Where does the Frauenkirche get its name from? Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in Munich (Frauenkirche). Opening hours and visiting the cathedral

Frauenkirche(German: Frauenkirche), official name in German. Der Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau (Cathedral of the Holy Virgin) - the tallest cathedral in MunichIn 2004 At the referendum, a decision was made banning the construction of buildings higher than 99 meters in the city. Why exactly 99 meters? Yes, because this is the height of the tallest cathedral and the symbol of the city -Cathedral of St. Mother of God, or, as it is more often called,Frauenkirche. At the time of completion (in 1525), the cathedral could accommodate 20 thousand people, while the population of Munich was only 13 thousand. Of course, the size of the Frauenkirche is still amazing, and it’s easy to guess what impression the church made on its contemporaries.

Frauenkirche is uncompromisingly Gothic. Pure, arrogant, clear. But in spoiled baroque Bavaria they were not used to it. When you walk along the elegant Kaufingerstrasse with its luxurious shops, and then suddenly find yourself under the echoing and deserted arches of the cathedral, you feel uneasy.
Gothic is the grandeur of space, the severity of lines. The main cathedral of the city was built in the Middle Ages, although the approach of the Renaissance can already be felt in its architecture. The massiveness of the structure is softened by onion domes - “Romanesque helmets”. The cathedral took 26 years to build and was consecrated in 1494, shortly before the start of the Reformation. At the same time, the first university was founded in Bavaria, and the first book was published in Munich.

“It’s somehow bare here!” a tourist whispers to her husband in fear. She looks skeptically at the massive columns of the Frauenkirche Cathedral until her gaze finally settles on Reinhard Behrens's long robe. The caretaker of the cathedral, Behrens, already knows what will follow - a woman will approach him and ask the classic question: “Is this a Protestant church?” There is obvious disappointment in this question.
Why does Munich's Frauenkirche Cathedral look so prim? Why do people avoid entering the temple, which is considered the symbol of the city? Local Catholics prefer churches that are more comfortable, and few tourists like its asceticism. Reinhard Behrens patiently explains that not all Catholic churches in Bavaria are built in the Baroque style. That his cathedral does not look like elegant churches with playful stucco and paintings on the ceiling, with angels, with high altars and sparkling monstrances.

But the church became even more famous thanks to the trace of the devil on the floor of the cathedral. The legend explains this by an agreement between Satan and the architect, in which the latter must build a temple without windows, which must always be illuminated, and then the devil will not interfere with his work. When the construction was completed, the architect showed a temple in which there was not a single window, and at the same time it was as bright as day. The devil got angry and stamped his foot, after which a mark from his right foot remained on the floor of the cathedral.

It is believed that if you step on this imprint while staying in Frauenkirche, the entire next year will be surprisingly successful.

Actually, there were two legends at once. According to the first legend, when the cathedral was built but not consecrated, the Devil himself was hanging around in these places. For some reason, forgive the tautology, he ended up in a church. He went into the narthex - and there, if you look at the photograph, there is a place where the windows are hidden by columns - and began to laugh at the unlucky builders who screwed up so much by building a temple without windows. Satan neighed and stamped his foot. This is how the black heel mark appeared. When the church was consecrated, people began pouring in. Satan became interested, galloped up again, and saw that the church did have windows, and what kind of ones! The demon became furious, turned into a hurricane and tried to demolish the cathedral. But the strength of hell was not enough. Since then, the devil has not calmed down and sometimes a tornado swirls near the gate, but in vain.

According to the second legend, the Devil entered into a pact with the architect of the church, Ganghofer. Satan promised all kinds of help in the construction of the building; the architect, in turn, promised the soul of the first person to enter the church. After the completion of the construction, the cunning architect brought Satan to that very place in the vestibule and reproached his “partner” that he, they say, had naturally screwed up and built a church without windows, and that he would get horseradish, not his soul. Satan went crazy and stomped his hoof! But it’s too late to rush around, the contract is terminated!

The brick building itself, built in the late Gothic style, is more than a hundred meters long, 40 meters wide and almost 37 meters high. Almost the same size as Shoigu’s dacha, but more modest, of course. The interior of the church does not create the impression of endless space, hidden by 22 hexagonal columns:

The interior is very ascetic, but light and light, which is not what you expect from Gothic churches.

The stained glass windows show the parishioner various scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary:

In Frauenkirche they do not flirt with the congregation and do not shorten services. Dominicans or Jesuits from other Catholic churches in Munich are free to pursue their parishioners. “We don't expect applause. The temple is not a booth, says ceremonial officer Anton Heckler. “The Frauenkirche Mass is an example to follow.” They serve according to all canons here. After all, if each church acts at its own discretion, what will happen to the unity of the church?

On Sundays, the cathedral, designed for 20 thousand people, has at most 100-200 parishioners. Vespers is served in a tiny chapel for 15-20 old women. At the same time, Bavarian television broadcasts the main masses live. So Wolfgang Huber, the rector of the temple, has enough worries with both their preparation and the visits of international delegations. After all, the Frauenkirche was never a “people's” church. She is a symbol of ducal power.

