Munich Germany
Wittelsbach Royal Residence
July 2

The Wittelbach family ruled Munich and then Bavaria from 1508 until 1918 from their home in downtown Munich. During this time the Residence was rebuilt and added to by just about every generation whether they called themselves Dukes, Electors, or Kings. It became a rambling bunch of rooms, many unused, some used just to store art works.

In 1920 it opened to the public for tours and was a tourist attraction until WWII when it was closed and all the moveable artwork was moved to another city. Good thing too, since the palace was hit directly by bombs in 1944. In the 1950s and 60s physical rebuilding took place and most rooms returned to the original look from old photographs.

The rebuilt Residence opened again in 1971 and unless you remind yourself often that you're looking at reconstructions the grandeur of the Renaissance architecture seems authentic. Connecting corridors and some of the rooms, though, are now undecorated smooth plaster which brings you back to reality. Some ceilings remain in plaster where there were frescos also but many rooms were fully restorable and many frescos have been restored from pre-war photographs. All in all, the Residence is on par with those we've seen in Vienna, Salzburg, and Lyon (and we'll still see more in Berlin, Paris, Tours, etc.).

The Munich Residence has one advantage - pictures (without flash) are allowed. Hooray. So here's a walk-through a real European royal palace.

This is the Antiquarium. Built in 1568 through 1571 as an exhibition room for Duke Albrecht V's goodies. Soon after it was changed into a ceremonial hall and a raised dais at the far end was put on one end for Duke Wilhelm V's friends to eat and be seen. The cases for the antiques were removed and statues placed all up and down the walls.

Scene of this room in 1945.

Walls, doors, chandeliers, frescos, mould work, flooring, all were on the par with any royal palace in Europe.

Ceiling fresco

Embroidery work

Tapestries

The "Green room" although the gilding overshadows the green. Just for paintings.

Six rooms are set aside to show the various royal table settings. Royal families must have kept porcelain makers very busy making gifts for each other.

And of course, there's a music room. At least a room where musical instruments are now displayed. Remember, most of these rooms were used for all kinds of various purposes through the centuries.

An upright harpsichord.

The state bedroom of the electors.
Not used as a real bedroom ever, just for display to guests.

And artworks. Everywhere.

This is the Ancestral Gallery, one of the few rooms to maintain it's purpose. Over 100 portraits of the House of Wittelbach hang here from Charlemagne, Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, and Duke Theodo, the ancestors from whom they claim title.

The outside walls of the Residence aren't and weren't really fancy. It's a big city block and the building is just a big square hunk from the outside. It evolved in many interesting shapes but ended up just a big square hunk.

10 rooms are devoted to The Treasury. 1,250 items of wealth were collected by the family the way ours collect Hummels.

This is actually a British crown. The signs don't say where or when they stole it.

There are 2 rooms of religious objects. These ivory carvings are first rate.

Jewelry. Baubles for the evenings out on the town.

Clocks.

And various knicknacks.