Munich Residenz Reviews (Munich, Germany)

Munich Residenz

by missj1981

London, England, United Kingdom

November 16, 2012

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Germany is full of palaces and has a true rich history that goes back thousands of years. This rich history has been greatly preserved over all those years and of course much has been lots, also a lot is still here these days. A great example of ...Read more

From journal Germany a great country to visit

Walk the same halls as the Bavarian Kings

by ch2001

Chicago, Illinois

April 8, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo The Münchner Residenz is the largest palace in Germany and was home to generations of Bavarian monarchs. Located in the center of Munich it's a great way to take a break from upscale shopping on Maximilianstrasse.Take the U-Bahn or S-Bahnof to ...Read more

From journal Christmas in Munich

The heart of Bavaria

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

September 15, 2010

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Residenz - the heart of Bavaria, the palace of the Dukes, Electors, and later - and the King of Bavaria. As with any complex, rebuilt in a different era, the residence boasts an unusually organic blend of different styles: from the late Renaissance, ...Read more Residenz - the heart of Bavaria, the palace of the Dukes, Electors, and later - and the King of Bavaria. As with any complex, rebuilt in a different era, the residence boasts an unusually organic blend of different styles: from the late Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo to neo-classicism.
Residenz with the treasury - entertainment for a long time. I just been killed with fatigue, I do not know why I was so laid. Of course, I recommend starting with the Residence and not listen to every point of the guide, although it is very interesting, but 4 hours - this is, after all, far too long. Despite the fact that much of the palace - the restoration of the destroyed during the Second World, the breadth of scope, imagination and luxury can not fail to impress. In the treasure is kept several amazing crowns and other pleasures of the royal routine.

Already, only got into the yard, the grotto at the entrance to the complex set up in a wave of wonderful discoveries: a simple and at the same time, an unusual house in the style of Mannerism, decorated with hundreds of thousands of small shells and stones, as if in a fairy tale brings the magic kingdom where nature is skilfully integrated human conception in the creation of his hands, and messenger of the Gods Mercury meets guests.

But these doors conceal an even more unusual rooms. If it were not for the realization that I was only at the very beginning, perhaps, here I would have stayed a long time. Antiquarium for my taste, a real pearl Residence. 69-meter room with vaulted ceilings and was built in the late 16 th century. In these areas I have always admired the accuracy of engineering calculations of the masters of past centuries. But in addition to its architectural form hall and interesting scenery: antique busts and statues collected by Albert the Fifth and settled in the window niches and on marble shelves and in the medallions above the windows - more than 100 species of the Bavarian cities of Hans Donauera; look down from the ceiling down allegory Peter Candida; easily and of course all this splendor link surrealistic grotesque, one of my favorite decorative items. They decorate and a wonderful Belvedere in Vienna, and the incomparable Uffizi in Florence and always make me want to figure out what actually lies behind this ornate interweaving of fantasy and reality.

Trompley, the optical illusion of a three-dimensional object in two dimensional space. And once again reminded of the monumental marble hall of the Upper Belvedere. Here, in the residence, trompley not so expressive, but still look like the ceiling of the hall shoots up, supported by colonnades, and sunlight from the painted windows fills the room with their translucence.

Large tapestries with the invention of the technique of creating these paintings were very popular at all the courts of Europe. It would be better to call such fabrics or paintings aratstsi Aras under the name of French town where, since the 14 century and were made without nap carpets. A tapestry - a fabled name of brothers tapestries from France, where, at its factory in the 17 th century and they wove Aras. Especially popular were later to use the Belgian tapestry manufactories. Here - rooms apartments elector.

Wide Baroque Imperial staircase is part of the Imperial Way. Three figures - a Louis Fourth of Bavaria, the first emperor of the Wittelsbach family, Charlemagne, the great ancestor, and the legendary Duke Otto Vittklsbah. Imperial Hall length of 34 meters on the gilding, tapestries and huge paintings, allegories of the ceiling is impressive. By the way, instead of paintings now in the shade - photos, because originals have been lost.

