St Peter's Church (Peterskirche) Munich
Germany - Cologne - Dusseldorf - Frankfurt - Munich - Stuttgart - Hamburg - Berlin
Address: Rindermarkt 1 | Innenstadt, Munich 80331, Germany
Phone: 49-89-2604828
Timing: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 10am-7pm
St. Peter is the oldest parish church in the city of Munich. It has ornate interior decorated with old masters from 6 centuries. Even before Munich was founded as a city in 1158 there had been a pre-Merovingian church at this site. 8th century monks lived around this church on a hill called Petersberg. At the end of 12th century a new church in Bavarian Romanesque style was designed and expanded in gothic style shortly before the great fire in 1327 destroyed the building. After its reconstruction the church was dedicated anew in 1368. Between 1607 and 1621 the tower was given a lantern dome in place of its earlier pair of Gothic spires.
The church was almost destroyed during the Second World War. The rebuilding completed in 1954, kept both with the traditional architecture and the original furnishings.
The interior is dominated by the high altar to which Eramus Grasser had contributed the figure of St. Peter. Among other masterpieces of all periods are five gothic paintings of Jan Polack and several altars of Ignaz G?nther.
It is now locally known as Old Peter. The white-and-gray interior has been decorated with gilded baroque accents and trompe l'oeil medallions. It contains a series of murals by Johann Baptist Zimmermann, but nothing tops the attraction of the bizarre relic in the second chapel on the left: the gilt-covered and gem-studded skeleton of St. Mundita. The church also has a tall steeple, which you can climb. Colored circles on the lower platform tell you whether the climb is worthwhile: If the circle is white, you can see as far as the Alps. The tower is one of best viewpoints of the city, but it takes 306 steps to climb it.
Prices for entry in the Church is free; tower 1.50€ ($1.75) adults, 1€ ($1.15) students, .50€ (60¢) children.
For further information click on to the links below:
Oldest parish church
Pre-Merovingian church
Monks
Bavarian Romanesque style
Gothic style
Traditional architecture
Gem-studded skeleton of St. Mundita
Tall steeple