It is impossible to perform Baroque music here. Due to the powerful echo, the sounds merge, resulting in a cacophony. “Bach is hitting our ears,” the regent smiles. The acoustics in Frauenkirche are such that “the space simply cannot keep up” with fast-tempo music. But as soon as Gregorian chants or Mozart’s mass begin to sound, it becomes clear what the local chapel is capable of. When countless candles are burning and the air is thick with incense, you feel the invisible presence of the Holy Spirit within these walls. In such moments, the true power of the cathedral is revealed, the beauty of the church service, as if you were transported to Venice of the 17th century, to the famous St. Mark's Cathedral.

The main organ in the Western Empire. Built in 1994. Looks modern:

Since the 16th century, the rulers of Bavaria, the Dukes of Wittelsbach, were married and buried here. The army was recruited on the square in front of the cathedral, and the duke himself appointed the abbots of the Frauenkirche. The cathedral faithfully served the authorities; its mighty vaults and powerful towers, aimed at the sky, were a symbol of the invincibility of the Bavarian rulers. Already its predecessor, the Marienkirche, built on this site in the 13th century, was the house church of the dukes.
Ordinary people prayed in the Church of St. Peter - beloved by the people and the oldest church in the city. Munich residents still cannot come to terms with the fact that it remains in the shadow of the privileged Frauenkirche.
Anyone who looks at old engravings is sure to be struck by the “secularism” of the cathedral. The tombstone of Ludwig of Bavaria, the most famous representative of the Wittelsbachs for all 8 centuries of the family’s existence, was erected right in front of the main altar, almost blocking it. Moreover, they hoisted the national flag of Bavaria on top.

Cenotaph (symbolic grave without remains) of Emperor Ludwig of Bavaria. The remains of the emperor are located here in the crypt of the church:

The cenotaph was built in 1622 by order of Duke Albrecht IV. At the head of the ensemble is a bronze statue of Albrecht himself, from which it becomes clear that Albrecht is not such an even boy with respect for the elders, but simply a narcissistic egoist selling his image on the grave of the authoritative boy in law Ludwig:

There is a long history behind the Munich Russian Orthodox community. We are talking not only about the 1000-year-old tradition since the Baptism of Rus', which the parish celebrated with an exhibition and reports, but also about the Munich tradition itself.
When the Russian embassy opened in Munich on Ottostraße in 1798, then, of course, according to custom, a chapel for holding services should have been built there. But if nothing is known about this, then it is historically attested that embassy employees and their relatives, starting in 1832, visited the Salvatorkirche temple in the city center, which was served by the Greek clergy. This also applies to Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev (1803-1873), a poet and diplomat, who got married and baptized all his five children in Salvatorkirche. In the years 1867-1881 there was a house church of Count Adlerberg. After the family moved to Lake Tegernsee, she was moved there. This house church was dedicated to St. Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra. Her traveling iconostasis was a gift from Tsar Alexander II, who was friends with the Adlerberg family. The iconostasis and liturgical vessels were taken by the king from his Finnish dacha.

When, four years after the revolution, the community of St. was formed in Munich in 1921. Nicholas, she was given this iconostasis for temporary use, and in 1942 the descendants of the Adlerbergs (who were no longer Orthodox) donated the iconostasis, along with liturgical vessels and priestly vestments, to the Munich parish. The surviving parts of the iconostasis are now in the altar of the Orthodox convent in Buchendorf near Munich.
Temporary community of St. Nicholas was officially founded in 1922. Every two weeks, Sunday services were held in the Mathildenstift Hall (Mathildenstr. 5). Priests came from afar, sometimes even from Poland, like Hieromonk Philotheus, who later became Archbishop of Berlin and Germany. From 1937 to 1971 the Munich parish was cared for by Fr. Andrey Lovchiy, Alexander in monasticism. In 1942 he was awarded the rank of abbot, and in 1943 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

