Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady), Munich

Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady), Munich (must see)

The largest Gothic structure in southern Germany, this church was built at an astonishing pace. Construction began in 1468 and wrapped up just 20 years later, a remarkable feat for the time. With its twin towers capped by distinctive onion-shaped domes rising 99 meters high, it remains the city鈥檚 most iconic landmark.

Entry is free, though there鈥檚 a small charge if you鈥檇 rather take the elevator up the South Tower instead of making the climb yourself. The panoramic view from the top is well worth the effort鈥攁n unforgettable way to view the city from above.

Inside, the atmosphere is stark and reverent. What you may see today was rebuilt from the ruins left by World War II bombings. Having been safely stored away during the war, the Gothic windows offer a glimpse of the church鈥檚 former glory. In the choir, you鈥檒l find sculptures of the Apostles and Prophets, created in 1502 and miraculously preserved. The north chapel holds a striking altarpiece of Christ鈥檚 baptism, alongside Jan Polack鈥檚 panels depicting scenes from the Passion. Also look out for his painting 鈥淭he Protecting Cloak鈥�, as well as an elaborate cenotaph of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV.

And then, of course, there鈥檚 the legend鈥攖he infamous Devil鈥檚 Footprint. As the story goes, architect J枚rg von Halsbach made a deal with the devil: the funds to finish the church, in exchange for a design with no visible windows. From one specific spot near the entrance, the illusion holds鈥攏o windows in sight. When the devil realized he鈥檇 been tricked, he stomped his foot in rage, leaving a footprint behind. Both the footprint and the trick of perspective can still be seen today.

Since this is Munich鈥檚 mother church, photography is discouraged out of respect for those who come here to pray. So take a quiet moment, soak in the stillness, and let the space speak for itself.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Munich. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady)
Sight Location: Munich, Germany (See walking tours in Munich)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Old Town Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Munich, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Munich

Creating your own self-guided walk in Munich is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Old Town Walking Tour

Munich鈥檚 Old Town, known as the Altstadt, unfolds across the western bank of the River Isar鈥攁 captivating blend of medieval charm, architectural brilliance, and deep cultural roots. As the historic heart of the Bavarian capital, it鈥檚 more than just a preserved district鈥攊t is is listed as a historical monument and is a living museum 鈥� 鈥渨here the past harmonizes with the present in a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

Munich Introduction Walking Tour

Set along the banks of the River Isar, just north of the Bavarian Alps, Munich is a city steeped in history, where centuries-old buildings meet a rich array of cultural landmarks and modern-day energy.

The first recorded mention dates back to 1158. The name is believed to come from the Old and Middle High German word 鈥渕unichen鈥�, meaning 鈥渂y the monks.鈥� It refers to the Benedictine monks... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

Third Reich Munich Walking Tour

In the early decades of the 20th century, Munich became the birthplace of one of history鈥檚 darkest political movements. Long before the world knew what was coming, Bavaria鈥檚 capital had already laid the groundwork for the rise of the National Socialist German Workers' Party鈥攂etter known as the Nazi Party.

From 1933 to 1945, the Third Reich took hold of Germany under Adolf Hitler鈥檚... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles

Old Town Souvenir Shops

"Collect moments, not things," wise men say. In reference to travel, this may be interpreted as the prevalence of experiences and memories over material gains. Still, when it comes to travel mementos, albeit material they are, memories and experiences are primarily what these little (or not so little) tokens are all about.

And it would be a pity to leave Munich without bringing home... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles

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