Munich Residence ~ Palace & Treasury of the House of Wittelsbach

Destination guide for the Munich Residence.

History

The Residence has a long and storied history that dates back to 1385, when the first structure – a castle with a moat – was built. Over several centuries, the humble castle evolved into a splendid palace through the addition and expansion of buildings and gardens. It was in this palace that the House of Wittelsbach (former Bavarian dynasty) ruled and resided from 1508 until 1918, the year that marked the end of their impressive 738-year reign. The Residence’s interior reflects this long rule, and the refined taste of the House of Wittelsbach, by showcasing architectural features and artworks from the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical periods.

In 1945, during the bombings of World War II, the palace sustained catastrophic damage. Fortunately, much of the “movable inventory” had been placed in storage and survived the war intact. After years of painstaking effort and hard work, much of the Residence has been reconstructed.

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Visiting the Munich Residence

The Residence was on my “must-see” list for Munich, and I am beyond delighted I had the chance to visit. Exploring the palace and treasury were among the biggest highlights of my trip this year, and overall, I found the Residence to be a worthwhile experience that I highly recommend. Not only is the history fascinating and the art and architecture beautiful, but it is also awe-inspiring to see firsthand the results of the reconstruction efforts.

My visit to the Residence lasted around 2.5 hours, and my experience went from “WOW” to “Where is the Exit!!” in those last 30 minutes. The first part of the tour takes you through some magnificent sections of the palace: the Ancestral Gallery and Porcelain Cabinet, the Grotto Courtyard, the Antiquarium, the Black Hall Wing, and the Charlotte Rooms. From there, the tour winds through a seemingly endless maze of other splendid rooms, halls, and chapels, each offering a glimpse into the lives of the House of Wittelsbach. While the Residence is wonderful, after more than two hours of nonstop walking and climbing a handful of staircases, one does get weary and yearns for the nearest exit!

Two things caught my attention during my time at the Residence. The first was the lack of crowds. I visited this site on a Sunday morning in late April, and I experienced no lines or crowds, which seems to be a rarity in Europe these days. The second was the navigation system used at the Residence to guide visitors. This site uses a series of red arrows that you are supposed to follow along the tour, but it was not always 100% clear in which direction you were supposed to go. And based on the puzzled looks from other guests, I wasn’t the only one confused by the arrows!

It is important to pace yourself when visiting this site. There are hundreds of rooms, but only a few have chairs allowing for a short break. If you tend to tire or get overwhelmed easily, I recommend the “short tour.”

Is the audio guide needed? Included in the admission fee is an audio guide that visitors can use while touring the palace and treasury. It provides an extensive list of audio clips and is available in several languages. For this site, I opted not to use the audio guide. I read the information panels found in each room, and I felt that was sufficient to understand the basics. On the other hand, if you are interested in more in-depth information, and have considerably more time to spend at the Residence, then I recommend the audio guide.

Portions of the Residence are accessible to individuals with mobility impairments, and some accommodations are available for those with visual or hearing impairments.

Reduced fares and free admission are available for the Residence, as well as the Treasury and the Cuvilliés Theatre. If you plan to visit the Residence, plus the Treasury and/or the Theatre, I highly recommend purchasing the combo ticket as a way to save money.

There is no air conditioning or heating system at the Residence, so plan accordingly.

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The Treasury

After touring the Residence, I headed over to the Treasury, which was a short but worthwhile visit. The Treasury has 10 rooms, and it took me about 25 minutes to explore all the galleries. While the jewelry and crowns were beautiful, some of my favorite pieces were the liturgical relics and ornate swords and daggers.

Admission to the Treasury requires a separate ticket, but I highly recommend including this site as part of your experience at the Residence. I also suggest that guests use the audio guide at the Treasury, as there is a lack of information. It would have been great to have had some context for the items on display.

The Treasury can only be accessed by a set of stairs.

(click images to enlarge)

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Travel Tips

The Residence also features a series of courtyards and the Cuvilliés Theatre, which visitors can explore. The Cuvilliés Theatre requires a separate admission ticket, but to save money, guests have the option of purchasing a combo ticket that also includes admission to the palace and treasury.

If you are in Munich for several days, the Bavarian Palace Administration manages other grand palaces and sites in and around the city that guests can visit.

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Resources

For additional information, visit the Munich Residence website.