinrich Zuccalli''; c. 1642 – 8 March 1724) was a Swiss architect who worked for the Wittelsbach regents of Bavaria and Cologne. Biography
Zuccalli was born in Roveredo, Switzerland. From 1669 he lived in Munich a ...
and
Giovanni Antonio Viscardi
Giovanni Antonio Viscardi (27 December 1645 – 9 September 1713) was a Swiss architect of the baroque, who worked mostly in Bavaria.
Biography
Giovanni Antonio Viscardi was born in San Vittore, Grisons. He was descended from a family wh ...
then controlled the architecture in Munich for several decades. The
Theatinerkirche (1663–1690) is a
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
in Italianate high baroque which had a major influence on Southern German
baroque
The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...
architecture. Its dome dominates the
Odeonsplatz
The Odeonsplatz is a large square in central Munich which was developed in the early 19th century by Leo von Klenze and is at the southern end of the Ludwigstraße, developed at the same time. The square is named for the former concert hall, t ...
. Other Italian baroque churches in the inner city which are worth a detour are the
Bürgersaalkirche
The Bürgersaal (English: "Citizen's Hall") is a historical building in Munich, Germany. Also known as ''Bürgersaalkirche'' since the consecration of the altar on May 13, 1778, it is the prayer and meeting room of the Marian Men Congregation " ...
(1709) and the
Dreifaltigkeitskirche (1711–1718).
St. Anna im Lehel by
Johann Michael Fischer
Johann Michael Fischer (18 February 1692 – 6 May 1766) was a German architect in the late Baroque period.
Fischer was born in Burglengenfeld, Upper Palatinate. He is a major representative of south German Baroque architects. He studied in Bohem ...
was the first
Rococo
Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...
church in Bavaria (1727–1733). The
Damenstiftskirche St. Anna was built in 1733 by Johann Baptist Gunetzrhainer. The
Asamkirche was endowed and built by the Brothers
Asam from 1733, pioneering artists of the Rococo period.
With the 19th-century
architectural
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings o ...
revival styles many new Catholic churches were constructed also in Munich. Since
Middle Franconia
Middle Franconia (german: Mittelfranken, ) is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the west of Bavaria and borders the state of Baden-Württemberg. The administrative seat is Ansbach; however, ...
whose population is predominantly of Protestant origin was annexed by Bavaria the first Protestant churches St Mathaeus, St. Martin and
St. Lukas in Munich were erected in this period as well. Among the
Neo-Romanesque
Romanesque Revival (or Neo-Romanesque) is a style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century inspired by the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque architecture. Unlike the historic Romanesque style, Romanesque Revival buildings tended to ...
churches are
St. Anna im Lehel,
St. Maximilian and St. Benno in Neuhausen. At the east side of the river Isar three large
neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...
churches were constructed: The Maria-Hilf-Kirche in der Au, St.Johannis in Haidhausen and the Kreuzkirche in Giesing. The largest neo-Gothic church is
St.Paul at Theresienwiese. Among the
Neo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival architecture (sometimes referred to as "Neo-Renaissance") is a group of 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Greek Revival nor Gothic Revival but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range o ...
churches is St.Ursula in Schwabing and the largest neo-baroque churches are St.Margaret in Sendling and St.Joseph in Schwabing.
On 9 November 2006 the new
Ohel Jakob synagogue was opened on Sankt-Jakobs-Platz, 68 years after the massive
Kristallnacht
() or the Night of Broken Glass, also called the November pogrom(s) (german: Novemberpogrome, ), was a pogrom against Jews carried out by the Nazi Party's (SA) paramilitary and (SS) paramilitary forces along with some participation from ...
pogro
A new mosque is planned not far from the city center on a vacant lot. An Islamic prayer house still exists in the vicinity but the plans for a bigger and Mosque in Sendling, more representative building face to face with a Catholic church are discussed controversially.
Palaces in the inner city
The Gothic
Alte Hof, a medieval castle and first residence of the
Wittelsbach
The House of Wittelsbach () is a German dynasty, with branches that have ruled over territories including Bavaria, the Palatinate, Holland and Zeeland, Sweden (with Finland), Denmark, Norway, Hungary (with Romania), Bohemia, the Electorate o ...
dukes in Munich still exists in the inner city close to Marienplatz. The Renaissance ''
Mint Yard'' with its neoclassical façade is situated between the old castle and the Residenz. The ''
Old Academy
The Academy (Ancient Greek: Ἀκαδημία) was founded by Plato in c. 387 BC in Athens. Aristotle studied there for twenty years (367–347 BC) before founding his own school, the Lyceum. The Academy persisted throughout the Hellenistic p ...