Reich Capella, in contrast to the palace, forcing to stand still with open delight, a small, cozy and incredibly luxurious, it was a private chapel of Maximilian the First and members of his family. Special chic Orchestra - walls. Small plates of cheap materials, processed in such a way that is practically indistinguishable from marble, inlaid with semiprecious stones. It is believed that such a technique in Residence (scagliola), which became so popular in Europe in the 17 th century, was used for the first time.

Luxury Green Gallery intervene collection of paintings 16-18 centuries. Reflected in the mirrors, paintings, candles and gold Stucky create a stunning effect.

The Cabinet of Miniatures - another pearl of the residence. It is believed that the best collections of such a plan has the Royal Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the second place on the law given to the Uffizi. Miniatures in Residence are not so numerous (129 portraits of 16-18 centuries, performed by French, German, Dutch and Flemish painters), but placed in gold frames on the same red with gold walls, they make the office into the precious, rare box.
A small mirror cabinet (or wide, depending on the capabilities and preferences of the owners of the palace - remember Versailles) - always makes an impression.

At the far end of the gallery is located Ancestors china cabinet. Reflected in a mirror, a collection of like increases at times.

Itself is a portrait gallery of Wittelsbach, or Ancestors' Gallery - a place where the epoch. To trace the history of the inhabitants of the Residenz and even explore the family tree - this can easily take quite some time. Three of the portrait in the center - this again Ludwig of Bavaria, Duke of Wittelsbach Otto and Charlemagne.
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From journal The tourist season lasts all year round

Cuvilliés Theater

by flyingscot4

Kingsport, Tennessee

June 2, 2009

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This stunning theater, designed by François Cuvilliés, is another highlight of the Residenz. With a four year renovation completed in mid-2008, the theater has been restored to its rightful place as one of the most beautiful theaters in all of ...Read more

From journal Munich, Germany - Spring 2009

Residenz

by flyingscot4

Kingsport, Tennessee

November 20, 2007

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Best of IgoUgo The Residenz was the home and seat of power of the Wittelsbach family for over 700 years. Built in 1385 as a small, moated castle, the Residenz replaced the Alter Hof (near Marienplatz) as the Wittelsbach family residence and seat of government. ...Read more

From journal Munich - A City For Everyone

The Residenz

by LenR

Townsville, Queensland, Australia

December 6, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo The Residenz was the former royal residence of the Bavarian Dukes and Kings. Today it is one of the finest room decoration museums in Europe. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and 130 rooms. The rooms and large halls can be visited, ...Read more The Residenz was the former royal residence of the Bavarian Dukes and Kings. Today it is one of the finest room decoration museums in Europe. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and 130 rooms. The rooms and large halls can be visited, and the many collections of precious art, china, historic paintings, and old furniture paint a vivid picture of 500 years of Bavarian history.

Arrows point you along the recommended route, as not all rooms are open at all times. In fact they change the route during the day so that early morning is different to the afternoon. If you follow the recommended route, you will find that it takes several hours if you have a reasonable look at things as you go along. It can get a bit too much. There are no breaks, no coffee shops, and few toilets. If you have limited time, take a look at the museum brochure (they have an English version available) and pick the three or four things you most want to see in detail and just skim the rest.

Over the years, the original castle which had stood on the site since the 14th century, was gradually extended. Major work was carried out in the 17th century and then some significant additions were added in the 19th century to form the gigantic complex that exists today. During World War II, the Residenz was almost completely destroyed but many of the masterpieces inside were moved to safety before the bombs hit the palace. Because of this, much of the structure which you see today, is the result of post-war rebuilding.

Renaissance features predominate within the building and one of the most impressive rooms is the Imperial Hall. The Antiquarium, built in 1571, is the oldest part of the palace and houses the family’s collection of antiquities, whilst the Schatzkammer (treasury) holds an exquisite array of diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones. Other rooms display porcelain, Italian portraits and vistas, etc.

The Antiquarium has dozens of 16th and 17th century frescoes and is the largest Renaissance hall in northern Europe. The paintings on the ceilings are stunning and the marble floor is beautiful. The Antiquarium alone is worth the price of admission, and you can easily spend 30 minutes wandering around, taking in the scene.

