Main information:

Munich Residenz

History

The Neuveste, a castle erected in 1385 in what was then the north-eastern corner of Munich, formed the nucleus of the present Residenz: the dukes, electors and kings of Bavaria extended the castle until it formed a large complex of buildings grouped around several courts. The following chronology lists the main stages in its construction.

 

Picture: Munich Residenz, Festsaalbau (Banqueting Hall Building)
internal link 14th - 16th century

internal link 17th century

internal link 18th century

internal link 19th century

internal link 20th century

 


Picture: Wilhelm IV Duke Stephan III ("the Fop", reigned 1375-92)
to Duke Wilhelm IV (reigned 1508-50)

  • 1385: construction of the Neuveste

  • The Neuveste is gradually extended; remains of the original building exist beneath the Apothekenhof (Apothecary Court) kand the eastern section of the Festsaalbau (Banqueting Hall Building)


Picture: Albrecht V
Duke Albrecht V (reigned 1550-79)

  • 1568-71: the Antiquarium is built to designs by Jacopo Strada and Simon Zwitzel in order to house the ducal collection of Classical sculpture

  • A ballroom building is erected; only the basement vaulting survives

Picture: Building phase under Albrecht V

Building phase under Albrecht V

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Picture: Wilhelm V
Duke Wilhelm V (reigned 1579-97)

Court Superintendent of the Arts: Friedrich Sustris

  • 1581-1600: the Antiquarium is more lavishly furnished and decorated

  • 1581-86: construction of the Grottenhof buildings

  • about 1600: construction of the building containing the Schwarzer Saal (Black Hall)

  • 1580-81: the Erbprinzentrakt (Heir's Tract) and the Witwenstock (Dowager's Rooms) are erected along Residenzstraße; they have not survived

Picture: Building phase under Wilhelm V

Building phase under Wilhelm V

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Picture: Maximilian I
Duke (later Elector) Maximilian I (reigned 1598-1651)

Court Superintendent of the Arts: Hans Krumper

  • about 1600: construction of the ground-floor rooms on Residenzstraße (their modern-day successors house the collection of ecclesiastical vestments)

  • 1601-03: construction of the Hofkapelle (Court Chapel); the choir is not completed until 1630

  • 1607: the Reiche Kapelle (Ornate Chapel) is built

  • 1612-16: the Residenzstraße façade is built

  • 1612-16: construction of the buildings around the Kaiserhof (Emperor's Court), containing the Kaisertreppe (Emperor's Staircase), the Kaisersaal (Emperor's Hall), the Vierschimmelsaal (Four Greys Room), the Steinzimmer (Stone Rooms) and the Trierzimmer (Trier Romms)

  • The Hofdamenstock (Ladies-at-Court Rooms), including the original Herkulessaal (Herkules Hall), are installed between the Kaiserhof and the Kapellenhof (Chapel Court)

  • 1613-15: the buildings around the Brunnenhof (Fountain Court) are erected, along with the Charlottengang (Charlotte Passage)

  • 1613-15: the Charlottengang is constructed next to the Apothekenhof, along with the Großer Hirschgang (Large Deer Passage; destroyed)

  • 1613: the Court Garden begins to be laid out north of the Residenz buildings

Picture: Building phase under Maximilian I

Building phase under Maximilian I

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Picture: Ferdinand Maria
Elector Ferdinand Maria (reigned 1651-79)

  • 1666-67: construction of the Goldener-Saal-Trakt (Golden Hall Building) on Residenzstraße

  • 1666-67: creation of the Electress's Apartments (later known as the Päpstliche Zimmer, or Papal Rooms)


Picture: Maximilian Emanuel II
Elector Maximilian Emanuel II (reigned 1679-1726)

Court Architect: Henrico Zuccalli

  • 1680-85: creation of the Alexander and the Summer Apartments; none of them survives

  • 1690-1700: the Vierschimmelsaal and the Steinzimmer are refurbished following a fire

  • 1693-1704: the Cäcilienkapelle (St Cecilia's Chapel) is built; the outer walls will be reconstructed following damage in the Second World War


Picture: Karl Albrecht
Elector Karl Albrecht (reigned 1726-45, from 1742 as Holy Roman Emperor Karl VII)

Court Architects: Joseph Effner and François Cuvilliés the Elder

  • 1726-30: creation of the Ahnengalerie (Ancestral Gallery)

