Munich Residence / Building history

Munich Residence

Building history

 

Bild: Panoramic view over the Munich Residence to the East

The castle built in 1385 in the north-eastern corner of the city as it was then, the so-called Neuveste, formed the original core of the present Residence. From here the rulers extended their palace to create a large complex grouped around several courtyards.

Duke Stephan III the Magnificent (r. 1375-1392) to Duke Wilhelm IV (r. 1508-1550)

  • Building of the Neuveste, 1385

  • Gradual extension continuing into the 16th century (sections under the Courtyard and the east wing of the Festival Hall Building have been preserved and can be visited on the occasion of special Residence events)

Picture: Building phase under Albrecht V

Duke Albrecht V (r. 1550-1579)

  • Building of the Antiquarium from 1568 to 1571 from designs by Jacopo Strada and Simon Zwitzel to display the ducal collection of ancient sculptures

  • Ballroom (only the cellar has been preserved, which can be visited on the occasion of special Residence events)

Picture: Building phase under Wilhelm V

Duke Wilhelm V (r. 1579-1597)

  • The Antiquarium is more lavishly decorated between 1584 and 1600 under the direction of Friedrich Sustris.

  • Courtyard buildings, 1581-1586

  • Construction of the Black Hall c. 1590

  • Crown Prince Building and Dowager’s Building, 1580-1581 and 1591/94 on Residenzstraße (not preserved)

Picture: Building phase under Maximilian I

Duke / Elector Maximilian I (r. 1598-1651, from 1623 as elector)

Elector Ferdinand Maria (r. 1651-1679)

Golden Hall building and apartment of the electress ( Rooms) on the present Residenzstraße, 1666-1667

Elector Maximilian II Emanuel (r. 1679-1726)

  • Building and furnishing of the Alexander and Summer Rooms on the Courtyard in 1680-1685 by Henrico Zuccalli (not preserved)

  • Renovation of the Rooms and of the Four White Horses after they had been damaged by a fire in 1674, 1690-1700

  • Building of St Cecilia’s Chapel by Henrico Zuccalli, 1693-1704

Picture: Building phase under Karl Albrecht and Max Joseph III

Elector Karl Albrecht (r. 1726-1745, from 1742 as Roman Emperor Karl VII)

  • Gallery and Treasure Cabinet (now the Cabinet) designed by Joseph Effner and François Cuvilliés the Elder, 1726-1730

  • From 1730 to 1737 François Cuvilliés the Elder also builds and furnishes a new state apartment, the Rooms, on the Courtyard, as well as the Gallery belonging to this suite, which is erected on the site of the former south Residence Garden.


Elector Max III Joseph (r. 1745-1777)

  • Renovation of the Rooms above the Antiquarium 1746-1748 by Johann Baptist Gunetzrhainer, renovation by François Cuvilliés the Elder, 1760-1763

  • Building of the Old Residence Theatre ( Theatre) as the court opera house, originally in the south part of the Residence, by François Cuvilliés the Elder, 1751-1755

Elector Karl Theodor (r. 1777-1799)

From 1789 the Garden is laid out as a public garden by Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell.

Picture: Building phase under Max Joseph I and Ludwig I

Elector Max IV Joseph (r. from 1799) / King Max I Joseph (r. 1806-1825)


King Ludwig I (r. 1825-1848)

  • Building of the Palace with the royal apartments and the Halls by Leo von Klenze, 1826-1835

  • Erection of the Church of All Saints by Leo von Klenze, 1826-1835

  • The remaining part of the Neuveste above ground is demolished and replaced with the Festival Hall Building with the Apothecary wing by Leo von Klenze, 1835-1842

King Maximilian II (r. 1848-1864)

Building of a conservatory on the roof of the Old Residence Theatre by Franz Jakob Kreuter and August von Voit, 1854

King Ludwig II (r. 1864-1886)

  • Creation of a residential apartment in the north-western pavilion on Odeonsplatz by Franz Seitz, 1866-1869

  • Building of a conservatory over the Imperial Hall building by Eduard Riedel and August von Voit, 1868-1869

Prince Regent Luitpold (r. 1886-1912)

Building of the Old Treasury by Julius Hofmann (now the ticket centre), 1897

King Ludwig III (r. 1913-1918)

Technical modernization, especially in the Building (electric lighting, central heating, plumbing, lift)

Free State of Bavaria: The Residence Museum – Destruction and reconstruction

 

Picture: Antiquarium 1944 and today
Picture: King's Building Courtyard 1944 and today
Picture: Ornate Chapel 1944 and today
Picture: Grotto Courtyard 1944 and today

After the monarchy came to an end in 1918, the Residence lost its function as a seat of government and was turned into a museum of interior design, which opened its doors in 1920. The Second World War had catastrophic consequences for the Residence: in March and April 1944 much of the upper storey and numerous vaulted ground-floor rooms were gutted. Most of the moveable inventory had however been taken out beforehand and stored in a safe place.

A Residence building office was set up as early as May 1945 to prepare for the subsequent reconstruction of this building complex in view of its great historical and cultural value. The reconstruction took several decades. This was the responsibility of the Residence construction management, which was answerable to the Bavarian Administration of Palaces, Gardens and Lakes, and worked closely with the Administration’s art historians and the newly founded restoration workshops.

  • 1953: Opening of the Hercules Hall as a concert hall in place of the Throne Room of Ludwig I in the former Festival Hall Building.

  • 1958: Reopening of the Cuvilliés Theatre on the Fountain Courtyard, reopening of the first section of the Residence Museum and the Treasury

  • 1966-1979: Reopening of further sections of the Residence Museum

  • 1980: Reconstruction of the apartments in the King’s Building

  • 1985: Reconstruction of the Imperial Hall building

  • 2001: Reconstruction of the Miniatures Cabinet in the Ornate Rooms

  • 2002: Opening of the Royal Palace Courtyard and redesigning of the entrance area to the Residence Museum

  • 2003: Reopening of the Court Church of All Saints