Framed by the sprawling Englischer Garten, Maxvorstadt serves as Munich’s lively university district. It’s home to an abundance of cultural sights, museums and galleries, including one of the oldest art galleries in the world, the Alte Pinakothek. At the heart of the district is the Königsplatz, where summer concerts and film screenings take place.
Things to do in Maxvorstadt
One of Maxvorstadt’s most impressive landmarks is the Alte Pinakothek, which was designed by the Neoclassical architect Leo von Klenze in the 1830s. It’s renowned for its collection of Old Masters paintings, with Albrecht Dürer, Leonardo da Vinci and Francisco de Goya all represented. The adjacent Neue Pinakothek houses paintings by Monet and van Gogh while the Pinakothek der Moderne is dedicated to contemporary art, design and graphics.
Fronted by eight soaring columns is the Glyptothek, which was commissioned by King Ludwig I to house his personal collection of Greek and Roman sculptures. Dating from 650 BC to 550 AD, these include a bust of Emperor Augustus and the life-size “Barberini Faun”, as well as sarcophagus reliefs and mosaic floors.
If you’re interested in the history of Munich between the two World Wars, pay a visit to the NS-Dokumentationszentrum, which occupies the former site of the Nazi Party headquarters. It offers a fascinating insight into Munich as the capital of the National Socialist movement and the difficulties it has faced in confronting the atrocities of the past. Nazi rallies were once held at the nearby Königsplatz, which is dominated by the monumental Propylaea.
Getting around Maxvorstadt
Maxvorstadt lies alongside the Munich Central railway station, which has train services to destinations across Germany and beyond. Munich International Airport is 30 minutes’ drive from Maxvorstadt. Both trams and U-Bahn services travel throughout Maxvorstadt and connect most of its attractions.