The year 1943 was significant: the student resistance group “White Rose” (“Weiße Rose”) was arrested. What is its connection with the parish in Munich? One of its two founders, Alexander Schmorell, was a friend of Hans Scholl and was in Russia at the same time as the latter in 1942, when he served as a medical orderly in the German army. A. Schmorell was born in 1917 in Orenburg and was the son of a German doctor and a Russian, the daughter of an Orthodox priest. He arrived in Munich in 1921, and grew up in a Munich Orthodox parish. In 1937 he graduated from high school in Munich. Alexander had a lively relationship with the parish. Gestapo interrogation records and his letters from death row indicate that his activities in the resistance were based on his Orthodox beliefs and love for Russia. Father Alexander Lovchiy confessed to him in Stadelheim prison on July 13, 1943, on the very day of his execution. A day later, after Schmorell was beheaded, the same Fr. Alexander buried him in the presence of only a few family members at the Am Perlacher Forst cemetery, located next to the prison. He is buried close to other executed members of the White Rose.
Along the southern border of this cemetery runs Lincoln Street (Lincolnstraße), on which the described Munich parish is located today.
The parish, which had no permanent address for several decades, acquired ownership of the church building in 1993 - 50 years after the execution of Alexander Schmorell, who is revered as a martyr along with the New Martyrs of Russia.
Since 1941, services were held in a barracks on Denningerstraße 5, which belonged to the Evangelical Church, but was not used. At first it was not possible to hold services weekly, but by August 1942, Abbot Alexander Lovchiy was transferred to Munich. From that moment on, all Sunday and holiday services were performed. According to documents, in 1942 there were 636 registered parishioners in Munich. This means that in reality there were significantly more of them: not all parishioners put their names on the lists.
The parish was active: there was a school, there was a sisterhood and a missionary committee, and the “Sunday Leaflet” was published regularly (for twenty years). Until the end of the war, the parish (together with the Berlin missionary committee) took upon itself the spiritual care of prisoners of war and the so-called “Ostovtsy” (“Eastern workers”): icons, Gospels and prayer books were printed, and the stamping of aluminum crosses was organized. And all this - in wartime conditions: the Munich people had to turn to the head of the German diocese, Metropolitan Seraphim (Lyada) in Berlin with a request to send wine and flour for the Divine Liturgy.
After German troops occupied Greece, the Salvatorkirche was closed. The Bavarian Ministry of Culture was apparently unhappy that the Orthodox were deprived of their place of worship. Holding services in Salvatorkirche was proposed to the German diocese of the Russian Church Abroad, which was granted the status of a “public rights corporation” back in 1936. Thanks to this, the temple was reopened on May 22, 1943 (and officially returned to the Greeks in February 1946).
During wartime, three priests served in Munich. Both places of worship (Denningerstrasse and Salvatorkirche) were overcrowded. Thousands of believers prayed. On Monday of Orthodox Holy Week, April 30, 1945, Munich was liberated. On the night of May 5–6, 1945, the Orthodox Easter service deeply impressed Cardinal Faulhaber. Living next to the Salvatorkirche, he watched the religious procession from his window and listened to the singing of a large choir.
Immediately after the end of the war, the parish, operating in two churches, was cared for by 8 priests. In total there were 14 communities in Munich. Most of them were organized in refugee camps (“di-pi”, displaced persons). In August 1946, in Munich, opposite Blutenburg Castle, the monastery of St. Job Pochaevsky. From 1946 to 1950, the Synod of the Russian Church Abroad (Donaustr. - in our time the building belongs to the Austrian Consulate) was also located here in Munich on Donaustrasse.
In February 1946, according to his request, the St. Nicholas parish was allocated former retail premises next to the Salvatorkirche. Today it is the “House of Literature”. Before the war, these premises housed an American church and library, but they were closed during the war, and then the building was damaged by raids. The premises had to be thoroughly rebuilt. On May 22, 1947 - again on the feast of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas from Myra-Lycia to Bari (1187) - the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky), solemnly consecrated the temple with the concelebration of Metropolitan Seraphim (Lyade), and ordained bishop Alexander the Hunter, as well as 12 clergy. And yet, the parish considered this place only as a temporary refuge, because already in 1943 they began to think about building their own church... But the monetary reform destroyed these plans. And besides, there was the problem of providing believers with clergy.
The barracks church on Denningerstrasse had to be returned to the Protestants in October 1949. In the subsequent 1950s, there was a mass exodus of refugees to various countries in South and North America and to Australia. As the population dwindled, the St. Nicholas parish on Salvatorplatz in the center of Munich began to take on greater importance. In May 1952, Bishop Alexander became head of the German diocese. On May 22, 1952, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Berlin and Germany, and his temple received the status of a Cathedral.
Already in 1957 it was clear that the city of Munich was seeking to terminate the lease agreement with the community. But an agreement was reached that the parish would first find new premises for itself, and the city government agreed to bear the costs of the move. The search proved difficult. But the Russian people, who saw the transformation of churches into museums in the USSR, were really not very happy about the city’s desire to turn the church into a fashion museum. More and more new options arose, which for various reasons disappeared. They did not move to the bombed church on Damenstiftstr., they did not move to the old Catholic church on Blumenstr. - the Romanian Orthodox parish is now located there, until the early 1980s negotiations were carried out under the leadership of the new bishop Pavel (Pavlov), and then Bishop Mark (Arndt) about the site opposite the northern cemetery on Ungerer Strasse (Ungerer Str. - today there is a Greek temple there). Finally, the plan to expand the Interimskirche in Laim (Interimskirche, Agnes-Bernauer-Str.), which is under the protection of the city as an ancient monument, and move there, collapsed. Although an agreement on this was reached in 1988, the agreement, already ready for signature, disappeared into the desk drawer of one city parliamentarian, and a newspaper published a note that residents of the Munich-Laim district did not want a “foreign community” in their place. After the elections, which changed the political landscape, this project was no longer discussed, and the Interimskirche turned into a club.
In the 1970s, the icons in the previously updated iconostasis were replaced, and in general, iconography in the Old Russian style reigned in the temple instead of oil painting. Continuing to make plans for the future, they founded a construction commission and began extensive fundraising for construction.
In November 1981, the Russian Church Abroad glorified the Russian New Martyrs, who gave their lives for Christ (the Moscow Patriarchate carried out a similar canonization in 2000), and it was decided to dedicate a new church in Munich to the Russian holy New Martyrs. After the failure of plans to build in Lyme, Bishop Mark decided to hold regular prayer services to the Mother of God and Sts. To the New Martyrs. In addition, the parish visited the grave of the martyred Alexander Schmorell. His file was not found in the Stasi archive opened after the unification of Germany among the Gestapo files on the White Rose. Where it could be remained a mystery.
Meanwhile, it turned out that the Americans would sharply reduce the presence of their troops in Germany. The Russian community has already paid attention to the American church in the extraterritorial military settlement, which was a place of prayer for all religions recognized in the American army. The building was still being used in this way when St. Nicholas Parish managed to obtain permission to hold prayer services there. However, the hopes associated with this were not realized, since all the released property of the American army was transferred to the ownership of the Federal Ministry of Finance (Bundesvermögensamt, BVA). New lengthy negotiations with new partners were required. Meanwhile, the Munich city government was developing new plans for the premises at Salvatorplatz and now emphasized that the lease could well be finally terminated after 50 years. It was clear: time was running out.
In the early 1990s, secret archives taken from Germany to Moscow after World War II were opened. In 1993, a German historian accidentally discovered the file of A. Schmorell in the former “Special Archives”.
At the same time, negotiations regarding the temple, which meanwhile was used in particular for filming films, took a positive turn and in December 1993 an agreement was signed on the purchase of the temple and the site. At the same time, it turned out that almost 500 Russian prisoners of war and “ostovtsy” were buried in the “Am Perlacher Forst” cemetery. A mass grave from World War II, like the grave of Alexander Schmorell, is located in close proximity to the temple. The parish sees God's providence in this neighborhood.