Elsewhere, in the Ancestral Gallery, portraits of the family are set into gilded, carved paneling. Far Eastern porcelain and Oriental rugs can be found in the Porcelain Gallery. The rococo-style Cuvilliés Theater is the location for many concerts and operas during the summer season. The house jewels of the royal family on display in the Schatzkammer are one of the most important in the world, containing royal insignia, crowns, swords, goldsmith work, rock crystal, ivory work, and numerous other treasures.

Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the building.
Opening hours are 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Close

From journal Munich Top Sights

Residenz

by applejacks

Irvine, California

September 29, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo The Residenz in Munich is the traditional home of the Wittelsbachs, the royal family of Bavaria. This site has served as a residence since the late 14th century, but the majority of the building was completed between the 17th and 19th centuries. A ...Read more The Residenz in Munich is the traditional home of the Wittelsbachs, the royal family of Bavaria. This site has served as a residence since the late 14th century, but the majority of the building was completed between the 17th and 19th centuries. A large complex, much of the Residenz is open to the public for a small fee. Inside, you’ll follow a path that brings you through the many courtyards, finely appointed rooms, and large halls that once represented the prestige of the Bavarian kingdom.

The architecture encompasses several different styles including Rococo and Neoclassical. The Neoclassical influence is best represented in the Antiquarium, a hall used by the royal family to display the sculptures, china, and other art they had amassed over the years. The paintings on the ceilings are stunning and the marble floor is amazingly smooth and beautiful. The Antiquarium alone is worth the price of admission, and you can easily spend 30 to 45 minutes wandering the hall from end to end, taking in each of the pieces of art you come across.

Further along, the tour brings you through the living quarters of the royal family, including the throne room, bed rooms, and ball rooms. Some of the rooms suffered damage from the bombing raids of Word War II, but have been so well restored that you would not know it. One of the things I really liked about the Residenz is that almost each room has a multilingual display explaining the history of the room you are in, the history of the royal family, or the history of Bavaria. Some sections focus heavily on the Napoleonic wars, which was a treat, since displays dealing with that segment of history are scarce in America for obvious reasons.

The Residenz also contains the Treasury, which contains the royal jewels and some other artifacts from the royal house. Unfortunately, we somehow missed this section

I have to admit that I didn't want to go to the Residenz. It was towards the end of a long day that had already included several museums. My husband dragged me in after giving me a very stern look—I was overwhelmingly pleased that I gave in and I wished that we had started our day here so I could have seen the complex with fresh eyes.

The one serious drawback to the Residenz is its size. You could easily spend an entire day in the complex and not see everything that it has to offer. If you have limited time, take a look at the museum brochure (they have an English version available) and pick the three or four things you most want to see in detail and just skim the rest.

The Residenz is open from 9AM to 6PM from April 1-October 15th. It is open from 10AM to 4PM from October 16th - March 31. The cost is 6 Euros. It costs 9 Euros to see the Residenz and the Treasury.
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From journal A Short Stay in Munich

Residenz Palace and Museum

by Ed Hahn

Hong Kong, China

February 25, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo Before we visited this massive 10-courtyard, 130-room complex, official residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors, and kings, Tom and I were joking that if anyone could demonstrate wretched excess, it would be Bavarian royalty. We weren’t ...Read more Before we visited this massive 10-courtyard, 130-room complex, official residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors, and kings, Tom and I were joking that if anyone could demonstrate wretched excess, it would be Bavarian royalty. We weren’t disappointed.

The palace was started in 1385 and grew over the centuries. It exhibits many different architectural styles, including late Renaissance, baroque, Rococo ,and Classicism. The Wittlesbach family is responsible for most of it, as they basically ruled Bavaria until 1918. To explore the entire collection, you can only visit half in the morning and half in the afternoon. There are guided tours at both times. There is also an audio guide that provided more information than I wanted. After a while, I just walked and looked.

The palace was rubble in May 1945. Hitler refused to let his minions evacuate the place, so the Allies bombed it mercilessly. It has been rebuilt, although the original furnishings are mostly kindling. Officials were able to save many of the original plans and drawings. Plus, they took photos and managed to spirit some of the treasures to a safe place. Like Düsseldorf and Cologne, Munich decided to reconstruct the city rather than start over from scratch like Frankfurt. I’m glad they did.

