-
Kurfürstenzimmer
Upstairs and only accessible in the morning are the Kurfürstenzimmer (Elector's Rooms) with some stunning Italian portraits and a passage lined with two dozen views of Italy, painted by local romantic artist Carl Rottmann.
-
Marstallmuseum
In the south wing of the Schloss Nymphenburg are the coaches and riding gear of the royal families, suitably displayed in the Marstallmuseum. Ludwig II's over-the-top sleigh, fitted with oil lamps for his nocturnal outings, is not to be missed. The 1st floor features a collection of porcelain made by the legendary Nymphenburger Manufaktur and a shop.
-
Münchner Jüdisches Museum
The Münchner Jüdisches Museum, Munich Jewish Museum, is a major effort to come to terms with one of the city's most sinister chapters. It integrates a new synagogue and community centre and the exhibit aims to show - in a balanced, sensitive fashion - the Jewish place in Munich's cultural landscape over the ages, from medieval times through to the horrors of the Third Reich and today's slow regeneration.
The site is near that of the Romanesque synagogue that was razed by the Nazis in 1938.
-
Münchner Stadtmuseum
You could spend hours roaming through the collections of the rambling Münchner Stadtmuseum, making it a perfect rainy day destination.
Historical exhibits help you understand how the royal residence evolved into today's modern metropolis, but the main artistic draw is the ensemble of Erasmus Grasser's 10 spritelike Morris Dancers (1480), medieval travelling entertainers who performed at court and on market squares. The late Gothic figures originally adorned the ballroom of the Altes Rathaus.
-
Museum Brandhorst
Yet another museum dedicated to postmodern masters is scheduled to open in autumn 2008 in a new building at the corner of Theresienstrasse and Türkenstrasse. Andy Warhol and American abstract expressionist Cy Twombly will get plenty of wall space; and there will also be entire rooms exploring the provocative art of Damien Hirst, Robert Gober and Mike Kelley.
-
Museum Mensch und Natur
Kids will have plenty of 'ooh and aah' moments in the Museum Mensch und Natur, in the Schloss Nymphenburg's north wing. Anything but old-school, it puts a premium on interactive displays, models, audiovisual presentations and attractive animal dioramas.
-
Museum Reich der Kristalle
If diamonds are your best friends, head to the Museum Reich der Kristalle, with its Fort Knox-worthy collection of gemstones and crystals, including a giant Russian emerald and meteorite fragments from Kansas.
-
Museum Villa Stuck
Franz von Stuck was a leading light in Munich's art scene around the turn of the 20th century and his residence is one of the finest Jugendstil homes you'll ever see. Stuck himself came up with the intricate design, which forges tapestries, patterned floors, coffered ceilings and other elements into a harmonious work of art. His furniture even earned a gold medal at the Paris World Fair in 1900.
-
Musikinstrumenten-Museum
The Musikinstrumenten-Museum is packed with fun, precious and rare sound machines from around the world, including Indonesian ceremonial gongs and mechanical musical instruments. Some of them are cranked up regularly during concerts.
-
Neue Pinakothek
Neue Pinakothek harbours a well-respected collection of 19th- and early 20-century paintings and sculpture, from rococo to Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). Its imposing original structure by Friedrich von Gärtner was destroyed during WWII and not rebuilt; since 1981 works are housed in a modernist structure by Alexander von Branca.
-
Advertisement
-
Nibelungensäle
Even without a ticket to the Residenzmuseum, you're free to visit the Nibelungensäle (Halls of the Nibelungs) off the Königsbauhof courtyard to marvel at an exhibit depicting the near total destruction of the Residenz in WWII and the miraculous restoration in subsequent decades.
-
Nymphenburg Palace
If the Residenz hasn't satisfied your passion for palaces, visit the amazing Schloss (Palace) Nymphenburg. Begun in 1664 as a villa for Electress Adelaide of Savoy, the amazing palace and gardens were continually expanded and built upon over the next century to create the royal family's summer residence.
-
Olympiaturm
When the sky is clear, you'll quite literally have Munich at your feet against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps from the 290m top of the Olympiaturm. Your lift ticket also buys access to the small if quirky Rock Museum (same hours) also up on top. Ozzie Osbourne's signed guitar, a poem penned by Jim Morrison and Britney Spears' glitter jeans jostle for space with letters, photos and concert tickets, all the result of three decades of collecting by a pair of rock fans.
