The Churches of Munich, Germany

Munich is an incredible city with an eclectic mixture of sights and experiences to be explored; river surfing, art galleries, museums, beer halls and Bavarian food – just to name a few!

When Ross and I were in Munich we aimed to visit as many of the churches and cathedrals as possible. The majestic and imposing buildings are architectural and historical gems, each having their own unique character and stories to tell.

Here are our top 5 highlights!

St. Peter’s Cathedral

St. Peter’s is located in the heart of Munich right next to Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt. It is one of the oldest churches in the city, dating back to the 12^th century, so has a rich history with many fascinating artefacts to discover inside. Like many of the buildings in Munich, St. Peter’s was rebuilt and restored after bombings caused severe damage during WWII. Its interior is a mix of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo architectural styles, and the vaulted ceiling fresco is complemented by the 300 year old gold Baroque high alter.

St. Peter’s has church towers (known as Alter Peter or Old Pete) which you can climb for spectacular city views. At 92 meters high we were delighted to find that there was an elevator which could take you majority of the way up! You could spend hours taking in the 360 degree views, however when we went it was so bloody hot (and I hate being sweaty) that 15 minutes was enough for us.

Back inside the church we wandered around the alcoves which contained different artworks and relics; these alone were enough to put some museums to shame. Among the displays was the remains of St. Munditia, whose skeleton lay in a glass coffin for visitors to view his gem-studded body. I was alarmed upon seeing the remains as the skull has been fitted with false eyes and jewels to cover his rotting teeth. It’s a sight that kept revising me in my sleep for the next few nights (not in a good way).

Asamkirche

I don’t believe anyone would debate me when stating that Asamkirche is the most glamourous and extravagant church in Munich (and also my favourite). Built between 1733 & 1746 by the Asam brothers, it was originally a private chapel that blended into the surrounding two storey terraced houses.

Upon entering the building the Baroque architecture and artworks covering the space hits you like a wave; it is simply breathtaking. The interior is divided into three levels, and the higher you look the closer you come to the heavens. The dark and gloomy mood created at the bottom tier is designed to symbolise world suffering; the middle is decorated in silver, purple and blue and is reserved for the Emperor; and the top tier is the brightest to depict the sky and is dedicated to God and eternity.

It really is hard to take in all the ridiculously ornate designs; there was not an inch of wall, ceiling or floor space left untouched when the masterpiece (there is no other word for it) was created. It really reinforces my lack of any sort of artistic talent!

There are many gold embellishments and statues scattered around the church, however a favourite of mine was a golden skeleton (representing death and complete with a scythe on his back) jamming a big pair of scissors at the head of a cherub. When looking closer you can see that Death’s scissors are ready to snip a golden string being held by the cherub, the string representing the tread of life which can be cut at any moment.

Heilig-Geist Kirche

Heilig-Geist Kirche (or Church of the Holy Spirit) is another of Munich’s oldies, originally built as a hospital parish in 1271. The Gothic church contains numerous works of art from across it’s lifetime; the ceiling fresco features King David and was created in 1724, bronze tombstones of Duke Ferdinand of Bavaria and his wife, and wall frescoes with gifts of the Holy Spirit. The high alter is particularly special and angelic and is made from marble and decorated in pink mouldings.

Just like Taylor Swift, the church has had many eras. It was destroyed in the Munich city fire in 1327 with the reconstruction was not completed until 1392. In the 1700’s the Gothic building was given a Baroque facelift by our friends, the Asam brothers, and was expanded several times in the following years. After enormous damage in WWII the reconstruction began once again in 1946, and finally what we see today is the reconstructed interior, high altar and the Asam frescoes, which was led by architect Erwin Schleich from 1973 onwards.

St. Michael’s

Built in the 16th century, St. Michael’s is know for being the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps. It’s striking façade features 15 bronze sculptures of former rulers, some of which rest in the church crypt, and has the imposing figure of St. Michael fighting a human-like demon, representing the triumph of good over evil. There are nearly four dozen individuals buried at St. Michael’s, including the architect himself and Josephine de Beauharnais (wife of Napoleon).

The building was modelled on the Jesuit mother church in Rome, complete with a large barrel-vaulted roof, and inside the monochromatic marble design allows the gold high alter to really stand out. I personally think this would look great in my living room, but I’m told it’s “too much”.

Frauenkirche

Also known as the church of our lady, Frauenkirche is visible right across the city. Over 98 metres tall, the two cathedral towers are a key feature of Munich’s skyline, so much so that in 2004 the residents voted to stop any new buildings from exceeding it’s height.

The Gothic cathedral’s interior is a little different from other churches in Munich in that it is actually quite plain (well… to be fair the standard is set extremely high). It’s vaulted ceilings are adorned with sandstone, the central hall features impressive stained glass windows, and golden caged pendant lights line the aisle emphasising the height of the room.

Fun fact: according to legend, the famous footprint in the entrance hall was made by the devil himself. He bet his soul with the master builder that there would be no windows in the church. When construction was complete, he returned and could not see any windows at first as they were covered by the columns in the central hall. Out of happiness he stamped his foot and left the imprint in the ground. Supposedly the breeze felt around the church today is the devil still trying to tear down the building after realising his mistake.