THE RESIDENCE PALACE - MUNICH
Roman Emperors and Crown Jewels in Munich’s Royal Palace
Looking
for Roman Emperors, to gaze into the faces of the likes of Caesars
Julius, Augustus, Nero,
Hadrian and all the long line of descendants. Don’t go to Rome,
go to Munich. The Antiquarium in the 
Munich Residenz is
the largest non-church
Renaissance
interior north
of the Alps, a magnificent arched ceiling hall which seems to stretch
forever, and is filled with bust statues of all the emperors
of Rome. It is one of the most curious and fascinating rooms in this
royal palace (and perhaps any royal palace) in the center of the Bavarian
capital. Kings of Germany were for a time in history, leaders of the
Holy Roman Empire which is where this fascination with the pre-Christian
predecessors arises.
The
Munich Residenz began in the 1300’s
as a small moated castle, but any resemblance to the medieval beginnings
of the city home of the
Wittelsbach family which ruled Bavaria until the end of WWI was replacedby this 17th Century grand palace in the heart of Munich (see Museum of Bavarian Kings). The Residence
Palace is
a maze of grand halls, courtyards and
great rooms, paintings, tapestries
and collections of royal Porcelain. But the the palace as
it now stands is also a reconstructed version arisen from
the ashes
ot WWII. Upon
entering
you can tour a photograph galley of the damage from WWII bombing, of
which the palace, like much of Munich, was a major target. The bomb damage
and recovery and reconstruction from it is quite amazing to view, a
stunning
contrast
of the now reconstructed palace from the pile of rubble and collapsed
walls.
Bavarian Crown Jewels
The
Munich Residenz also houses the Bavarian Crown Jewels in the Treasury
or “Schatzkammer” which
can be included in a combined entrance ticket for €11. Entering
through a safe-like vault door into a series of display rooms, you
can view 
the gold and jewel encrusted treasures
amassed by the Bavarian royal rulers. It
is one of the most important collections of royal medieval baubles
in
Europe,
including
the baltar
ciborium of King Arnulf, a magnificent gold and precious stone equestrian
statuette of St. George and his dragon, the cross of German Emperor Henry
II and the crucifix of Queen Gisela. In another room is a collection
of royal Bavarian procelain (see Nymphenburg
Palace).
The
gardens of the Residenz are a relaxing respite in the center of the
city, for reading or just
strolling. On
weekend afternoons when the
weather’s good, ad hoc informal social groups can be found Salsa
dancing to cd’s underneath the garden’s central copula. The
Residenz entrance is on the Max-Joseph Platz next to
the Opera House and on Odeonsplatz, opposite the distinctive yellow Theatiner
Kirche (see Baroque Churches of Munich).
Locals
stroke the nose of the Bavarian lions (Lowen) outside the Odeanplatz
entrance for luck as they pass, but just touch one or the luck is cancelled
out. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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See Also:
SCHLEISSHEIM PALACES & BAROQUE GARDEN PARK
MAD KING LUDWIG'S PLEASURE PALACE - LINDERHOF
MUNICH WALKING TOURS - HITLER'S BAVARIA
BURG TRAUSNITZ MEDIEVAL CASTLE LANDSHUT
IMPERIAL TREASURE CHAMBER VIENNA