'' next to St. Michael also dates from the renaissance era.
The large
Residenz
Residenz () is a German word for "place of living", now obsolete except in the formal sense of an official residence. A related term, Residenzstadt, denotes a city where a sovereign ruler resided, therefore carrying a similar meaning as the modern ...
palace complex (begun in 1385) on the edge of Munich's Old Town ranks among Europe's most significant museums of interior decoration. Having undergone several extensions, it contains also the treasury and the splendid Rococo
Cuvilliés Theatre
The Cuvilliés Theatre (german: link=no, Cuvilliés-Theater) or Old Residence Theatre (''Altes Residenztheater'') is the former court theatre of the Residenz in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
History
Elector of Bavaria Maximilian III Joseph (reg. ...
. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and the museum displays 130 rooms. The four main parts are the ''Königsbau'' (near the Max-Joseph-Platz), the ''Alte Residenz'' (towards the Residenzstraße), the ''Festsaalbau'' (towards the
Hofgarten) and the Byzantine Court Church of All Saints (''
Allerheiligen-Hofkirche
The Allerheiligen-Hofkirche (Court Church of All Saints) is a church in the Munich Residenz (the royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs) designed by Leo von Klenze and built between 1826 and 1837. The church was badly damaged from bombing during Wor ...
''). Opposite to the church the building for the ''Marstall'' (Royal Stables) was erected. Facing the Hofgarten on the east side is the
Bavarian Staatskanzlei ("State Chancellery"), housed in the former Army Museum, with the addition of glass wings left and right of the original building. The repurposed building was completed in 1993.
Among the baroque and neoclassical mansions which still exist in Munich are the ''
Palais Porcia
The Palais Porcia is a Baroque mansion in Munich, southern Germany, which served as residence for Count Fugger. It is Munich's oldest still existing Baroque style palace.
Building style
Enrico Zuccalli built the mansion in Italian baroque ...
'', the ''
Palais Törring-Jettenbach'' with its loggia, the ''
Palais Preysing
The Palais Preysing is a late- Baroque mansion in Munich, southern Germany, which served as residence for the Counts of Preysing. To distinguish it from the nearby Palais Neuhaus-Preysing, it is also called the ''Elder Palais Preysing''.
Joseph ...
'', the ''
Palais Holnstein
Holnstein Palace''The Encyclopedia Americana: the international reference work, Volume 19''. (1962), Americana Corp., p. 564. ISBN. (german: Palais Holnstein) is an historic building in Munich, Southern Germany, which has been the residence of th ...
'' (the residence of the
Archbishop of Munich and Freising
The following people were bishops, prince-bishops or archbishops of Freising or Munich and Freising in Bavaria:
Bishops of Freising
* St. Corbinian (724–730); founded the Benedictine abbey in Freising, although the diocese was not organ ...
), the ''
Palais Leuchtenberg
The Palais Leuchtenberg, (known between 1853 and 1933 as the Luitpold Palais or Prinz Luitpold Palais) built in the early 19th century for Eugène de Beauharnais, first Duke of Leuchtenberg, is the largest palace in Munich. Located on the west si ...
'' (the former residence of
Eugène de Beauharnais
Eugène Rose de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg (; 3 September 1781 – 21 February 1824) was a French nobleman, statesman, and military commander who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
Through the second marr ...
) and the ''
Prinz-Carl-Palais
The Prinz Carl Palais in Munich is a mansion built in the style of early Neoclassicism in 1804–1806. It was also known as the Palais Salabert and the Palais Royal, after its former owners.
The Prinz-Carl-Palais was planned in 1803 by the young ...
'', the official residence of Bavaria's state premier (or
Ministerpräsident
A minister-president or minister president is the head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments with a parliamentary system, parliamentary or semi-presidential system, semi-presidential system of government where ...
). All mansions are situated close to the Residenz.
The ''Maxburg'', a renaissance palace north of Stachus, was destroyed in World War II, only a tower has been preserved and integrated into a modern building. The ''Neue Landschaftsgebäude'' at Roßmarkt close to the Sendlinger Tor is a palatial building which was constructed in 1774 by
François de Cuvilliés the Younger
François de Cuvilliés the Younger (24 October 1731 – 10 January 1777) was a German architect, engraver, draftsman, engineer, and author. He was the son of François de Cuvilliés (the Elder).