The temple and site cost the parish and diocese almost a million German marks. But the expenses didn't end there. Significant reconstruction of the building was required. The windows of the church could be attributed to the Romanesque style, and the vault in front of the altar could be attributed to the Americanized Gothic style. In general, the structure resembled a cross between a basilica and a factory workshop.
First of all, an Orthodox eight-pointed cross was erected over the turret above the main entrance, which, although it looked like a bell, was empty - the bells were still far away.
February 6, 1994, on the temple feast of Sts. New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, a memorial stone was fixed in the altar wall. Thus began perestroika. The work was carried out not only by construction companies, but also by the parishioners themselves. The entire redevelopment was developed by three architects closely associated with the Munich parish.
At the first stage of the reconstruction, the interior appearance of the room was brought into maximum possible compliance with the requirements of Russian Orthodox architecture: diagonal rafters were hidden in vertical columns; a carved beech iconostasis was installed; The floor in the altar was raised, and a three-stage pulpit made of red stone was erected in front of the iconostasis... The hall next to the temple also needed reconstruction - but finally the community had such a hall! Additional premises were created that were so necessary for the parish: among other things, classes for teaching children the Law of God, which until then had to be carried out in the monastery of St. Job.
But the church did not change externally at first - only the elongated Romanesque windows were shortened by a third at the bottom. Plans were being developed, experiments were carried out with the model of the temple - and so the concept of the appearance of the temple was soon understood. (Compared to these plans, two more domes are missing today).
On Trinity Sunday, June 12, 1994, St. Nicholas parish moved. The icons were solemnly transferred by the believers, and the throne by the clergy. Transportation was provided by city bus: the city, adhering to a long-standing agreement, largely covered the costs of the move. Now the parish has taken the name “Cathedral of St. New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.”
However, no one wanted to give up their patron, St. Nicholas. They decided to place a second throne dedicated to him in the northern extension. This small church would be suitable for small-crowded services on weekdays, especially during Lent. The north wall had to be removed to expand the room by 1.70 m, build an apse around the altar and add an extended entrance in the Pskov style. This second stage of construction began on December 4, 1995. At the same time, additional rooms and entrances to the hall corresponding to the style were created on the south side of the temple, and the kitchen was expanded.
On Forgiveness Sunday, at the beginning of Great Lent, a small consecration of the chapel of St. Nicholas was performed. Two days earlier, a carved oak iconostasis was completed, into which large icons were later inserted as they were painted. On Wednesday of Holy Week 1998, a large dome with a gilded cross was installed on the roof of the chapel. All consecrations were performed by the ruling bishop of the German diocese, Archbishop Mark. Already in 2000, the entire chapel was decorated with wall paintings with motifs from the lives of the saints. Nicholas and Akathist to St. Mother of God.
Both during the construction of the chapel, and even more during the construction of the belfry with the main entrance and porch, Orthodox Munich residents and their relatives worked on the construction site. A spiral staircase was inserted into the former gate tower, and it turned into an exit to the bells. The belfry, which together with the cross rises 25 m, now determines the appearance of the temple. When the belfry was plastered, members of the parish decorated the walls of the temple with arched niches, covered it with plaster and painted the then yellow church white. On Easter 2001, she stood among the green birches like a bride. Since then, the temple with the belfry, chapel and entrances to the hall has formed a single architectural whole of the Pskov style, like two other newly built Russian churches in Germany - in Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main.
But there were not enough bells, except for the central dome, which is missing to this day. Even then, when the brickwork of the belfry was being completed, a donation for all the bells was presented, as if by some miracle. 13 bells were cast by the Shuvalov brothers in their own workshop in Romano-Borisoglebsk near Yaroslavl. The largest of them, "Tikhon", in honor of the new priestly confessor Patriarch Tikhon, weighs 100 pounds (1760 kg, diameter 174 cm). On December 1, 2001, the bells were solemnly consecrated, lifted by a crane and fixed in their places between the columns of the two upper floors of the belfry. The bells are rung according to the Russian tradition by bell-ringers and bell-ringers, and then either Lenten or festive ringing is heard throughout the village according to the regulations. On May 22, 2005, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Laurus, in the co-service of five bishops and twenty priests, consecrated the altar table and the entire chapel great sanctification. In the coming years, it is planned to paint a large temple, and then consecrate it.
On October 29, 2007, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II visited the Munich Cathedral. Due to the persecution of the Church and the suppression of church life in the USSR, the Russian church diaspora scattered throughout the world lived for almost nine decades without official connection with the Moscow Patriarchate. This situation, imposed by cruel circumstances and their consequences, ended when Patriarch Alexy II and Metropolitan Laurus signed the “Act of Canonical Communion” on May 17, 2007 in Moscow. The Munich Cathedral became the first church of the Russian Church Abroad in which His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow performed divine services.
The rector of the Cathedral is Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany. In addition to him, two priests and two deacons serve in the cathedral today. At the same time, the clergy travel to other parishes in the area. In turn, many believers come to the Cathedral from an area with a radius of 60 km or more.
Divine services are held on all Sundays and holidays, major and minor. On average, about a hundred baptisms, 15-20 weddings and the same number of funerals are performed at the Council per year. About 250 believers gather for Sunday services, and more than a thousand for Easter. The main language is Church Slavonic. The Apostle and the Gospel are also read in German. On Wednesday, Vespers is celebrated in German, and every month there is an early Divine Liturgy in the chapel, at which a choir of Orthodox Germans sings.
At the parish school, children learn both Russian and Church Slavonic. The program also includes Russian history and literature. The Law of God is taught from the first grade and at the gymnasium level up to the abitur according to a program approved by the Bavarian Ministry of Culture. This means that the grades obtained in the parochial school are included in the school report cards. By 2008, the parish school had 134 students. A children's choir has been created, which sometimes sings part of the service, and sometimes the entire all-night vigil or Liturgy. After holiday and Sunday Liturgies there is a meal in the hall. On Wednesday evenings there are conversations about faith, catechesis (the Law of God for adults). Reports are organized. Every year at the end of December an “Orthodox Congress” is held - an open seminar that brings together about a hundred people from different parishes in Germany. This tradition was born in 1981. Until 1993, when the parish settled on Lincolnstrasse, the congress was held in the monastery of St. Job in Munich-Obermenzing. Also, since 1981, in cooperation with the monastery, the magazine “Bulletin of the German Diocese” has been published. Each issue is published in two editions - in Russian and in German.
With the influx of new believers in the 1990s, the parish ceased to occupy the exclusive, almost monopoly position that existed in the 1970s-1980s. In today's Munich and surrounding area there are not only a number of Russian Orthodox parishes, but even two Russian monasteries. The parish of the Cathedral remains the largest.
In general, in Munich there are now again 14 Orthodox parishes: if we count Greek, Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian and Georgian among the Russian ones, then the number of parishes that existed after the Second World War is again reached. On the “Triumph of Orthodoxy” holiday in February 2008, 11 Orthodox Munich choirs gathered for a singing meeting in the Munich Russian Cathedral. In May 2008, the cathedral parish actively participated in the celebration of the 850th anniversary of the city of Munich. Cooperation with the Theological Orthodox Institute of the University of Munich is also developing well.
Cathedral of St. The New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia and St. Nicholas today are a living part of not only Orthodox and Russian life in Munich, but also Munich life in general.

