Frauenkirche Review

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Frauenkirche

  • Address: Frauenpl., City Center, Munich | Map It
  • Phone: 089/290-0820

Fodor's Review:

Munich's Dom (cathedral) is a distinctive late-Gothic brick structure with two towers. Each is more than 300 feet high, and both are capped by onion-shape domes. The towers are an indelible feature of the skyline and a Munich trademark—some say because they look like overflowing beer mugs.

The main body of the cathedral was completed in 20 years (1468-88)—a record time in those days. The onion domes on the towers were added, almost as an afterthought, in 1524-25. Jörg von Halspach, the Frauenkirche's original architect, apparently dropped dead after laying the last brick and is buried here. The building suffered severe damage during Allied bombing and was restored between 1947 and 1957. Inside, the church combines most of von Halspach's original features with a stark, clean modernity and simplicity of line, emphasized by slender, white octagonal pillars that sweep up through the nave to the tracery ceiling. As you enter the church, look on the stone floor for the dark imprint of a large foot—the Teufelstritt (Devil's Footprint). According to lore, the devil challenged von Halspach to build a nave without windows. The architect accepted the challenge. When he completed the job, he led the devil to the one spot in the bright church from which the 66-foot-high windows could not be seen. The devil stomped his foot in rage and left the Teufelstritt. The cathedral houses an elaborate 15th-century black-marble tomb guarded by four 16th-century armored knights. It's the final resting place of Duke Ludwig IV (1302-47), who became Holy Roman Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian in 1328. The Frauenkirche's great treasure, however, is the collection of 24 wooden busts of the apostles, saints, and prophets above the choir, carved by the 15th-century Munich sculptor Erasmus Grasser.

The observation platform high up in one of the towers offers a splendid view of the city. But beware—you must climb 86 steps to reach the tower elevator.

  • Cost: Cathedral free, tower EUR 3
  • Open: Tower elevator Apr.-Oct., Mon.-Sat. 10-5
  • Metro: Marienplatz (U-bahn and S-bahn)
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