Munich Frauenkirche
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Munich Frauenkirche - Diliff (CC BY 2.5)
Description
The Frauenkirche or Münchner Dom (Munich Cathedral) first incarnation was built in the Romanesque style, making the city's second oldest church after St Peter's, but the current building however dates from the later part of the 15th century. It was constructed with red bricks in the late Gothic style with buttresses hidden in its interior whilst the 2 domes of the 98m high towers are in Renaissance style, which creates a clear but defining visual mismatch. The interior consists of the main nave and two side aisles with a double row of 22 pillars, making it one of the largest hall churches in the region. Note that a church tour takes place in Munich Cathedral on weekdays from Monday to Saturday, at 11h30 (presumably in German only).
Access & Transport
The church is located in the Old City, at 12 Frauenplatz, 100m to the northwest of Marienplatz. The Marienplatz U-Bahn / S-Bahn station (U3, U6 and S1 to S8) and the Marienplatz tram stop (12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 29) on Theatinerstraße are each a 2mins walk away.
Instructions & Recommendations
This activity is best combined with Marienplatz, St Peter's Church, The Munich Residenz Museum and Karlsplatz-Stachus.
Environmental & Social
Environmentally neutral. The building is part of the city's architectural and cultural heritage.
Conclusion
Frauenkirche looks different, but it is not only the domes; we figure it is the hidden buttresses that create that bulky look and the way it dominates the city's skyline. The interior has a massive hall but lacks "content" and atmosphere (not helped by the WW2 bombings) so a full visit may not be warranted for everybody, but one should ensure to walk past it and appreciate its outline for a few minutes when in Munich.
Key positive
Unique and striking silhouette
Very centrally located just off Marienplatz
Key negative
Underwhelming interior art and decoration compared to other churches in the Od City
Suitability
No religious denomination restrictions. The cathedral is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility - there is a ramp for wheelchair users on the left of the main entrance.
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
April 2023
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 25m
est. visit time:0h 45m
Monday08:00 - 20:00
Tuesday08:00 - 20:00
Wednesday08:00 - 20:00
Thursday08:00 - 20:00
Friday08:00 - 20:00
Saturday08:00 - 20:00
Sunday09:30 - 20:00