Biography
He was born in Munich on 24 October 173 ...
for the Bavarian Estates.
Royal avenues, museums and theatres
Next door to the Residenz the neo-classical opera, the
Nationaltheater was erected. On its left hand side the modern
Residenz Theatre
The Residence Theatre (in German: Residenztheater) or New Residence Theatre (Neues Residenztheater) of the Residence in Munich was built from 1950 to 1951 by Karl Hocheder. The renovation of 1981 by Alexander von Branca removed the decoration whic ...
was constructed in the building that had housed the Cuvilliés Theatre before World War II.
Four grand royal avenues of the 19th century with magnificent official buildings connect Munich's inner city with the suburbs:
The
neoclassical Brienner Straße was constructed in line with a draft of
Karl von Fischer
Karl arlvon Fischer (19 September 1782 – 12 February 1820) was a German architect.Fischer, Karl von. ''Benezit Dictionary of Artists'' (Oxford University Press; 2011)Claudia Bölling. Fischer, Karl von. ''Grove Art Online'' (Oxford University Pr ...
and
Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell
Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell (13 September 1750, in Weilburg – 24 February 1823, in Munich) was a German landscape gardener from Weilburg an der Lahn. He is regarded as the founder of the English gardens in Germany, which he introduced to the Germ ...
under the reign of
Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria
Maximilian I Joseph (german: Maximilian I. Joseph; 27 May 1756 – 13 October 1825) was Duke of Zweibrücken from 1795 to 1799, prince-elector of Bavaria (as Maximilian IV Joseph) from 1799 to 1806, then King of Bavaria (as Maximilian I Joseph) ...
from 1812 onwards.
It is starting at
Odeonsplatz
The Odeonsplatz is a large square in central Munich which was developed in the early 19th century by Leo von Klenze and is at the southern end of the Ludwigstraße, developed at the same time. The square is named for the former concert hall, t ...
on the northern fringe of the Old Town close to the
Residenz
Residenz () is a German word for "place of living", now obsolete except in the formal sense of an official residence. A related term, Residenzstadt, denotes a city where a sovereign ruler resided, therefore carrying a similar meaning as the modern ...
, runs from east to west and passes the square Wittelsbacher Platz and the circular Karolinenplatz with its obelisk, and finally opens into the impressive
Königsplatz, designed with the "
Doric Doric may refer to:
* Doric, of or relating to the Dorians of ancient Greece
** Doric Greek, the dialects of the Dorians
* Doric order, a style of ancient Greek architecture
* Doric mode, a synonym of Dorian mode
* Doric dialect (Scotland)
* Doric ...
"
Propylaea
In ancient Greek architecture, a propylaea, propylea or propylaia (; Greek: προπύλαια) is a monumental gateway. They are seen as a partition, specifically for separating the secular and religious pieces of a city. The prototypical Gree ...
, the "
Ionic"
Glyptothek
The Glyptothek () is a museum in Munich, Germany, which was commissioned by the Bavarian King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Ludwig I to house his collection of Ancient Greek art, Greek and Roman art, Roman sculptures (hence γλυπτο- ''glypto-'' "sculp ...
and the "
Corinthian Corinthian or Corinthians may refer to:
*Several Pauline epistles, books of the New Testament of the Bible:
**First Epistle to the Corinthians
**Second Epistle to the Corinthians
**Third Epistle to the Corinthians (Orthodox)
*A demonym relating to ...
"
State Museum of Classical Art, on its back side
St. Boniface's Abbey
St. Boniface's Abbey (german: Abtei St. Bonifaz) is a Benedictine monastery in Maxvorstadt, Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It was founded in 1835 by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, as a part of his efforts to reanimate the country's spiritual life by the re ...
was erected. In the most western part between Königsplatz and Stiglmeierplatz the Munich modern Volkstheater (roughly translated as "People's Theatre") was founded in 1983. The area around Königsplatz is home to the
Kunstareal
The Kunstareal (, "art district") is a museum quarter in the city centre of Munich, Germany.
Area of arts
It consists of the three "Pinakotheken" galleries (Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne), the Glyptothek, the Sta ...
, Munich's gallery and museum quarter. It consists also of the three "Pinakotheken" galleries (
Alte Pinakothek
The Alte Pinakothek (, ''Old Pinakothek'') is an art museum located in the Kunstareal area in Munich, Germany. It is one of the oldest galleries in the world and houses a significant collection of Old Master paintings. The name Alte (Old) Pinak ...