"Bulletin of the German Diocese", No. 4, 1993; Alexander Shmorell, Protocols of interrogations in the Gestapo, February-March 1943, RGVA F. 1361 K. Op. I, D. 8808.
This article was written on the basis of materials from the "Bulletin", and especially in its historical part, based on the research of G. Zaide (see "Bulletin", Nos. 3, 4, 5, 1991).

And one of the most important centers of European tourism, famous for a huge number of attractions, among which the most prominent are cathedrals and churches, museums and art galleries, palaces and parks. We bring to your attention a short overview of all the most outstanding tourist places to visit.

Since the founding of Munich in 1158, the center of the city has been Marienplatz, which houses the new and old town halls, a marble column with a gilded sculpture of the Virgin Mary (Mariensäule), patroness of Bavaria, the Fish Fountain (Fischbrunnen), department stores and shops.

Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus)

The first mention of the old town hall (Altes Rathaus) dates back to 1310; since then it has been rebuilt several times in various architectural styles in accordance with the trends of the times. Currently, the tower of the building, reconstructed in Gothic style, houses a toy museum (Spielzeugmuseum), where you can see model railways, stuffed animals, dolls, doll houses and much more. The creator of the museum is Ivan Steiger (born January 26, 1939), Czech-German cartoonist, artist, illustrator, author and director.

New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus)

Due to the lack of premises in the old town hall, it was decided to build a new one (Neues Rathaus), where the mayor, members of the city council and city administration still work. Construction of the neo-Gothic building began in 1867, and the last reconstruction took place in the late 1990s. The almost 100 m long façade is richly decorated with ornaments and sculptures, and from the 85 meter tower, equipped with an elevator, tourists have a magnificent view of the city. But most of all, visitors to Munich are attracted by the chimes (Glockenspiel) of the new town hall. Every day at 11 and 12 o'clock, and from March to October at 17 o'clock, during the chiming of the clock, a whole performance is performed with the participation of mechanical figures telling about historical events and customs of the city.