-
Paläontologisches Museum
The curatorial concept of the Paläontologisches Museum could use a little dusting up but otherwise this archaeological trove of prehistoric skulls and bones is anything but stuffy. The most famous resident is a fossilised archaeopteryx, the creature that forms the evolutionary link between reptile and bird. Dino fans can check out the wicked horns on a triceratops skull or the delicate bone structure of a plateosaurus. Admission is free, so why not pop in for your Jurassic fix?
-
Pinakothek der Moderne
Germany's largest modern art museum, the Pinakothek der Moderne opened in 2002 in an extravagant building by Stephan Braunfels that's a perfect setting for artists that dominated the art world throughout the last century. The spectacular four-storey interior centres on a vast eyelike dome which spreads soft natural light throughout blanched white galleries. Many walls are curved, gently leading the viewer from one discovery to the next, and right angles are disrupted by diagonals.
-
Puppentheater-Museum
The upper floors of the Münchner Stadtmuseum house the speciality collections. A delightful diversion, not only for tots, is the Puppentheater-Museum, a fantasy world inhabited by an international cast of hand puppets, marionettes, shadow puppets, stick figures and all manner of dolls, dragons and devils. Call for upcoming shows.
-
Reiche Zimmer
Upstairs and accessible all day, are François Cuvilliés' Reiche Zimmer (Rich Rooms), a six-room extravaganza of exuberant rococo carried out by the top stucco and fresco artists of the day; they're a definite museum highlight.
Also up here and only accessible in the morning are the Kurfürstenzimmer (Elector's Rooms) with some stunning Italian portraits and a passage lined with two dozen views of Italy, painted by local romantic artist Carl Rottmann.
-
Residenzmuseum
The Wittelsbach clan are the Bavarian rulers who lived in the Residenz from 1385 to 1918s. Their amazing treasures, as well as all the trappings of their lifestyles, are on display at the Residenzmuseum, which takes up 130 rooms or about half of the palace.
-
Schack-Galerie
Count Adolf Friedrich von Schack (1815-94) was a great fan of 19th-century Romantic painters such as Böcklin, Feuerbach and Moritz von Schwind. His collection is housed in the former Prussian embassy, now the Schack-Galerie . A tour of this intimate space is like an escape into the idealised fantasy worlds created by these artists.
-
Schatzkammer der Residenz
The Residenzmuseum entrance also leads to the Schatzkammer der Residenz. It's an Aladdin's cave worth of jewel-encrusted crowns, sceptres and royal accoutrements. Included among the mind-boggling treasures are portable altars, the ruby jewellery of Queen Therese, amazing pocket watches, and 'exotic handicrafts' from Turkey, Iran, Mexico and India. It's well worth the entry price.
-
Advertisement
-
Schönheitengalerie
The most famous room in the Schloss Nymphenburg is the Schönheitengalerie (Gallery of Beauties), in the southern wing, a portrait gallery of 38 'beauties' from all walks of life and parts of the world hand-selected by Ludwig I.
-
Seidlvilla
The gorgeous former residence, the Seidlvilla, is now a community centre and art gallery. Ring the buzzer: if a show's on someone should let you in.
-
SiemensForum
If you need a break from all that art, amble over to the SiemensForum. It's a fun, hands-on kind of place with five floors of promotional exhibits on electronics and microelectronics, ranging from the first Morse telegraph to the PC, chewing through 140 years of company history in the process. The changing special exhibits are usually more interesting.
-
Spielzeugmuseum
The Gothic Altes Rathaus (1474) was destroyed by lightning and bombs, and then rebuilt in a plainer style after WWII. In its south tower is the city's Spielzeugmuseum with its huge collection of toys, Barbie dolls and teddy bears.
-
Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst
Late 19th-century archaeologists dug up some excellent finds, some of which made their way into the Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst. It's in the NW wing of the Residenz (look for the obelisk) and has a small but choice collection of sculpture, jewellery, vases and other objects from 5000 years of art in ancient Egypt. Highlights include the gilded coffin mask of Queen Sat-dejhutji (1650 BC) and a rare double statue of King Niuserre (2390 BC) showing him both as a young and an old man.
