Third Reich Munich Walking Tour (Self Guided), Munich
In the early decades of the 20th century, Munich became the birthplace of one of historyâs darkest political movements. Long before the world knew what was coming, Bavariaâs capital had already laid the groundwork for the rise of the National Socialist German Workers' Partyâbetter known as the Nazi Party.
From 1933 to 1945, the Third Reich took hold of Germany under Adolf Hitlerâs totalitarian regime. During that time, Munich wasnât just another German cityâit served as the organizational center of the Nazi movement. The so-called FĂŒhrerbau, or âLeaderâs Building,â housed the partyâs headquarters and became a symbol of their growing power. The title âFĂŒhrer,â of course, referred directly to Hitler, who dominated the party hierarchy and eventually ruled Germany with absolute authority.
Munich also set the stage for some of Hitlerâs first political maneuvers. In 1919, at the Sternecker beer hall, he delivered his very first public speech for the German Workers' Party, the precursor to the Nazi Party. Not far away, the HofbrĂ€uhaus beer hall was once a key venue for his inflammatory rhetoric and early party rallies. Hitlerâs failed coup attempt was launched from there and ended near the Field Marshalâs Hall, which the Nazis later converted into a shrine for their fallen followers.
Other buildings played their part as well. The Old Town Hall served as a Nazi administrative center during the regime, overseeing local government operations and further entrenching the partyâs grip on the city.
Today, some refer to this period as âMunichâs shameââa reflection on how deeply the city was tied to the origins of a regime responsible for war, genocide, and mass suffering. While many of the sites from that era still stand, they now serve as somber reminders of what happens when ideology turns to extremism. As you explore these locations, let this self-guided walk be more than just a tourâlet it be a reflection, a reckoning, and a quiet moment of respect for the lives lost and the lessons learned.
From 1933 to 1945, the Third Reich took hold of Germany under Adolf Hitlerâs totalitarian regime. During that time, Munich wasnât just another German cityâit served as the organizational center of the Nazi movement. The so-called FĂŒhrerbau, or âLeaderâs Building,â housed the partyâs headquarters and became a symbol of their growing power. The title âFĂŒhrer,â of course, referred directly to Hitler, who dominated the party hierarchy and eventually ruled Germany with absolute authority.
Munich also set the stage for some of Hitlerâs first political maneuvers. In 1919, at the Sternecker beer hall, he delivered his very first public speech for the German Workers' Party, the precursor to the Nazi Party. Not far away, the HofbrĂ€uhaus beer hall was once a key venue for his inflammatory rhetoric and early party rallies. Hitlerâs failed coup attempt was launched from there and ended near the Field Marshalâs Hall, which the Nazis later converted into a shrine for their fallen followers.
Other buildings played their part as well. The Old Town Hall served as a Nazi administrative center during the regime, overseeing local government operations and further entrenching the partyâs grip on the city.
Today, some refer to this period as âMunichâs shameââa reflection on how deeply the city was tied to the origins of a regime responsible for war, genocide, and mass suffering. While many of the sites from that era still stand, they now serve as somber reminders of what happens when ideology turns to extremism. As you explore these locations, let this self-guided walk be more than just a tourâlet it be a reflection, a reckoning, and a quiet moment of respect for the lives lost and the lessons learned.
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Third Reich Munich Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Third Reich Munich Walking Tour
Guide Location: Germany » Munich (See other walking tours in Munich)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 6
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Author: clare
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Germany » Munich (See other walking tours in Munich)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 6
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Author: clare
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Fuhrerbau (Leader's Building)
- Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshallâs Hall)
- Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall
- Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
- SterneckerbrÀu (Sternecker Brewery)
- Hitler's Early Residence in Munich
1) Fuhrerbau (Leader's Building)
Tucked into Munichâs cityscape, the so-called Leaderâs Building is one of the most historically loaded structures left from the Nazi era. Built between 1933 and 1937, it housed Adolf Hitlerâs Munich office and served as a key administrative hub for the regime.
The architecture is textbook Third Reich: neoclassical, rigidly symmetrical, and designed to impress. Long colonnades, marble interiors, and an air of permanence were meant to radiate power. The building was part of Hitlerâs broader plan to reshape Munich into the âCapital of the Movement,â marking the cityâs role as the cradle of the Nazi Party.
But what seared this spot into history books was the 1938 Munich Agreement. On September 29th, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, French Premier Ădouard Daladier, Italyâs Benito Mussolini, and Hitler gathered here to sign a deal that allowed Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain famously returned home proclaiming âpeace for our timeââwords that would soon be haunted by war.