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Frauenkirche (Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau, Frauenkirche)

One of the main symbols of Munich is the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, often called simply Frauenkirche (Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau, Frauenkirche). Both towers, almost 99 meters high, are visible from almost anywhere in the city. Construction began on February 9, 1468 on the site of the old church, which was no longer able to accommodate a large number of believers. The new church was originally designed for 20,000 parishioners, but now 4,000 people can sit here at a time, sitting on benches installed later. The cathedral is painted inside in pleasant light colors, it contains paintings, monuments, and a crypt. From the outside, the cathedral is striking in its majesty and monumentality, despite the fact that the main construction was completed within 20 years, which is undoubtedly very short for that time and on such a scale.

St. Peter's Church (Sankt-Peter-Kirche)

The oldest parish church in Munich is St. Peter's Church (Sankt-Peter-Kirche), construction of which began in the 11th century. From the observation deck of the tower, popularly nicknamed Alter Peter and located at an altitude of 56 m, in clear weather there is a wonderful view of 100 km into the distance. The famous Bavarian comedian, author and coupletist Karl Valentin (June 4, 1882 - February 9, 1948) once joked about the eight dials placed on the tower, as if they were needed so that eight people could simultaneously see what time it was. Thanks to the many windows, the interior of the church, paintings, frescoes, sculptures, is evenly flooded with sunlight. During the existence of the church, it was rebuilt several times, and now it is distinguished by a harmonious combination of various architectural styles.

Jesuit Church of St. Michael (Jesuitenkirche St.Michael)

In the Jesuit Church of St. Michael (Jesuitenkirche St. Michael), the construction of which lasted from 1583 to 1597 (due to the fall of the tower, construction work was interrupted for four years), the relics of saints are kept, and the rulers of famous dynasties are buried. Inside the church is decorated with true works of art: sculptures, paintings, paintings. The facade was made during the transition period from the Renaissance to the Baroque, on it you can see fifteen statues of the patrons of the church, as well as a statue of the Archangel Michael at the very entrance to the building. In the 16th century, the church was the spiritual center of the Counter-Reformation in Bavaria.

Church of St. Kajetan or Theatinerkirche (die katholische Stiftskirche St. Kajetan, Theatinerkirche)

In the late Baroque style, construction began on the court church of St. Kajetan (die katholische Stiftskirche St. Kajetan), also known as the Church of the Theatinerkirche. Its construction began on April 19, 1663 in gratitude for the birth of the heir to the throne, the future Elector Max Emanuel. The building itself was built quite quickly, but the design of the facade, due to disagreements between designers and clergy, dragged on for several decades, and this ultimately led to the fact that the final version of the facade was made in the Rococo style. Now in Theatinerkirche you can admire the wonderful sculptures and paintings of the greatest European masters of that time, and there is also a princely tomb here.

The Church of St. is extremely beautiful inside and out. John of Nepomuk (St.-Johann-Nepomuk-Kirche), also called Asamkirche, erected by representatives of the German late Baroque, the Asam brothers. Cosmas Damian Azam (1686-1739) and Egid Kverin Azam (1692-1750) were talented sculptors, plasterers, artists, and architects, as can be seen when visiting this small church (on a plot of only 22 m by 8 m) of the church. The brothers built the church, originally conceived as a chapel for themselves, not according to anyone’s order, but at their own discretion, to their own taste. Bright colors, glitter of gold, non-standard architectural solutions will delight the eyes of even the most demanding visitors.

Church of St. John of Nepomuk or Azamkirche (St.-Johann-Nepomuk-Kirche, Asamkirche)

Church of St. John of Nepomuk or Azamkirche (St.-Johann-Nepomuk-Kirche, Asamkirche)

One of the symbols of Munich is the main cathedral of the city - Frauenkirche. The silhouette of the Frauenkirche has become the hallmark of Munich and is clearly visible in any panoramic photograph of Munich.

Frauenkirche - Der Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau

Above the entire city rises a red brick building with a high gable roof covered with bright red tiles and two twin towers topped with green onions - the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, briefly called Frauenkirche. It is located two blocks from Marienplatz, facing Frauenplatz.

This cathedral is not only a symbol of Munich, but also to a great extent restrains the wild fantasies of local architectural geniuses, forcing them to create within the framework of established traditions, preserving the patriarchal appearance of the city that has developed over centuries. The fact is that in 2004 a referendum of Munich burghers was held, as a result of which it was decided to ban the construction of buildings taller than towers in the city , whose height is about 99 meters. More precisely, according to available data, the northern tower has a height of 98.57 m, and the southern one is 98.45 m, that is, 12 cm lower. That is, the construction of all sorts of glass-concrete giants - corn cobs and other goliaths - is excluded in Munich.

The cathedral, a masterpiece of late German Gothic architecture, was built in brick on the foundations of an earlier Chapel of the Virgin Mary over 20 years by the architect Jörg von Halsbach. The first stone for the foundation of the church was laid in 1468 by Duke Sigismund and Bishop Johannes Tulbeck. Construction was basically completed by 1488. A magnificent consecration ceremony took place in 1494. In 1525, master Rotthaler built onions on the towers of the cathedral.

At that time, only 13,000 people lived in Munich. But the building was designed to accommodate 20,000 parishioners. We worked for the future. Nowadays, the wooden praying benches installed for convenience can accommodate up to 4,000 people at a time.

