Guide to the Munich Residence Palace

Nestled in the heart of the city, the Munich Residence is the largest city palace in Germany and with its rich history sets it apart from many other palaces in Germany. If you plan to explore the palace complex it will take more than a day or days, so with the help of this post we will take you on a short sightseeing tour of the palace.

The huge palace complex was once the residence of the Bavarian kings in Munich. And for over 500 years it belonged to the ruling Wittelsbach dynasty. Today, it includes 130 rooms, 3 museums, 10 courtyards, as well as a park with fountains, the Treasury and the ancient theatre. This itself makes it one of the top places to see in Munich.

Also, within the palace complex you’ll see a botanical garden, the Coin Museum, which showcases a unique monetary collection, and a beautiful church, which is a fine example of South German Rococo.

Today, the premises of the Munich Residence is used for concerts, receptions and other celebrations; and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences is also located here.

Join us on our Munich guided tours to see one of the most exquisite palaces that the Bavarian Kings and Queens called their home.

History of the Munich Residence

The first building at this site was built in 1385 and was funded by the township of Munich as a sanction for their failed uprising against Stephen III (1375-1413). In this Gothic castle the kings of Bavaria hid themselves during the times of popular uprisings.

Over the next few centuries, the castle went through several expansions, as each ruler added a new hall, palace or garden. So, under the rule of Albrecht V, the Kunstkamera (art chamber) and the Celebration Room were added. Under Maximilian I – the Palace Church, the Wittelsbach Fountain, and the Imperial Court, and under Charles VII – the Cabinet with mirrors, the Main bedroom and the Luxurious room.

During the Baroque era many more structures were added such as the Little Chapel, the Golden Hall for the reception of ambassadors, the Heart Cabinet and the Bedroom. Furthermore, a picturesque garden, an art gallery and a library decorated in the best Italian traditions appeared in it. The Rococo theatre was one of the last structures to be built and was designed exclusively for the king and his aides. It’s believed that more than 1000 trees were brought from the foothills of the Alps for its construction.

There were a few structures which did not last to this day, like the Winter Garden, a vast territory of exotic plants, and an artificial lake built on the roof of the Festive Hall. They were all demolished after the death of King Louis I.

Over the years, the old castle lost its original appearance and was replaced by a magnificent royal residence and became one of the most beautiful structures of Old Europe.

In 1918, the Bavaria region became a republic, hence the kings were forced to leave the Munich Residence. And two years later, the palace was converted into a museum.

The palace suffered a lot of trials, but the worst was during the Second World War. The luxurious residence was severely damaged and what remained was mountains of construction waste. After the war, the reconstruction of the Munich Residence began and after decades of hard work it was completed in 2003. Most importantly, the staff of the palace managed to return almost all museum exhibits, because most of them were taken out of Munich after the first bombing during the Second World War.

Munich Residence Highlights

There are three museums you can visit – the Residenz Museum, the Treasury and Cuvilliés Theatre.

The Residenz Museum

This museum allows you to take a walk through the Wittelsbach residence and see its many treasures that were once hidden away during the Second World War.

The tour includes exploring private apartments as well as public rooms used for receptions and ceremonies. Each room has been lavishly decorated, from the floors to the ceilings and the walls. Objects in the rooms include an extensive collection of porcelain, silver, miniatures and paintings, all of which were much loved by the members of the royal family.

The most popular room is the Antiquarium. This 66 m (216 ft) long hall, with its arched ceiling of artwork is lined with antique busts, which makes it a visual delight. Every inch of this hall has been decorated in great detail and appreciated by all. Next is the Ancestral Gallery which houses portraits of family members in gilded frames.

A few rooms are decorated with classical sculptures that date back to ancient times, precious tapestries and of course, the Royal Rooms themselves which include the Throne Room among others. Pick up a map as you enter and pace yourself as there are several rooms to see. The museum also provides free audio guides.

The Treasury

The Treasury was founded in 1565 by Duke Albrecht V and houses the jewels of the Wittelsbach dynasty. The display of jewellery and other valuable items is spread over ten halls. It is one of the most important collections in the world and spans 1000 years from the early Middle Ages to Neo-classicism. This includes – Royal insignia, crowns, swords, goldsmith works, goblets, ivory work, rock crystal, and numerous other treasures like precious tableware and toiletries.

Other priceless exhibits include – Emperor Charles prayer-book from around 860, the crown of the Empress Cunigunde, the altar-ciborium of Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia from around 890, reliquary of the True Cross which belonged to the Emperor Henry II, an English Queen’s crown from around 1370, the famous Statuette of St George 1599, the Crown of Bavaria (1807), ceremonial swords and ruby jewellery which belonged to Queen Therese. A valuable set of crockery that served the French Empress Marie Louise during her journeys.

