Munich Residenz - Inside The Palace

Inside The Palace

The Hall of Antiquities (Antiquarium), built in 1568-1571 for the antique collection of Albert V (1550–1579) by Wilhelm Egkl and Jacobo Strada, is the largest Renaissance hall north of the Alps. Remodeled into a banquet hall by Friedrich Sustris in 1586-1600. The Antiquarium housed the ducal library until 1581. The low hall was then covered with a barrel vault that had 17 window lunettes. The hall was adorned with paintings by Peter Candid, Antonio Ponzano, and Hans Thonauer the Elder, though some were initially designed by Sustris himself. The Court Chapel (Hofkapelle), the Emperor's Staircase (Kaisertreppe) and Imperial Hall (Kaisersaal), the Stone Rooms (Steinzimmer; 1612–1617; general design by Hans Krumpper) and the Trier Rooms (Trierzimmer); ceiling frescoes by Peter Candid) built for Maximilian I are typical for the early 17th century.

The baroque era is represented by the Papal Rooms (Päpstlichen Zimmer), erected under his son Ferdinand Maria (1651–1679). Later Pope Pius VI lived here during his visit in Munich in 1782 and the rooms were named after him. The extensions of Maximilian II Emanuel (1679-1726), especially the Alexander room and Summer room as representative living rooms, have already been altered shortly after his death. The remains were destroyed in the residence fire of 1729. The Ancestral Gallery (Ahnengallerie; 1726–1731) with the Porcelain Cabinet (both constructed by Joseph Effner) and the Ornate Rooms (Reichen Zimmer) designed by François de Cuvilliés for Charles Albert (1726–1745) are magnificent examples for the court Rococo style. The rich decoration was done by Johann Baptist Zimmermann, Joachim Dietrich and Wenzeslaus Miroffsky. The two-story exterior façade of the Green Gallery (Grüne Gallerie) in the Ornate Rooms, with its seven arched windows in the yard of the Königsbau is a masterpiece of Cuvilliés. The Green Gallery, which was named after the wall covering made of green silk damask, was not only a ballroom, but also a gallery for paintings and mirrors. The magnificent Bedchamber (Paradeschlafzimmer) served for the electoral dressing procedure. Under Maximilian III (1745–1777) the Apartments of the Elector (Kurfürstenzimmer) were constructed between 1746 and 1763 by Cuvilliés and Johann Baptist Gunetzrhainer. Also the Residenz Theatre was added under Maximilian III from 1751.

The neoclassical epoch is represented especially by the Charlotte Rooms (Charlottenzimmer) but also by the Royal Apartments and the Halls of the Battles (Schlachtensäle) in the Königsbau. The wall and the ceiling paintings by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld in the Nibelungensäle (Nibelungen Halls; 1827–1834) produced in the same period are the first monumental representations of the Nibelungenlied. The actual private chambers of the royal couple on the back of the Königsbau are no longer existent because they were destroyed in World War II. Leo von Klenze was not only responsible for the architecture, but also designed the floors, the wall paintings and all furniture. In the Festsaalbau were spacious halls that contained the Grand Throne Room in the center, the Imperial halls, the ballroom and the Battle Hall in the northeast pavilion. These facilities were intended only for state occasions and only accessible by a grand staircase which does not longer exist. There were the most important ceremonies, surrounded by twelve colossal statues of Ferdinand von Miller, who represented the main Bavarian rulers.

Additionally to the rich accumulation of furniture, paintings and sculptures, today the museum contains bronze work, clocks, tapestries, porcelain and several special collections.

The Allerheiligen-Hofkirche (Court Church of All Saints) was commissioned in 1825 by Ludwig I of Bavaria, inspired by the Cappella Palatina, the richly decorated Byzantine royal chapel in Palermo. As bombs destroyed all but the outer walls in 1944 its rich interior ornament was almost completely lost.

The Festsaalbau also houses the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities while the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts is situated in the Königsbau. One of the primary concert venues for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra is the Herkulessaal (Hercules Hall) in the Festsaalbau of the Residenz.