The size of the cathedral is simply amazing, it is largest gothic cathedral Southern Germany: length 109 m, width 41.5 m, height 55 m, height of thirty windows 20 m. But inside the cathedral one does not feel the enormity of the space, because 22 columns supporting the roof, located close to each other, create the illusion of internal walls separating side naves. From the side windows, almost invisible behind the densely standing columns, light streams as if from nowhere, outlining the silhouettes of the columns, the austere interior, the entire space of the cathedral’s middle nave, which is directed upward to the heavens, creating the effect of an endless road to God.

Frauenkirche - Middle nave of the Frauenkirche cathedral.

Since 1821 Frauenkirche- the main cathedral of Munich and the archbishopric of Munich - Freising.

The cathedral contains a cenotaph (a funerary monument over an empty grave) of Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria. It is decorated with dynastic symbols of the Wittelsbachs and sculptures - figures of knights kneeling and holding badges with the names of Charlemagne, Louis the Pious, Charles the Fat, Louis IV. Standing nearby are the Dukes of Bavaria Albrecht V and Wilhelm V.

In the floor of the cathedral there is a footprint carved in stone, upon which a person stands and cannot see a single window. According to legend, the architect was so afraid of the difficulties of construction that he called the devil himself as an assistant. He demanded that a church be built without windows in the hope that no one would come to the dark temple. But after the construction was completed, people came to the temple to pray. The devil demanded an explanation. Then the architect invited the devil to come to the cathedral and see for himself that there were no windows, and when he arrived, he put him in the very place from which the devil really could not see a single window. But the church was illuminated by sunlight streaming as if from nowhere. The devil was so angry at the architect's cunning that he stamped his foot, leaving a mark, and disappeared forever.

Building Frauenkirche was badly damaged during the Second World War, but was completely restored.

Frauenkirche opening hours

The south tower of the cathedral can be reached by elevator or on foot.

Cost of visiting Frauenkirche

How to get to Frauenkirche

Frauenkirche on the map

Munich is the capital of Bavaria and one of the largest cities in Germany. In addition to research and industrial potential, the city boasts cultural values, which creates ample scope for tourism. Munich's temples, cathedrals and mosques occupy a special place among all the city's attractions.

Peterskirche Church

The foundation of the church was laid back in the 11th century, which makes it almost the same age as the city. Peterskirche is a great architectural monument with more than 600 years of history and combining 4 different styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Rococo.

The interior of Peterskirche is no less pleasing: milky walls and a ceiling fresco of amazing beauty are eye-catching.

One of the central places in the church is occupied by the figure of St. Peter and the altar of the Virgin Mary, which is a composition of several statues.

The temple is located on Marienplatz - the main square of the city. At the top of the chapel there is an observation deck that offers stunning views of Munich.

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Frauenkirche – Cathedral of the Holy Virgin, a pearl of Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1468, but it was completed only in 1525.

The abundance of white columns and the absence of windows make the interior of the temple unique. The painting on the altar illustrates the ascension of the Virgin Mary. On the walls you can see gravestones that were moved from a closed cemetery near the church. The Gothic appearance is complemented by the “devil's footprint” - a dark boot print located on one of the slabs of the cathedral.

The Frauenkirche is the tallest cathedral in Munich thanks to its towers reaching 99 m in height. The bell towers are connected to a long nave, which is covered with red tiles and reminds many of Noah's Ark.

After a referendum held in 2004, a temporary ban on the construction of buildings higher than 100 m was introduced, so the observation deck of the bell tower offers the best view of the city.

Catholic Church Theatinerkirche

Theatinerkirche is a collegiate Catholic church that bears the name of St. Cajetan. The construction of the church took place in the years 1663-1690, but the façade of the building remained unfinished for 100 years due to disagreements among the architects. The front part of the facade is decorated with 2 coats of arms: the coat of arms of Bavaria and the coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

When designing the temple, the Theatine Church in Rome was taken as a model, and everything was designed in the late Italian Baroque style. The interior decoration of Theatinerkirche is made in light colors with a predominance of white columns. The interior is decorated with detailed moldings, and dark wood elements provide contrast.

Ludwigskirche Church

Ludwigskirche is the university church of St. Ludwig. The construction of the temple was approved by Ludwig I in 1829. The unstable political and economic situation of that time made it possible to complete the project only in 1844.

From the outside, the church is distinguished by twin towers, a cross-shaped nave and a roof decorated with mosaics. Inside is the famous Last Judgment fresco, which is the second largest in the world in size. It is worth paying attention to the figures of Jesus and the evangelists.

Asamkirche is a church built by the Asam brothers in honor of St. John of Nepomuk. The official name of the church is associated with the name of the priest, but people call it “Azamkirche”, glorifying the name of talented architects. The temple is unique in that it occupies a smaller area compared to other similar structures. Initially, the church was private and only after some time it became public. The entrance to the temple is decorated with a statue of John of Nepomuk with angels.

The authors of the project were not guided by Catholic architectural canons. Inside, everything is more reminiscent of palace interiors: an abundance of sculptures, the use of gilding and a fairly bright design in general. The ceiling painting with scenes from the life of St. John deserves special attention.