,
Neue Pinakothek
The Neue Pinakothek (, ''New Pinacotheca'') is an art museum in Munich, Germany. Its focus is European Art of the 18th and 19th centuries, and it is one of the most important museums of art of the nineteenth century in the world. Together with th ...
and
Pinakothek der Moderne
The Pinakothek der Moderne (, '' Pinakothek of the Modern'') is a modern art museum, situated in central Munich's ''Kunstareal''. Locals sometimes refer to it as the ''Dritte'' ("third") ''Pinakothek'' after the Old and New. It is one of the world' ...
), the
Lenbachhaus
The Lenbachhaus () is a building housing an art museum in Munich's '' Kunstareal''.
The building
The Lenbachhaus was built as a Florentine-style villa for the painter Franz von Lenbach between 1887 and 1891 by Gabriel von Seidl and was expa ...
, the
Museum Brandhorst
The Brandhorst Museum was opened in Munich on 21 May 2009. It displays about 200 exhibits from collection of modern art of the heirs of the Henkel trust Udo and Anette Brandhorst. In 2009 the Brandhorst Collection comprises more than 700 works.
...
and the
Staatliche Sammlung für Ägyptische Kunst
The Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst (, ''State Museum of Egyptian Art'') is an archaeological museum in Munich. It contains the Bavarian state collection of ancient Egyptian art and displays exhibits from both the predynastic and dynastic p ...
. The Alte Pinakothek and the Lenbachhaus are buildings in Neo-Renaissance style, which suffered damage during World War II, for the other museums modern buildings were created.
The
Ludwigstraße
The Ludwigstraße in Munich is one of the city's four royal avenues next to the Brienner Straße, the Maximilianstraße and the Prinzregentenstraße. Principal was King Ludwig I of Bavaria, the avenue is named in his honour. The city's grandest ...
was constructed from 1816. The southern part of the avenue was constructed in Italian
renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
style by
Leo von Klenze
Leo von Klenze (Franz Karl Leopold von Klenze; 29 February 1784, Buchladen (Bockelah / Bocla) near Schladen – 26 January 1864, Munich) was a German neoclassicist architect, painter and writer. Court architect of Bavarian King Ludwig I, Leo ...
from 1816 onwards. The northern part was then constructed since 1827 in line with a plan of Klenze's rival
Friedrich von Gärtner
Friedrich von Gärtner (10 December 1791 in Koblenz – 21 April 1847 in Munich) was a German architect.
Biography
His father was also an architect, and moved in 1804 to Munich, where young Gärtner received his first education in architect ...
, the appearance is strongly influenced by Italian
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque style, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 11th century, this lat ...
. Same as the Brienner Straße the avenue of King
Ludwig I
en, Louis Charles Augustus
, image = Joseph Karl Stieler - King Ludwig I in his Coronation Robes - WGA21796.jpg
, caption = Portrait by Joseph Stieler, 1825
, succession=King of Bavaria
, reign =
, coronation ...
begins at ''Odeonsplatz'' but runs from south to north, it leads from the
Feldherrnhalle
The Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshals' Hall) is a monumental loggia on the Odeonsplatz in Munich, Germany. Modelled after the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, it was commissioned in 1841 by King Ludwig I of Bavaria to honour the tradition of the ...
in the south to the victory gate
Siegestor
The Siegestor ( en, Victory Gate) in Munich is a three-arched memorial arch, crowned with a statue of Bavaria with a lion-quadriga. The monument was originally dedicated to the glory of the Bavarian army. Since its restoration following World Wa ...
in the north, skirting the
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (simply University of Munich or LMU; german: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) is a public research university in Munich, Germany. It is Germany's sixth-oldest university in continuous operatio ...
, the
St. Louis church, the
Bavarian State Library
The Bavarian State Library (german: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, abbreviated BSB, called ''Bibliotheca Regia Monacensis'' before 1919) in Munich is the central " Landesbibliothek", i. e. the state library of the Free State of Bavaria, the bigg ...
and numerous state ministries and palaces. Behind the Siegestor the avenue is called
Leopoldstraße Leopoldstraße is a street in the Munich districts Maxvorstadt, Schwabing and Milbertshofen. It is a major boulevard, and the main street of the Schwabing district. It is a continuation of Ludwigstraße, the boulevard of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, n ...