  • 1726-37: installation of the Reiche Zimmer (Ornate Rooms), including the Grüne Galerie (Green Gallery) and the Miniaturenkabinett (Cabinet of Miniatures)


Picture: Max Joseph III
Elector Maximilian Joseph III (reigned 1745-77)

Court Architects: Johann Baptist Gunetzrhainer and François Cuvilliés the Elder

  • 1746-48 and 1760-63: remodelling of the elector's apartments above the Antiquarium

  • 1751-55: construction of the Cuvilliés-Theater

Picture: Building phase under Karl Albrecht and Max Joseph III

Building phase under Karl Albrecht and Max Joseph III

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Elector Karl Theodor (reigned 1777-99)

1789: Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell begins transforming the electoral hunting grounds along the River Isar close to the Residenz into a public park known as the Englischer Garden


Picture: Max Joseph I
Elector Maximilian Joseph IV (reigned 1799-1825, from 1806 as King Maximilian Joseph I)

  • 1799-1816: the Hofgartenzimmer (Court Garden Rooms), designed by Charles-Pierre Puille and Andres Gärtner, replace the Kaisersaal and Vierschimmelsaal; they have not survived.

  • 1810: the Staatsratszimmer (State Council Room; destroyed, now the Silberkammern) is installed overlooking Residenzstraße

  • 1814-16: the original Herkulessaal (now Max-Joseph-Saal) is remodelled by Andreas Gärtner

  • 1814: remodelling of the Charlottenzimmer (Charlotte Rooms) in the Brunnenhof, some of which survive

  • 1817-22: the Hofreitschule (Court Riding School) is erected on Marstallplatz to designs by Leo von Klenze

  • 1811-25: construction of the Königliches Hof- und Nationaltheater (Royal Court and National Theater) to designs by Karl von Fischer and Leo von Klenze


Picture: Ludwig I
King Ludwig I (reigned 1825-48)

Court Architect: Leo von Klenze

  • The remains of the Neuveste (gutted by fire in 1750) and the Witwenstock are demolished

  • 1826-35: construction of the Königsbau (King's Tract), including the royal apartments and the Nibelungensälen (Nibelung Rooms)

  • 1826-35: erection of the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche (Court Church of All Saints)

  • 1835-42: construction of the Festsaalbau and the eastern side of the Apothekenhof; only the façades survive

Picture: Building phase under Max Joseph I and Ludwig I

Building phase under Max Joseph I and Ludwig I

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King Maximilian II (reigned 1848-64)

1854: a winter garden (later destroyed) is constructed between the Königsbau (King's Tract) and the Nationaltheater to designs by Franz Jakob Kreuter and August von Voit


Picture: Ludwig II
King Ludwig II (reigned 1864-86)

  • 1866-69: the north-western pavilion on Odeonsplatz is converted into apartments by Franz Seitz; they have not survived

  • 1868-69: a winter garden is constructed above the building housing the Kaisersaal; it is no longer extant


Prince Regent Luitpold (reigned 1886-1912)

1897: the Alte Schatzkammer (Old Treasury, now the museum ticket desk and shop) is built to designs by Julius Hofmann


Picture: Ludwig III
King Ludwig III (reigned 1913-18)

Electric lighting, central heating, modern plumbing, a lift and other technical improvements are introduced

7 November 1918: King Ludwig III vacates the Residenz following Kurt Eisner's proclamation of the Republic of Bavaria

 

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Freistaat Bayern
Modern Bavaria

  • 1920: The Residenz becomes a public museum


War Damage and Reconstruction

  • 1944: the Residenz is hit by bombs,
    reducing 23,000 square metres of roofing to 50

    Picture: War Damage of the Antiquarium

  • Works of art have been removed to safety and most survive the bombing

  • 1945: reconstruction begins

  • 1953: following its destruction, Ludwig I's Throne Room in the Festsaalbau is converted into a concert hall named Herkulessaal

  • 1958: the Cuvilliés-Theater (now in the Brunnenhof), the first section of the Residenz museum and the Treasury are reopened

  • 1966-79: further sections of the Residenz museum are reopened

  • 1980: reconstruction of the apartments in the Königsbau

  • 1985: reconstruction of the Kaisersaal building

  • 2001: reconstruction of the Miniaturenkabinett in the Reiche Zimmer

  • 2002: the Königsbauhof is opened to the public and the entrance to the Residenz museum remodelled

  • 2003: the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche is reopened as a space for functions and the Kabinettgarten (Cabinet Garden) is remodelled

 

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