Europe
Germany
Munich
Cathedral
Frauenkirche
Name:Frauenkirche
Construction period:1468 – 1488
Commissioned by:Duke Sigmund of Bavaria-Munich
Architect:Jörg von Halspach
Architectural style:Late Gothic
Length x width:109 meters x 40 meters
Height:98.5 meters
Capacity:2000 people

20 Fascinating Facts about the Frauenkirche in Munich

 

  1. Location: The Frauenkirche stands in the heart of Munich’s Old Town, just a short walk from Marienplatz. Situated in the pedestrian zone between Kaufingerstraße and Weinstraße, it is seamlessly integrated into the historic cityscape.
  2. Significance: The Frauenkirche is one of Munich’s most important landmarks and, with its striking twin towers, a defining symbol of the city as well as one of Bavaria’s most famous churches. As the cathedral of the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, it also serves as the religious center of the archdiocese.
  3. Earliest Predecessor Structures: Long before the first Frauenkirche was built, a large episcopal storage building likely stood on this site. Archaeological investigations have uncovered wall remains beneath the present cathedral. Such structures were used to store tributes and supplies such as grain and formed an essential part of the administrative and supply system of the time.
  4. Predecessor Church: Before the present Frauenkirche, a large church was already built here in the 13th century, constructed after 1255 and first documented in 1269. It was a late Romanesque three-aisled basilica and quickly became Munich’s second most important parish church alongside St. Peter. In the 14th century, it was expanded with a new choir that also served as a burial site for the Wittelsbach family. After around 200 years, the church was replaced, as it had become too small for the growing city and had fallen into poor structural condition.
  5. Construction History: The present Frauenkirche was built from 1468 according to the plans of Munich master builder Jörg von Halspach as an impressive brick structure. By 1488, construction was largely complete, making it one of the fastest large-scale building projects of its time. The ceremonial consecration took place in 1494, although parts of the church had already been in use earlier. However, the Frauenkirche only acquired its present-day appearance around 1525, when the distinctive onion domes were added to the towers.
  6. Financing: The construction of the Frauenkirche was funded through the sale of land and houses as well as through donations. Duke Sigmund also supported the project generously. When these funds of around 4500 guilders were no longer sufficient and construction stalled, the church was granted a papal indulgence in 1479. This allowed believers to reduce ecclesiastical penalties for their sins in return for donations. In this way, more than 15000 guilders were raised over the following three years, significantly accelerating the completion of the Frauenkirche.
  7. Cannons on the Towers: During the Landshut War of Succession in 1504 and 1505, cannons were very likely installed on the then unfinished towers of the Frauenkirche to help defend Munich. The conflict arose from a bitter dispute between the dukes of Bavaria Munich and the Palatine branch of the Wittelsbach family over the Duchy of Bavaria Landshut and devastated large parts of Old Bavaria. For Munich, it was especially significant, as it led to the reunification of Old Bavaria in 1505 and established the city as the central power base of the Bavarian dukes.
  8. Regotization and Later Restoration: Over the centuries, the interior of the Frauenkirche has not always looked as it does today. In the 19th century, it was redesigned in the Neo Gothic style, before major restoration campaigns in the 20th century gradually brought it closer again to its original late Gothic character. As a result, visitors today do not see an unchanged 15th century interior, but rather the outcome of several important phases of reconstruction and restoration.
  9. Second World War and Reconstruction: During the Second World War, Munich’s city center was heavily damaged by numerous air raids. Large parts of the Old Town lay in ruins, and much of today’s cityscape only took shape in the post war period. The Frauenkirche also suffered severe damage, with the roof and vault collapsing, parts of the walls and pillars destroyed, and much of the interior lost. After 1945, there were even discussions about abandoning the ruin, but reconstruction began in 1947. The church was rebuilt externally in its historic form using modern construction methods throughout the 1950s.
  10. Pact with the Devil: According to legend, the master builder of the Frauenkirche made a pact with the devil to ensure the success of the construction and promised that no windows would be visible inside the church if the devil helped complete it. The devil wanted the church to remain dark and distant from God, rather than being filled with light as a symbol of the divine.
