The royal heart of Bavaria

It may not seem as glamorous as other Bavarian castles, but the Munich Residenz is one of the city’s gems and worth the visit!

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

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Visit the Munich Residenz

The largest city palace in Germany, the Munich Residenz was the seat of government for the Bavarian Wittelsbach monarchs for more than four centuries.

Today, much of the luxurious residence is open to the public and there are a few ways you can visit the Munich Residenz.

Munich Residence, Munich, Germany

It’s hard to imagine that this was once just a small castle surrounded by a moat.

That was 1385 and it’s all that was needed at the time – and all that was possible. But as the Wittelsbach dynasty became wealthier and more powerful, its home did too.

The Wittelsbachs were the rulers of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Some of the family’s members would become German Emperors, while others married into other royal families of Europe.

They were one of the oldest and richest families in this part of the continent. They spent that wealth… but they also had to defend themselves against their enemies.

Munich Residenz, Germany

And so, today, the Munich Residence is a sprawling compound that blends the fortifications of a castle with the grandeur of a palace. It has centuries of additions and modifications, managing to also be a museum, theatre, and treasury.

The Munich Residence shows the particular interests of the various rulers and also has influences from some of history’s most important art periods – Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassicism.

It stuns with both its scale and its detail.

Munich Residenz, Germany

I think it’s one of the highlights of a visit to Munich and you should definitely try to see it for yourself.

The Antiquarium

One of the first rooms I see when I go in is the Antiquarium, or Hall of Antiquities. This long corridor-style gallery has to be one of the most impressive spots of the Munich Residence.

It was built in 1568 to hold a collection of antiques but was later turned into a banqueting hall (along with other uses over the years).

Munich Residenz, Germany

I love the idea of having a banquet in here. As I look around, there is art in every direction, surrounded by golden colours, with marbled busts staring at me and the square tiles on the floor stretching out the perspective.

Imagine sitting for hours, eating and drinking, with all of this as your backdrop.

Munich Residenz, Germany

Munich Residence tour

As I continue further into the Munich Residence, I discover even more amazing design and decadent decoration. There are the enormous halls for receiving visitors, the salons for entertaining, and the more intimate private bedrooms.

Munich Residenz, Germany

Sometimes a room gives off an impression of elegant sophistication. Sometimes it almost seems cluttered, there is so much decoration in it.

Do the chandeliers distract from the dozens of paintings or do the bright green walls do that anyway?

How much gold is too much gold?

Munich Residenz, Germany

There are plenty of palaces in Germany. There are plenty of castles too.

The Munich Residence might not have the fairytale allure of another Bavarian gem, the Neuschwanstein Castle, and it might not have the position of those at Potsdam or Ludwigsburg, but trust me when I say this is one of the country’s most important royal sites.

Munich Residenz, Germany

Not only is it the largest city palace in Germany, it was the heart of this economic powerhouse of a region for more than 700 years.

The collections it holds within it are priceless, even before you begin to consider the treasure of the buildings themselves.

Besides exploring the Munich Residence yourself, there are a few different ways to experience the site. Perhaps one of these options interests you:

Doing something with a guide will certainly give you a much deeper insight.

Munich Residence photos

For now, I’ll leave you with some more of my photos of the Munich Residence.

If you’re interested in visiting, I have some practical information for you at the end.

Munich Residenz, Germany
Munich Residenz, Germany
Munich Residenz, Germany
Munich Residenz, Germany
Munich Residenz, Germany
Munich Residenz, Germany
Munich Residenz, Germany
Munich Residenz, Germany

Where is the Munich Residence?

The Munich Residence is located at Residenzstraße 1, 80333 München, Germany.

You can see it on a map here.

How do you get to the Munich Residence?

The easiest way to get to the Munich Residence is with the city’s public transport. If you use either the S-Bahn or the U-Bahn, the closest stop will be Marienplatz.

When is the Munich Residence open?

The museum at the Munich Residence is open:

April-15 October: every day from 0900 – 1800 (last entry at 1700).

16 October-March: every day from 1000 – 1700 (last entry at 1600).

How much does it cost to visit the Munich Residence?

An entrance ticket for either the Residence Museum or the Treasury is €7 for adults and €6 for a concession.

However, you can get a combined ticket for both for €11 for adults and €9 for a concession.

Are there tours of the Munich Residence?

There are no regular guided tours but you will be offered a free audioguide that you can use through the museum.

If you’re interested in learning more about Munich from a local, I would definitely suggest this guided tour of the Old Town.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN MUNICH

I have a few tips for the best places to stay in Munich although, be warned, it’s not a cheap city.

BACKPACKER

For a good budget option, I would suggest the Wombats City Hostel near the city centre.

BUDGET

For an affordable hotel, Hotel Amba is right next to the main train station.

BOUTIQUE

If you’re looking for a trendy design hotel, I would suggest Cortiina Hotel.

LUXURY

And to splurge, you can’t go past the magnificent Beyond by Geisel and its fantastic location.

7 thoughts on “The royal heart of Bavaria”

  1. Awesome post to share.. These tips are just superb. Thanks a lot for this valuable share. I love traveling to new places with my family and friends. Your post will help me a lot in my next journey.

    Reply
  2. Palaces are fascinating, I can never quite comprehend the opulence and riches of the time – or even modern palaces now! That antiquarium is stunning, I would love to go for a banquet there!

    Reply
  3. I love the idea of dining or celebrating an occasion in the Antiquarium – especially if people are dressed in costume befitting the time period. Such extravagence! Love that you’ve included a “Things to know” section – this really helps in planning the trip! Thanks!

    Reply
  4. These places look incredible! I’ve read some German history but I don’t know much about this period, so your blog was helpful. The Antiquarium looks stunning, got some places to add to my list when I visit Bavaria.

    Reply
  5. I’m so bummed that I missed this while I was in Munich. It looks absolutely stunning. It’s crazy that even with all the palaces in the world, that they’re each so unique. The Antiquarium is just mind-bogglingly beautiful!

    Reply
  6. Michael your pictures are so beautiful! The ones of the Antiquariom made me want to pack and go. I can’t even imagine how people felt in having a luxurious banquet in that gallery!

    Reply
  7. How I ended up related to this family, is blinding obvious. They have the best sense of humor, ever.

    Loves, and many, many, cheek kisses, from luddys favorite.

    Reply

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