Munich Residenz
The Munich Residenz may not be as famous as the
Frauenkirche, but it definitely is one of the big attractions in our city. You will be impressed by its sheer size.
It’s hard to walk through Munich without setting foot at least near the Residenz Palace.
For me, some of my favorite aspects of the city revolve around this castle. Odeonsplatz, the Opera, Maximilianstrasse, Hofgarten, Englischer Garten.
Plus, if it weren’t for all these things, the Residenz alone is worthy of my time. I’ve attended performances, visited museums, and simply strolled the grounds.
Glorious Royal History
The Residenz Palace in Munich is a striking reminder of the city’s royal past. Or rather, of the Wittelsbacher monarchy.
Of all the city palaces in Germany, the Residenz is by far the largest. This is where the royalty lived and worked.
Stunning Inside and Out
Now, it is a premier historical site and is the home to museums, concert halls, and the well maintained Hofgarten, which boasts manicured flower beds and fountains.
The Residenz is particularly lovely on a sunny day. Stroll the grounds. Take in the beautiful flowers. Sit inside of the gazebo.
Often, you will see couples dressed up in their ballroom dancing clothes and dancing to a portable radio inside. Or, you could wander in on an impromptu chamber performance.
If you want a pleasant place to sit, the Tambosi cafe has a wonderful sitting area on the outskirts of the garden which affords great views of the main building and the garden.
The atmosphere is delightfully reminiscent of an impressionist painting. Though they have wireless internet, no one is in a particular hurry - not even the businessmen on their lunch breaks. And, I’ve never seen anyone pull out their laptop and start working.
Munich Residenz Museum
The Residenz itself is no longer home to the royalty, as Bavaria has not been a monarchy since the early 1900’s. Still, the buildings are well maintained and most have been converted for other uses. Some of the rooms are now performance halls and there are also four museums on the premises.
The Munich Residenz Museum is overwhelming and takes you back to the days of Kings and Knights, be prepared for a long walk through dozens of rooms, each one even more stunningly decorated than the last.
Schatzkammer der Residenz
The Residence treasury is maybe the most spectacular museum inside the Munich Residenz. Here you'll find the family jewels of the Wittelsbacher monarchy, the Bavarian Crown, gems in all shapes and sizes, priceless coins from many centuries and much more. Definitely the right place to visit for any woman who likes jewelry!
Cuvilliés-Theater
This auditorium is a wonderful sight in red and gold! It has been under construction for years, but now you can see it again it all its splendor. Even though you can just visit it like any other museum, it's even more impressive to come here for a show, maybe an opera or a concert.
Egyptian Museum
Ok. Not really what you'd expect when visiting Germany, but the Egyptian museum is on of the best ones outside Egypt (after the Egyptian Museum in Berlin and New York). If you're at all interested in the culture of the Pharaos, this is highly recommended!
Plan at least half a day for your visit
If you want a nice overview of the history of the palace, you might want to take an official tour. You can also book a general city tour that takes you through the Residenz grounds for a portion of the tour. As you need to buy separate tickets for all of the four museums, it can be worthwhile to buy a 14-day or seasonal pass, that allows you to visit over 40 castles and palaces in Bavaria, including Neuschwanstein castle.
If you love performances, the Residenz has several concert locations, mainly for chamber music. In the summer, there is an outdoor hall (Brunnenhof) that has an excellent sound. Plus, it’s fun attending a concert on a portion of the palace grounds.
Lucky Lions
Don't forget to rub all the bronze lions, lined up alongside the Residenz Strasse.
Rubbing the lion's noses just like the woman on the picture does, is supposed to bring you luck :-)
There are several ways you can get to the Residenz. You can drive and park nearby and then walk to the palace. Keep in mind that this isn’t the best option because most of the area is only open to foot traffic which can make parking difficult and limited.
It is a very convenient walk from Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz. You can take the S-Bahn or U-bahn to these points and then grab a map and walk. Odeonsplatz is the closest to it and is a quick walk through the stone entrance into the Hofgarten.
Overall, the Residenz is a well preserved tribute to Munich’s historic past. No matter if you walk the grounds, attend a performance, go to a museum, or participate in a grand tour - the Residenz should be on your list of “must-see” locations in Munich.
For more information visit http://www.residenz-muenchen.de/englisch/residenc/index.htm.