  11. Devil’s Footstep: The Devil’s Footstep is a footprint located in the western entrance area of the Frauenkirche beneath the organ loft, where even a spur at the heel can still be seen. From this exact spot, the side windows remain hidden behind the pillars to this day, and in the past the window on the east side was also concealed by the large high altar, making the interior appear completely windowless. According to the legend, the devil believed the condition of his pact had been fulfilled, stamped triumphantly on the floor, and left the imprint behind. After taking a few steps, however, he realized he had been deceived, turned into a violent wind in his rage, and tried to destroy the church, but failed.
  12. Scientific Explanation: To this day, it remains unclear whether the legend or the footprint in the floor of the Frauenkirche came first. The Devil’s Footstep is not a randomly formed mark, but one that was deliberately carved into the stone, although its exact date of origin is unknown. The earliest clearly documented written version of the legend dates back to 1853. This suggests that the imprint may have been created later to give visible form to an already well known story, even though this cannot be proven with certainty.
  13. Cenotaph of Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian: The cenotaph is located in the southern side aisle of the Frauenkirche, in the rear section near the entrance. It is not an actual tomb, but a large memorial monument to Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, whose remains now rest in the crypt. Ludwig the Bavarian was King of the Romans from 1314 to 1347 and in 1328 became the first member of the Wittelsbach dynasty to be crowned emperor. The present monument was created in 1622 to commemorate this important ruler and to highlight the status of the Wittelsbach family. Inside the cenotaph is an older late Gothic memorial slab made of red marble.
  14. Bishops’ Crypt and Crypt: Behind the altar area of the Frauenkirche lies the crypt, which can be reached via a staircase and serves as the burial place for Wittelsbach rulers as well as for the Archbishops of Munich and Freising. The present space was created in 1971 and, with its brick walls and simple design, has a deliberately understated appearance, while the tombs are mostly hidden behind wall panels. In addition, there is a chapter crypt that is usually not accessible and contains around 100 additional graves of clergy, nobles, and citizens.
  15. High Altarpiece by Peter Candid: The monumental high altarpiece of the Frauenkirche was created in 1620 by court painter Peter Candid and depicts the Assumption and Coronation of Mary in Heaven. It originally formed part of a magnificent Renaissance high altar in the choir and shaped the overall appearance of the church interior for centuries. In the 19th century, the altar was removed during a Neo Gothic redesign, but the painting was preserved and is now displayed on the north wall above the sacristy portal.
  16. Benno Relics: The relics of Saint Benno of Meissen were brought to the Frauenkirche in 1580 after being rescued from Saxony during the Reformation and transferred to Bavaria. Benno served as Bishop of Meissen from 1066 to 1106 and was canonized in 1523 for his role as a peacemaker and his missionary work. In Munich, he quickly became one of the most important saints and was elevated to the patron saint of the city of Munich and the Duchy of Bavaria. Since 1994, his relics have been kept in the St Benno Chapel of the cathedral, where an ornate silver bust and a reliquary shrine commemorate his veneration.
  17. Automaton Clock: The Frauenkirche has housed an extraordinary automaton clock since at least 1568, a mechanical masterpiece that not only tells the time but also sets a moving display of figures in motion. It is located on the partition wall between the Sacrament Chapel and the Sebastian Chapel. The scene depicts the intercession of Christ and Mary before God the Father, accompanied by representations of the sun, moon, planets, and the signs of the zodiac.
  18. Medieval Stained Glass Windows: The Frauenkirche preserves remarkable medieval stained glass windows, especially the choir windows from the late 15th century. They depict biblical scenes, saints, and donors, allowing visitors to trace the long construction history of the cathedral from within.
  19. Historic Bell Ensemble: The Frauenkirche has ten bells, seven of which hang in the south tower and three in the north tower. This peal is considered one of the most important bell ensembles in Germany, as several medieval bells have been preserved, including one dating back to the 14th century. Particularly famous is the Salve bell “Susanna” from 1490, which weighs around eight tons and ranks among the largest church bells in Bavaria as well as one of the finest sounding medieval bells in Europe.
  20. Viewing Tower: The south tower of the Frauenkirche is now open to the public as a viewing tower and was reopened in 2022 after around ten years of closure. The viewing platform is located at a height of about 80 meters and offers sweeping views over Munich’s city center all the way to the Alps. Access is via 86 steps followed by an elevator, and at the top, interactive displays provide additional information about the view.