The most interesting sections we saw were in the Ancestral Gallery, which is designed like a hall of mirrors, except that instead of mirrors, there are portraits of the Wittelsbach family set into gilded, carved paneling. The largest and most impressive room is the Antiquarium, possibly the finest example of interior Renaissance secular styling in Germany. Frescoes adorn nearly every inch of space on the walls and ceilings. The room is broken into sections by pilasters and niches, each with its own bust of a Roman emperor or a Greek hero. The central attraction is the two-story chimney piece of red stucco and marble, completed in 1600. It's adorned with Tuscan pillars and the coat of arms of the dukes of Bavaria.

There are several interesting throne rooms in the palace. The Stone Rooms with their cut glass decorations are astounding. Some might say weird. In addition, the staircases are wide and sweeping, and I felt transported into another era. One in particular, used as the formal entry into the palace from the Fountain Courtyard, blew my mind. We wanted to see the Cuvillies Theatre, but it was closed for renovation.

We decided to pass on the afternoon half of the museum and instead visited the treasury. Among the treasures is the crown of Anne of Bohemia, wife of Richard II of England, an unbelievable bejeweled reliquary of St George and the Dragon, which is enameled gold covered with emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and pearls, a room full of crowns, orbs, scepters, and two cases full of medals encrusted with every imaginable gem. Opulence beyond opulence, I’m not sure I can find words to describe the total scene.

The museum and treasury are open every day. Picture-taking is allowed. Buy a combination ticket. Close

From journal Melancholy Munich

Residenzmuseum - Residence Museum

by caromeow

Prague, Czech Republic

April 7, 2005

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Best of IgoUgo http://www.muenchen.de/vip8/prod1/mde/resources/mtour/englisch/stadtinformationen/museen/residenzmuseum_e_m.jsp Open April – 15Oct: 9am-6pm Open Oct 16-March 31: 10am-4pm Entry 6 euros, 5 reduced (students), free for children until 18 ...Read more http://www.muenchen.de/vip8/prod1/mde/resources/mtour/englisch/stadtinformationen/museen/residenzmuseum_e_m.jsp

Open April – 15Oct: 9am-6pm

Open Oct 16-March 31: 10am-4pm

Entry 6 euros, 5 reduced (students), free for children until 18 years

Combination card for Residenzmuseum and Treasury: 9 euros, 8 euros

Various tour times: Contact museum for information.

So I showed up with a buddy I met on my free tour at 2:30pm on a March day. Apparently, when there are less than two hours left, they no longer sell combination tickets. Once we got through the museum, however, I could understand why. We rushed through the last fifteen or so rooms--it’s THAT big. It’s hard to really summarize the palace; it’s so big and has so many different rooms, and also the design varies from really detailed gold rooms (like the one at the beginning of the museum, housing a kind of portrait family tree) to the “stone” rooms, mostly made of marble and false marble. One big tip: Get the free audio guide. We didn’t, but I wish we had. If you get tired of it, you can always stop listening, but while there is a sign to briefly explain each room (both in German and English), there are some details that you just don’t get, especially in the room full of relics--you have no idea whose hand (yes, there are several entire hands) you’re looking at unless you’ve got the audioguide. Or, I suppose, a real guide.

Some of the most memorable rooms:

The Ahnengalerie, which shows the family tree with portraits in a golden room, rococo-style.

The Relics Room: Eerie, but fascinating. Just make sure you’ve got a guide to tell you what’s what.

Antiquarium: The largest Renaissance hall north of the Alps, it was built circa 1570 to house Duke Albrecht V’s antique collection. Close

From journal Easter in Munich

Residenz & Cuvilliés Theater

by akakd

, Arizona

August 23, 2003

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For centuries, the Residenz was the political & cultural centre of royalty, as well as the former residence of Bavarian Kings. Various rulers furnished & extended the rooms to suit their personal tastes. This was also where rulers kept their art ...Read more

From journal Munich Sparkles

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