Munich Residenz & The Grotto Courtyard: Palace of the Wittelsbachs

Why is it significant?

Step into the Max-Joseph-Platz portal and enter the historic courtyards of the Munich Residenz. Running your fingers over the cool granite masonry, you are standing inside the largest city palace in Germany.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Step into the Max-Joseph-Platz portal and enter the historic courtyards of the Munich Residenz. Running your fingers over the cool granite masonry, you are standing inside the largest city palace in Germany. For over five centuries, from thirteen eighty-five until the abdication of King Ludwig the Third in nineteen eighteen, the House of Wittelsbach governed Bavaria from this colossal complex of ten courtyards and one hundred and thirty public rooms.

Walk into the Grottenhof, or Grotto Courtyard: look at the extraordinary fountain and walls decorated entirely with thousands of natural seashells, coral crystals, and volcanic tufa stones imported from Italy in fifteen eighty-nine. Duke Wilhelm the Fifth created this whimsical grotto to evoke the mythical water nymphs of Roman antiquity.

Just inside lies the Antiquarium, a sixty-six-meter Renaissance hall completed in fifteen seventy-one to house Duke Albrecht's vast collection of Roman busts. It is the largest surviving Renaissance hall north of the Alps, crowned by breathtaking mythological frescos depicting one hundred and two Bavarian towns and castles.

Look at the bronze lions guarding the street portal: touching the snout of the shield-bearing lions is believed to bring instant good fortune. Walk north toward Odeonsplatz and the Feldherrnhalle.