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Dramatically laid-out to the north of the city centre, Königsplatz is part of some very geometric town planning from the early 19th century.
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Königsplatz - click any photo on this page to enlarge
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The Greek-style archway was built to celebrate Otto of Bavaria's part in Greek War of Independence against the Turks. The Glyptothek (below) on the north side of the square was erected to house Ludwig I's collection of 'looted' Greek and Roman sculptures. |
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The Propylaeum arch |
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State Collections of Antiquities
Opposite the Glyptothek is the building shown below, which houses the 'Staatliche Antikensammlungen' (State Collections of Antiquities). The complete Königsplatz square was completed in 1862. |
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The Glyptothek |
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Opening times
The Glyptothek is open 10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday (till 8 on Thursdays). Closed on Mondays. Adult admission (2005): €3. Same times and price apply for the Staatliche Antikensammlungen. |
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Staatliche Antikensammlungen |
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Führer buildings
In the Nazi era, Königsplatz was used for military parades. Next to the square, no. 12 Arcisstrasse, now Munich's College of Music, was the party's headquarters and Hitler's showcase in Munich. |
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The Nazi party's former headquarters |
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Peace for our time
Indeed, it was here in 1938 that the Munich Agreement was signed, following which Chamberlain declared 'I believe it is peace for our time'.
Munich tourist office page on the Glypothek (in English)
Munich tourist office page on the State Collections of Antiquities
(in English)
Dachau
If the Nazi era interests you, and you don't mind a rather sombre few hours, you should also take the short trip out to Dachau. The site of the former concentration camp in this Munich suburb is now a very thought-provoking memorial to those who perished there.
Photo exhibitions, a film (in English), a reconstructed prisoner hut and the old incinerators paint a very bleak picture of the darkest period in Germany's history.
As I said, very thought-provoking ... and definitely somewhere where you should forgo wearing your football shirt! It's open all year round from 9am to 7pm every day except Mondays.
Website: Dachau concentration camp memorial site |
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