Jesuitenkirche St. Michael is a church built for the Jesuit order in the 17th century and is one of the most beautiful buildings of the Renaissance. The appearance of the church is reminiscent of the classic design of the city hall. The upper part of the facade is occupied by the figure of Jesus Christ, and at the entrance you can see the statue of St. Michael.

The church hall is quite large and the feeling of scale is enhanced by the snow-white walls. Under the altar, in the underground chapel, is the Wittelsbach crypt, where William V and other representatives of the dynasty are buried. Nearby is a reliquary where Christian relics are kept.

The excellent acoustics of the room convey well the sounds of organ music during concerts (the schedule can be found on the website). On Christmas Eve, the church is popular and is often included in excursion routes.

Lukaskirche Church

Lukaskirche is a Protestant church located on the banks of the Isar River. Construction of the temple took place in 1893-1896. The architect Albert Schmidt gave the building features of the Romanesque style and was clearly inspired by the Gothic. The design familiar to these buildings is complemented by two towers and a high dome (64 m). St. Luke's Church (Lukaskirche) has a unique interior and boasts colorful stained glass windows - the only element that was damaged during the war. At the altar you can see a painting that depicts the burial of Christ.

St. Paul's Temple

Paulskirche is a Catholic church named after St. Paul, which belongs to the parish of Ludwigsvorstadt. Construction of the church began in 1896 and was completed at the beginning of the 20th century. The architect Georg von Hauberrisser maintained the image of the building in the neo-Gothic style.

The facade is decorated with characteristic sculptures, which is typical of Gothic buildings. The Paulskirche has one of the tallest (97 m) towers among Munich churches, so it is not surprising that there is an observation deck here.

The interior of the church is also worthy of attention - the spacious hall immerses you in a medieval atmosphere. It would be useful to see the architectural composition “Carrying the Cross”, created by sculptor Georg Busch. The sculpture, made in color, perfectly illustrates one of the last pages of the life of Christ.

The Catholic Church named after St. Benno was built at the end of the 19th century by the architect Leonhard Romeis. The temple occupies a worthy place among other religious buildings made in the neo-Romanesque style.

Towers 63 m high complement the majestic image of the building.

Among the interior features, it is worth highlighting an exact copy of the Venetian mosaic.

After the bombing of 1944, the church was restored to its original form, but the original frescoes were lost.

In the churchyard you can find an aluminum statue of a fish with a key: legend has it that Bishop Benno threw the key to the church into the Elbe River and later discovered it in the belly of a fish served to him for lunch.

Church of St. Maximilian

St. Maximilian's Church was the first Catholic church in Munich and is located on the banks of the Isar River. Construction took place from 1892 to 1908. The distinctive feature of the temple was the neo-Romanesque style and two high towers.

The original octagonal spiers of the towers were destroyed during World War II, and they were restored in a simplified version.

The interior is notable for the presence of arches and a sculptural ensemble at the altar.

Gothic Church of St. Mark

St. Markus is a Lutheran church built during Munich's population boom in the 19th century. The building, unremarkable at first glance, is distinguished by the presence of a mechanical clock on each side of the tower and narrow windows. The interior of the church is dominated by light colors. Otherwise, the architectural solutions are quite typical for the neo-Gothic style. St. Mark's Church performs several functions simultaneously:

Headquarters of the head of the church region in Munich;
parish church;
church for university students in Munich.

Shrine of St. Joseph

St. Joseph Kirche is a Catholic church named after the husband of the Virgin Mary. Construction of the temple began in 1898 and lasted 4 years. The facade of the building welcomes visitors with large arches and a high tower connected to the basilica.

Several bells were cast for the bell tower back in the 60s of the 20th century. The heaviest of them is the Holy Trinity bell, which weighs almost 3 tons.

During the day, the windows of the church hall let in a large amount of light and perfectly illuminate the interior. The walls of the temple are decorated with small statues, and at the altar you can see icons with images of saints.

Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit

Church of the Holy Spirit (Heilig-Geist-Kirche) is a Catholic church built at the beginning of the 14th century. The ancestor of the temple was the hospital, which was adjacent to the chapel of St. Catherine. It was in its place that a new church was eventually built.

Initially, the Church of the Holy Spirit had features of the Gothic style, but due to numerous wars and reconstructions, the final appearance also acquired neo-Baroque features.

The classic nave is combined with a high tower. The interior is notable for its stucco work by the Azam brothers and stunning ceiling frescoes. On the altar of the church there is a miraculous image of the Mother of God.

The abbey is located in the center of Munich, which is quite unusual for a monastery of this type. Construction took place in the 19th century on the territory of the former monastery of St. Benedict.

The facade of the building is greeted by columns, and on the sides there are statues of St. Peter and St. Boniface.

At the top of the facade there is a portrait of the architect - this case is rather an exception for religious buildings.

The image of the building corresponds to the Byzantine style. Inside the church hall you can see an impressive number of tall columns that visually expand the space. The interior painting, after being damaged in 1945, was only partially restored by modern craftsmen.

King Ludwig I is buried in the abbey along with his wife Theresa.

Munich – the heart of tourism in Bavaria

Munich is home to an impressive number of unique churches and cathedrals that are cultural monuments. By visiting the city, you will have the opportunity to study the architecture of the 12th–20th centuries in all its diversity using a clear example. For those planning their vacation for 2019, we recommend considering visiting Munich.