, which is the main boulevard of
Schwabing
Schwabing is a borough in the northern part of Munich, the capital of the German state of Bavaria. It is part of the city borough 4 (Schwabing-West) and the city borough 12 (Schwabing-Freimann). The population of Schwabing is estimated about 100 ...
. Nearby the gate the Neo-Renaissance building of the
Academy of Fine Arts Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich (german: Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, also known as Munich Academy) is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany. It is located in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich, in Bavaria, ...
is situated.
The neo-Gothic
Maximilianstraße was constructed under king
Maximilian II of Bavaria
Maximilian II (28 November 1811 – 10 March 1864) reigned as King of Bavaria between 1848 and 1864.
Unlike his father, King Ludwig I, "King Max" was very popular and took a greater interest in the business of Government than in personal extra ...
, who started the project in 1850, the leading architect was
Friedrich Bürklein
Georg Friedrich Christian Bürklein (30 March 1813 – 4 December 1872) was a German architect and a pupil of Friedrich von Gärtner.Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie"Bürklein, Friedrich" (in German)
Biography
He was born in Burk, Middle Franconia ...
. Maximilianstraße starts at
Max-Joseph-Platz
Max-Joseph-Platz is a large square in central Munich which was named after King Maximilian Joseph. Max-Joseph-Platz serves as the western starting point of the royal avenue Maximilianstraße. Architecture
The square was constructed with the erect ...
, where the ''Residenz'' and the National Theatre are situated, and runs from west to east. The avenue is framed by neo-Gothic buildings which house, among others, the
Schauspielhaus and the ''Building of the district government of Upper Bavaria'' and the
Museum Five Continents
The Museum Five Continents or Five Continents Museum (german: Museum Fünf Kontinente), located in Munich, Germany, is a museum for non-European artworks and objects of cultural value. Its name until 9 September 2014 was Bavarian State Museum of E ...
. After crossing the river Isar, the avenue circles the
Maximilianeum
The Maximilianeum, a palatial building in Munich, was built as the home of a gifted students' foundation but since 1949 has housed the Bavarian State Parliament. It sits grandly and as a focal point on the bank of the Isar River above Maximilian ...
, home of a gifted students' foundation and the
state parliament. The western portion of Maximilianstraße is known for its designer shops, luxury boutiques, jewellery stores, and one of Munich's foremost five-star hotels, the
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten (Four Seasons).
The
Prinzregentenstraße runs parallel to Maximilianstraße and begins at
Prinz-Carl-Palais
The Prinz Carl Palais in Munich is a mansion built in the style of early Neoclassicism in 1804–1806. It was also known as the Palais Salabert and the Palais Royal, after its former owners.
The Prinz-Carl-Palais was planned in 1803 by the young ...
, in the northeastern part of the Old Town. The avenue was constructed from 1891 onwards as a prime address for the middle-class during the reign of
Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria
''Leopold Charles Joseph William Louis''
, image_size =
, image = Luitpold Wittelsbach cropped.jpg
, succession = Prince Regent of Bavaria
, reign = 10 June 1886 – 12 December 1912
, reign-type = Tenure
, regent = Ludw ...
and is named Prinzregentenstraße in his honour. Many museums can be found along the avenue, such as the internationally renowned ''
Haus der Kunst
The ''Haus der Kunst'' (, ''House of Art'') is a non-collecting modern and contemporary art museum in Munich, Germany. It is located at Prinzregentenstraße 1 at the southern edge of the Englischer Garten, Munich's largest park.
History
Na ...
'' (House of Art), the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (
Bavarian National Museum
The Bavarian National Museum (german: Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, links=no) in Munich is one of the most important museums of decorative arts in Europe and one of the list of largest art museums in the world , largest art museums in Germany. S ...
) and the modern adjoining
Bavarian State Archaeological Collection
The Bavarian State Archaeological Collection (german: Archäologische Staatssammlung, until 2000 known as the ''Prähistorische Staatssammlung'', State Prehistoric Collection) in Munich is the central museum of prehistory of the State of Bavaria, ...
, the
Schackgalerie
The Schackgalerie is a museum in Munich. It is one of the noted galleries in this city. The museum is under supervision of the Bavarian State Picture Collection.
Collection
In 1855, Adolf Friedrich von Schack settled in Munich and became a member ...
and the ''Villa Stuck'' on the eastern side of the river. The avenue crosses the river and circles the ''Friedensengel'' (
Angel of Peace
The ''Angel of Peace'' (german: Friedensengel) is a monument in the Bogenhausen district of Munich. The architects were Heinrich Düll, Georg Pezold und Max Heilmaier.
