Munich Residenz, Munich, Germany

The Munich Residenz is the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs of the House of Wittelsbach. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is today open to visitors for its architecture, room decorations, and displays from the former royal collections.

The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and displays 130 rooms. A wing of the Festsaalbau contains the Cuvilliés Theatre since the reconstruction of the Residenz after World War II. It also houses the Herkulessaal, the primary concert venue for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. The Byzantine Court Church of All Saints at the east side is facing the Marstall, the building for the former Court Riding School and the royal stables.

he Munich Residence served as the seat of government and residence of the Bavarian dukes, electors and kings from 1508 to 1918. What began in 1385 as a castle in the north-eastern corner of the city, was transformed by the rulers over the centuries into a magnificent palace, its buildings and gardens extending further and further into the town.

The rooms and art collections spanning a period that begins with the Renaissance, and extends via the early Baroque and Rococo epochs to Neoclassicism, bear witness to the discriminating taste and the political ambition of the Wittelsbach dynasty.

Much of the Residence was destroyed during the Second World War, and from 1945 it was gradually reconstructed.

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Munich Residence

User Reviews

Frank Reza (3 months ago)
This was a great place to visit, so many rooms to explore and so much beautiful artwork to see. If I had one complaint it is their entry system. There isn’t one fluid way to purchase your ticket, get your audio tour guide and check your bags. It is very all over the place and the entrance can feel very chaotic. But once you get past that, the rest of the museum is amazing.

Tudor Iordache (3 months ago)
The most opulent interior design I ever saw. Amazing details! Beautiful place! I am giving a 4 stars review because of the way they organized the locker room. Had to wait in a line to get in then wait in another line to leave my backpack (there are 3 ladies that take your backpack and give you a ticket). There are no lines organized so the queues are chaotic. They could add a self service locker room like in most places.

Shannon E (4 months ago)
Huge palace. FREEZING COLD inside in the winter. It took me forever to figure out how to enter (I think because of where Google maps directs you, I walked around the entire building until I finally found the entrance). Inside, they have an express route or long route. If you’re someone who likes to listen to every stop on the audio guide, you’ll be here a solid 4+ hours. Parts of the residence were more interesting to me than others / ex I don’t care about all the porcelain plates and china, but the actual palace rooms are cool! Very opulent. For the 10€ entry fee, I highly recommend a visit. I did not add on the tour of the treasury. It is nice that they allow photography in here.

Audrey Mueller (5 months ago)
5/5 stars, 100%recommend taking the combination tour ($15 per person) of the Royal Residence and Treasury! Will not disappoint. Audio is available free of charge. Get there early, right after opening is the best time and preferably on a weekday. You can either participate in a guided tour, but I like to go through at my own pace.

Pedro Carreiras (5 months ago)
A very big and beautiful palace. The visit can take a full day easily and it's well worth it. We took the combined visit and the theatre takes around 10-15min to visit but you need to go around the residence to enter. The residence and treasury museum took us 4h and we didn't listen to the full audio guide, but if you just walk inside it should be shortly.

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