Also on display are a few non-European art and craft works, this includes Chinese porcelain, ivories from Ceylon and Turkish daggers.

The Cuvilliés Theatre

This cosy theatre was built by architect Francois Cuvillies from 1751-55. After its construction it was considered a “masterpiece of Rococo art” and was also referred to as “one of the most outstanding works of art in Europe.”

During its heyday, the theatre was reserved exclusively for the members of court. And many lavish operas were performed here, including the first performances of Mozart’s – Idomeneo, in 1781.

On 18th March 1944 during WWII, the building housing the theatre was destroyed. And in its place a New Residence Theatre was erected from 1945 to 1951. However, the painted wood carvings and other tier fittings of the Cuvilliés Theatre had been removed to safety in 1943.

After the Second World War, the building was recreated and rebuilt. It was reopened in 1958. The Cuvilliés Theatre was renovated and modernized in the mid-2000s. Today, this European work of art can be appreciated once again in all its former splendour and glory.

The Court Garden

The creation of the Court Garden began in 1613, and was another improvement made by Duke Maximilian I to the Munich Residence. The garden lay outside the old defensive moat of the castle.

The original garden was more elaborate and contained a circular tempietto, avenues of mulberry trees, fountains, arcades, ornamental box hedges and fruit trees.

The central pavilion designed in 1615 by Heinrich Schön still survives, and so does its eight arches reflect the division of the garden by cross-shaped and diagonal paths.

The pavilion is covered with a copy of Tellus Bavarica, a monumental bronze figure that symbolises the treasures of the Bavarian land – grain, game, water and salt.

The original sculpture was created by Hubert Gerhard in 1590 and was moved to the court garden pavilion from one of the Residence gardens by Duke Maximilian I in 1616.

In present times, to protect it from weather conditions, the original sculpture is now a part of the bronze collection within a museum of the Munich Residence.

The Courtyards

There are ten elaborate courtyards within the large palace complex. Most of them were created when new structures were connected to existing ones as the complex was continuously expanded.

Grotto Courtyard (Grottenhof) was built between 1581–1586 under William V. It takes its name from the grotto on the west façade of the Antiquarium, complete with fountain and shell decoration.

Chapel Courtyard (Kapellenhof) was built from 1603 to 1630, and was given its name by the Court Chapel and can be entered from Residenzstraße through a large gateway flanked by lions.

Fountain Courtyard (Brunnenhof) served as a place for tournaments before the large Wittelsbach Fountain was erected in the middle of the courtyard in 1610.

The Imperial Courtyard (Kaiserhof) was built from 1612 to 1618, in the reign of Maximilian I and was only open on major ceremonial occasions.

Royal Palace Courtyard (Königsbauhof) was built from 1826 to 1835 for King Ludwig I and was built as a replacement for an existing garden.

Other courtyards are the large Apothecary Courtyard (Apotheke Hof), the Small Powder Courtyard (Puderhöfchen), Kitchen Courtyard (Küchenhof), the Cabinet Garden (Kabinett Garten), and finally the Decorative Courtyard (Comitéhof).

The Coin Collection

Found by Duke Albert V, the Munich Residence also houses one of the world’s most valuable coin collections. This museum is home to more than 300,000 coins, medals and banknotes from the ancient world to the present time, making it one of the leading collections in the world. It’s simply fascinating to go through a few of them and check out the amazing detail under the in-built magnifying glasses.

Opening hours

- April -15th October: 9am – 6pm (last entry: 5 pm)
- 16th October – March: 10am – 5pm (last entry: 4 pm)
- Open Daily

Closed on: January 1st, Shrove Tuesday, December 24/25/31.

Useful Tips for Visiting the Munich Residence

Book Munich guided tours with Rosotravel and be carefree as your skip-the-line tickets will be booked well in advance and you’ll explore the palace complex in the company of an expert guide.

Set yourself plenty of time to see everything inside the museums.

Free audio guide available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.

There are no cafes or restaurants within the palace complex.

Your bags and coats must be checked so take out everything you will need before. Visitors are given special bags to store money, documents and other valuables.
If you have little ones take a pram as there’s a lot of walking to be done.

There are guards in most rooms so if you need help, they are always happy to help you out.

Before visiting, browse the official website of Munich Residence for latest updates.

Finally, on your way in or out of the Residenz, look for the lions at the entrance to the castle. You’ll see visitors rub the bronze shield the lion is holding. Apparently, this will bring you good luck, so get to some rubbing.

Curious?

Book our Munich guided tours and discover the Munich Residence – accompanied by our expert guide in Munich.

A must see in Munich, the palace and museums receives more than 300,000 visitors every year, and offers a unique opportunity to touch history and learn all about the life of Bavarian kings.