Photo Journey to the Munich Residenzmonkeysandmountains.com /munich-residenz

The Munich Residenz is one of the largest and most opulent palaces in Europe and served asthe main palace and house of government for Bavarian rulers for 400 years dating back to 1508.

Today, visitors can tour 130 rooms in the palace with a self- guided audio tour (available in several different languages)and signage that is both in German and English. The Munich Residenz was severely damaged in World War II, butsignificant efforts have been made to restore it and its furnishings as close as possible to its original state.

One of my favorite rooms is the Renaissance Antiquarium pictured above. This impressive room was where royalbanquets were held and today hold the honor of being the largest Renaissance Ceremonial Hall north of the Alps. As Iwandered through the impressive hall, I secretly pretended I was attending a royal banquet. Instead of mingling withtourists, I was really mingling with royalty. This room is one of the reasons that I believe that frescos are the mostdangerous cultural attraction in Europe.

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Electors bedroom

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Elector’s bedroom. The original silk wall hangings were destroyed in WW II so these ones intended for another palacewere brought in. While obviously lavish, I personally find it a bit feminine for an Elector.

The Electress’s sparsely decorated Audience Chamber left me wondering about her body functions. The room has onethrone, but two commodes.

An entire section of the Munich Residenz is devoted to the ornate rooms, which was the official apartment of Elector KarlAlbrecht. The lavish rooms are meant to impress and reflect the Elector’s self- claim to Emperor status. The ornaterooms are one of the most important interiors of the German Rococo style, sometimes referred to as “Late Baroque” amuch different style than found in Heidelberg Castle, Hohenzollern Castle Lichtenstein Castle. And definitely differentfrom eccentric King Ludwig II’s fairy tale castles: Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein.

The State bedroom may look fit for a king, but in fact was only for representative purposes, the Elector never slept in thisdisplay bedroom. I’m sure it would have been different at Schloss Ludwigsburg where the king’s bedroom got a lot ofuse with frequent visits from his lady friends.

The Emperor’s Hall is one of the Court Garden Rooms and largely destroyed in WW II. It has only been partiallyreconstructed, but is impressive nevertheless. Today, the Bavarian government hosts events here, but in “exceptionalcases” may be rented out for other functions.

The Court Chapel was reserved for members of court. The ruling family sat in the galleries, while the royal householdsat in the nave. The Court Chapel can be rented out for special functions.

Much more intimate than the Court Chapel is the Ornate Chapel, my favorite room in the Munich Residenz and privateoratory to Duke Maximilian I. The marble on the walls is fake marble, imported from Italy that is more expensive thanreal marble.

And what’s a palace without its very own theater. In the past the theater was only available to members of court, buttoday the Cuvilliés theater is the primary venue for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, which would be less rainythan watching a Shakespeare play in Hohenzollern Castle. The building was largely destroyed in WWII and the originalceiling paintings are gone, but it is still a major work of Bavarian Rococo and makes an impact upon entrance. Can youimagine seeing a production here? (It’s on my list!). In addition to the palace, the Munich Residenz also houses theTreasury, a collection of crown jewels, one of which you can see at The World’s Most Luxurious Travel Kit? making itone of the largest and most importance palace museums in Europe. For more info visit the official home page of theMunich Residenz .

Have you visited the Munich Residenz? What was your favorite part?

About Laurel

Laurel Robbins is a free-spirited adventurer, award-winning travel blogger at Monkeys and MountainsAdventure Travel Blog. Many hats, one travel obsessed Canadian in Germany.