Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Marienplatz
Henry the Lion transformed Marienplatz into the centre of Munich - and it
remains the heart of the city today. This is where the Neues Rathaus (New Town
Hall) stands, major public transit lines meet, and locals and visitors alike stroll
past street entertainers, or sit at the restaurant and café patios lining the
square. A pedestrian zone begins at the western end of the square; the ele-
gant Weinstraße and Theatinerstraße lead off from the north; toward the east
are the Isartor and Maximilianstraße, and to the south the Viktualienmarkt.
Top 10 Sights
1 Marienplatz
2 Neues Rathaus
2 Altes Rathaus
4 Pedestrian Zone
5 Peterskirche
6 Frauenkirche
7 Asamkirche
8 Viktualienmarkt
9 Feldherrnhalle
0 Theatinerkirche
Façade of the Neues
Rathaus
There are numerous
cafés and restaurants
on and around
Marienplatz.
For excellent views
visit the Neues
Rathaus tower, the
Peterskirche tower,
or the south tower
of the Frauenkirche.
!
Marienplatz
Dominated by the Neues
Rathaus, the square
(centre)
features a golden statue of
the Virgin Mary from 1638, and
the 19th-century Fischbrun-
nen (Fish Fountain). On Ash
Wednesday, the mayor and
town councillors wash their
wallets there so that the city's
coffers will always be full.
•
U3/U6: Marienplatz,
S-Bahns 1-8 • Map L4
•
Neues Rathaus,
Marienplatz 8; Tower:
Open 8am-7pm Mon-
Fri, 10am-7pm Sat, Sun
& hols (Nov-Apr:
10am-5pm Mon-Fri)
•
www.muenchen.de
• Frauenkirche, Frauen-
platz 1; Tower (South
tower, West Entrance),
there are a few stairs
to the elevator: Open
Apr-Oct: 10am-5pm
Mon-Sat; Adm
•
Peterskirche, Rinder-
markt 1; Tower: Open
9am-6pm daily (from
10am Sun & hols; In
summer to 7pm depend-
ing on the weather); Adm
•
Visitors cannot view
churches during services
$
Pedestrian Zone
Munich's most popu-
lar traffic-free shopping
zone begins at the west-
ern end of the square and
stretches to Karlsplatz.
Be sure to see the
late Renaissance
Michaelskirche.
%
Peterskirche
@
Neues Rathaus
Built between 1867 and
1908, the Neo-Gothic Neues
Rathaus (New Town Hall) is
topped by the Münchner Kindl
(Munich Child), the city's sym-
bol. At 11am, noon, and from
March to October, also at 5pm,
people gather on Marienplatz
to enjoy the town hall's famous
Glockenspiel - a chiming
clock with dancing figures.
£
Altes Rathaus
At the highest
point of the Old
Town stands the
13th-century
St Peter's,
Munich's oldest
parish church. Its
tower, affection-
ately called Old
Peter
(left)
,
com-
mands
a fine
view.
Now home to a toy
museum, the Gothic Altes
Rathaus (Old Town Hall) of
1474 has been rebuilt
often, but the hall on
the ground floor and
the tower, once a city
gate, are original.
26
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