Structure
The ''Angel of Peace'' is part of the Maximilian Park and a '' ...
), a monument commemorating the 25 years of peace following the
Franco-Prussian War in 1871. The
Prinzregententheater
The Prinzregententheater, or, as it was called in its first decades, the Prinz-Regenten-Theater, in English the Prince Regent Theatre, is a concert hall and opera house on Prinzregentenplatz in the Bavarian capital of Munich, Germany.
Building ...
, another important theatre, is at Prinzregentenplatz further to the east.
The ''
Bavaria statue
''Bavaria'' is the name given to a monumental, bronze sand-cast 19th-century statue in Munich, southern Germany. It is a female personification of the Bavarian homeland, and by extension its strength and glory.
The statue is part of an ensemb ...
'' (German just 'Bavaria') is a
bronze-cast statue of a female figure representing
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
's "secular patron saint", the ''
Tellus (Mater) Bavarica'' ("goddess of the land of Bavaria"), located at the border of the
Theresienwiese
Theresienwiese is an open space in the Munich borough of Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt. It serves as the official ground of the Munich Oktoberfest. A space of , it is bordered in the west by the Ruhmeshalle and the Bavaria statue, symbolizing ...
, in the southwest of the inner city where the
Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest (; bar, Wiesn, Oktobafest) is the world's largest Volksfest, featuring a beer festival and a travelling carnival. It is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 16- to 18-day folk festival running from mid- or ...
takes place. The statue was commissioned by
Ludwig I of Bavaria
en, Louis Charles Augustus
, image = Joseph Karl Stieler - King Ludwig I in his Coronation Robes - WGA21796.jpg
, caption = Portrait by Joseph Stieler, 1825
, succession=King of Bavaria
, reign =
, coronation ...
.
Leo von Klenze
Leo von Klenze (Franz Karl Leopold von Klenze; 29 February 1784, Buchladen (Bockelah / Bocla) near Schladen – 26 January 1864, Munich) was a German neoclassicist architect, painter and writer. Court architect of Bavarian King Ludwig I, Leo ...
constructed the Doric building of the ''Ruhmeshalle'' (Hall of Fame) in the background of the Bavaria.
The neoclassical
Gärtnerplatz Theatre is a ballet and musical state theatre on the left bank of the Isar in the south of the inner city. The modern
Gasteig
Gasteig is a cultural center in Munich, opened in 1985, which hosts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. The Richard Strauss Conservatory, the Volkshochschule, and the municipal library are all located in the Gasteig. Most of the events of the Fi ...
center is situated on the opposite bank of the river, close to the Volksbad, a large public bath built in the art nouveau style.
The
Deutsches Museum
The Deutsches Museum (''German Museum'', officially (English: ''German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology'')) in Munich, Germany, is the world's largest museum of science and technology, with about 28,000 exhibited objects from ...
, is located nearby on an island in the Isar, is one of the oldest and largest science museums in the world.
Palaces in the suburbs
Two large baroque palaces in Nymphenburg and Oberschleissheim are reminders of Bavaria's royal past.
Nymphenburg Palace
The Nymphenburg Palace (german: Schloss Nymphenburg, Palace of the Nymphs) is a Baroque palace situated in Munich's western district Neuhausen-Nymphenburg, in Bavaria, southern Germany. Combined with the adjacent Nymphenburg Palace Park it consti ...
, some 6 km north west of the city centre, was constructed from 1664 and is surrounded by an impressive park and is considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful royal residences. The palace was commissioned by the prince-electoral couple
Ferdinand Maria
Ferdinand Maria (31 October 1636 – 26 May 1679) was a Wittelsbach ruler of Electorate of Bavaria, Bavaria and an elector (''prince-elector, Kurfürst'') of the Holy Roman Empire from 1651 to 1679.
Electoral Prince of Bavaria
He was born in M ...
and
Henriette Adelaide of Savoy
Henriette Adelaide of Savoy (Enrichetta Adelaide Maria; 6 November 1636 – 13 June 1676), was Electress of Bavaria by marriage to Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria. She had much political influence in her adopted country and with her husband d ...
to the designs of the Italian architect
Agostino Barelli
Agostino Barelli (Baptized 26 October 1627, Bologna – c. 29 January 1697, Bologna) was an Italian architect of the Baroque.
Biography
Barelli is noted for introducing Italian Baroque architecture to Bavaria. He was invited to Munich by Henr ...
after the birth of their son
Max II Emanuel. Starting in 1701, Max Emanuel conducted a systematic extension of the palace. The first half of Max Emanuel's reign was still dominated by his parents' Italian court artists, like
Enrico Zuccalli
Enrico Zuccalli (''Johann Heinrich Zuccalli''; c. 1642 – 8 March 1724) was a Swiss architect who worked for the Wittelsbach regents of Bavaria and Cologne. Biography
Zuccalli was born in Roveredo, Switzerland. From 1669 he lived in Munich a ...
and
Giovanni Antonio Viscardi
Giovanni Antonio Viscardi (27 December 1645 – 9 September 1713) was a Swiss architect of the baroque, who worked mostly in Bavaria.
Biography
Giovanni Antonio Viscardi was born in San Vittore, Grisons. He was descended from a family wh ...
. With the appointment of
Joseph Effner
Joseph Effner (February 4, 1687 (baptized) – February 23, 1745) was a German architect and decorator.
Biography
Effner was born in Dachau as a son of the court gardener Christian Öffner. Effner accompanied the elector of Bavaria Max Ema ...
serving as chief architect of the court and the young
François de Cuvilliés
François de Cuvilliés, sometimes referred to as ''the Elder'' (23 October 1695, Soignies, Hainaut14 April 1768, Munich), was a Belgian-born Bavarian decorative designer and architect. He was instrumental in bringing the Rococo style to the Witt ...
as his assistant, the French influence significantly increased and Max Emanuel's return in 1715 marked the origin of the era of Bavarian
Rococo
Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...
. Within the park, a number of pavilions were built such as the Pagodenburg (1716–1719), the Badenburg (1719–1721) and the
Amalienburg
The Amalienburg is an elaborate hunting lodge on the grounds of the Nymphenburg Palace Park, Munich, in southern Germany. It was designed by François de Cuvilliés in Rococo style and constructed between 1734 and 1739 for Elector Karl Albr ...
, a
Rococo
Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...
hunting lodge constructed in 1734–1739 by François de Cuvilliés.
The second large baroque residence is Schloss Schleissheim (''
Schleissheim Palace
The Schleißheim Palace (german: Schloss Schleißheim) comprises three individual palaces in a grand Baroque park in the village of Oberschleißheim, a suburb of Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The palace was a summer residence of the Bavarian rulers ...
''), located in the suburb of
Oberschleissheim, a palace complex encompassing three separate residences: ''Altes Schloss Schleissheim'' (the old palace; 1617–1623), ''Neues Schloss Schleissheim'' (the new palace; 1701–1726) and Schloss Lustheim (Lustheim Palace; 1684–1688). Most parts of the palace complex serve as museums and art galleries.
The Schloss Fürstenried (''
Fürstenried Palace
Fürstenried Palace is a Baroque ''maison de plaisance'' and hunting lodge in Munich, Germany. It was built from 1715 to 1717 for Elector Maximilian II Emanuel. Today the palace serves as spiritual house for archdiocese and as pastoral center.
...
''), a baroque palace of similar structure to Nymphenburg but of much smaller size, was erected 1715–1717 in the south west of Munich.
The oldest summer residences of the Wittelsbach were Schloss Dachau (''
Dachau Palace
The Dachau Palace is a former residence of the rulers of Bavaria at Dachau, Bavaria, Dachau, southern Germany.
History
The castle was constructed around 1100 as a castle by the cadet branch of the House of Wittelsbach. In 1182, the last Count ...
'') close to Oberschleissheim and the gothic Burg Grünwald (''
Grünwald castle Grünwald (transliterated Gruenwald) is German for "green forest" and may refer to:
Places
* Grünwald, Austria, town in Aigen-Schlägl municipality, Rohrbach, Austria
* Grünwald, Bavaria, municipality south of Munich, Germany
People
* Alfred Gr ...
'') in the southern suburb of
Grünwald. 2 km north west of Nymphenburg Palace Schloss Blutenburg (''
Blutenburg Castle
Blutenburg Castle is an old ducal country seat in the west of Munich, Germany, on the banks of river Würm.
History
The castle was built between two arms of the River Würm for Duke Albert III, Duke of Bavaria in 1438–39 as a hunting-lodge, ...
'') is situated, an old ducal country seat with a late-Gothic palace church.
Churches in the suburbs
The oldest church within the city borders is the
Holy Cross Church in the suburb of Fröttmaning next to the
Allianz Arena
Allianz Arena (; known as Fußball Arena München for UEFA competitions) is a football stadium in Munich, Bavaria, Germany with a 70,000 seating capacity for international matches and 75,000 for domestic matches. Widely known for its exterior ...
, known for its Romanesque fresco. The interior of the Gothic
St. Mary's Church in the district Ramersdorf-Perlach of
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
was re-designed in Baroque style. Many other churches of the incorporated villages around Old Munich are still in existence such as the Gothic church St.Wolfgang in Pipping.
The Rococo church
St Michael in Berg am Laim was built by
Johann Michael Fischer
Johann Michael Fischer (18 February 1692 – 6 May 1766) was a German architect in the late Baroque period.
Fischer was born in Burglengenfeld, Upper Palatinate. He is a major representative of south German Baroque architects. He studied in Bohem ...
and might be the most remarkable church out of the inner city. The most famous modern church is the Herz-Jesu-Kirche in Nymphenburg.
Modern Munich
Munich features a wide and diverse array of modern architecture, although strict height limitations for buildings have limited the construction of skyscrapers. Most high-rise buildings are clustered at the northern edge of Munich, like the
Hypo-Haus
The listed HVB Tower or formerly Hypo-house (Hypo-Haus) or Hypo high-rise building (Hypo-Hochhaus) is an administrative building of the HypoVereinsbank in Munich.
Architecture and history
In 1960 there were the first thoughts to centralize the h ...
, the
Arabella High-Rise Building
The Arabella-Hochhaus is a 23-storey, , hotel/apartment building at Arabellapark, in the Bogenhausen neighborhood in eastern Munich, Germany
History
The building was designed by architect Toby Schmidbauer and constructed from 1966 to 1969 by . Un ...
, the
Highlight Towers
Highlight Towers is a twin tower office skyscraper complex completed in 2004 in Munich, Germany, planned by architects Murphy/Jahn of Chicago. Tower I is tall with 33 storeys, and Tower II is tall with 28 storeys, which make them among the h ...
,
Uptown Munich
Uptown may refer to:
Neighborhoods or regions in several cities
United States
* Uptown, entertainment district east of Downtown and Midtown Albuquerque, New Mexico
* Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
* Uptown, area surrounding the University of C ...
and the
BMW Headquarters
The BMW Headquarters (german: BMW-Vierzylinder, ), also known as the BMW Tower (German: ''BMW-Turm'' or ''BMW-Hochhaus''), is a high-rise building located in the Am Riesenfeld area of Munich, Germany. The building has served as the global corp ...
( with the adjoining
BMW Welt
The BMW Welt is a combined exhibition, delivery, adventure museum, and event venue located in Munich's district Am Riesenfeld, next to the Olympiapark (Munich), Olympic Park, in the immediate vicinity of the BMW Headquarters and factory. It was b ...
) next to the Olympic Park. Several other high-rise buildings are located near the city center and on the
Siemens
Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational conglomerate corporation and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe headquartered in Munich with branch offices abroad.
The principal divisions of the corporation are ''Industry'', '' ...
campus in southern Munich.
A landmark of modern Munich is also the architecture of its two large sport arenas. The Olympic Park with its
stadium
A stadium ( : stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand o ...
was built for the
Munich 1972 Summer Olympics, inspired by dew-covered cobwebs. The
Allianz Arena
Allianz Arena (; known as Fußball Arena München for UEFA competitions) is a football stadium in Munich, Bavaria, Germany with a 70,000 seating capacity for international matches and 75,000 for domestic matches. Widely known for its exterior ...
by Herzog & DeMeuron is located in the northern suburb of
Fröttmaning.
In November 2004, a
referendum
A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...
was held to decide whether the construction of high-rise buildings in the inner city should be prohibited; as its result, several building projects, among them the planned
new office building of
Süddeutscher Verlag
The Süddeutscher Verlag (SV) is a corporate group that has emerged from the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Founded as a newspaper publisher, Süddeutscher Verlag developed into one of Germany's largest media companies, providing to Germany and abroad. Th ...
, had to be changed substantially or given up completely. However, , there is an ongoing discussion in the city council on how to proceed with future building plans. Despite the referendum the Süddeutsche Verlag was completed in 2008 and other taller buildings are planned, for example, near the Olympiapark.
References
External links
* {{archINFORM, ort, 258
www.muenchenarchitektur.com– Modern architecture and architects in Munich
*
History of Munich
Culture in Munich
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...