During WWII, the building continued to host official functions. After 1945, the U.S. military took over, transforming the building into the Central Art Collecting Point, where stolen artworks were gathered, catalogued, and eventually returned to their rightful owners. Later, the space was given a new role as home to the University of Music and Performing Arts, which still uses it today.
Though not open to the public, Hitlerâs office still exists behind its original oak doorâfrozen in time. The building now sits at a strange crossroads: once a symbol of authoritarian power, now reimagined as a place for education and artistic creation.
The architecture is textbook Third Reich: neoclassical, rigidly symmetrical, and designed to impress. Long colonnades, marble interiors, and an air of permanence were meant to radiate power. The building was part of Hitlerâs broader plan to reshape Munich into the âCapital of the Movement,â marking the cityâs role as the cradle of the Nazi Party.
But what seared this spot into history books was the 1938 Munich Agreement. On September 29th, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, French Premier Ădouard Daladier, Italyâs Benito Mussolini, and Hitler gathered here to sign a deal that allowed Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain famously returned home proclaiming âpeace for our timeââwords that would soon be haunted by war.
During WWII, the building continued to host official functions. After 1945, the U.S. military took over, transforming the building into the Central Art Collecting Point, where stolen artworks were gathered, catalogued, and eventually returned to their rightful owners. Later, the space was given a new role as home to the University of Music and Performing Arts, which still uses it today.
Though not open to the public, Hitlerâs office still exists behind its original oak doorâfrozen in time. The building now sits at a strange crossroads: once a symbol of authoritarian power, now reimagined as a place for education and artistic creation.
2) Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshallâs Hall)
The Field Marshal's Hall is a grand open-air loggia built to honor Bavariaâs military leaders and the soldiers who died in the Franco-Prussian War. Commissioned by King Ludwig I in the 1840s, it was constructed on the site of a former city gate. The design was inspired by Florenceâs famous Loggia dei Lanzi, bringing a touch of Italian grandeur to Munichâs historic center.
Standing at the front are two imposing bronze statues commemorating key figures in Bavarian military history: Count Tilly, who played a major role during the Thirty Yearsâ War, and Count von Wrede, a marshal from the Napoleonic era. In 1882, a third sculpture was added at the centerâthis one celebrating the Bavarian armyâs role in the Franco-Prussian War. As you approach, youâll also spot two lion statues at the steps, crafted in 1906. One, mouth open, faces the Residenz Royal Palace; the other, with mouth closed, looks toward the nearby church.
Yet for many, the site is remembered most for the dramatic events of 1923. That year, during the failed Beer Hall Putsch, Adolf Hitler led around 2,000 followers in an attempted coup, marching toward the center of Munich in what he called a âpeopleâs revolution.â They were met by the Bavarian police in front of this very loggia. A deadly confrontation followedâfour officers and sixteen insurgents were killed. Hitler was arrested shortly after and imprisoned. A decade later, after coming to power, he elevated the failed revolt into a cornerstone of the Nazi cult.
Standing at the front are two imposing bronze statues commemorating key figures in Bavarian military history: Count Tilly, who played a major role during the Thirty Yearsâ War, and Count von Wrede, a marshal from the Napoleonic era. In 1882, a third sculpture was added at the centerâthis one celebrating the Bavarian armyâs role in the Franco-Prussian War. As you approach, youâll also spot two lion statues at the steps, crafted in 1906. One, mouth open, faces the Residenz Royal Palace; the other, with mouth closed, looks toward the nearby church.
Yet for many, the site is remembered most for the dramatic events of 1923. That year, during the failed Beer Hall Putsch, Adolf Hitler led around 2,000 followers in an attempted coup, marching toward the center of Munich in what he called a âpeopleâs revolution.â They were met by the Bavarian police in front of this very loggia. A deadly confrontation followedâfour officers and sixteen insurgents were killed. Hitler was arrested shortly after and imprisoned. A decade later, after coming to power, he elevated the failed revolt into a cornerstone of the Nazi cult.
3) Hofbrauhaus Beer Hall (must see)
Arguably the most famous âwatering holeâ in Munich, this spot is the embodiment of Bavarian tradition and spirit. Its story began in 1589, founded as part of the Royal Brewery by Wilhelm V. Back then, it wasnât even open to the publicâreserved instead for royal use. That changed in 1828, when the doors were finally thrown open to everyone. Today, it's among the cityâs most beloved gathering places, steeped in old-world charm.
On the ground floor, long tables fill the hall that can hold 1,000 drinkers while bands belt out folk tunes. The menu is full of Bavarian classics, and the atmosphere is pure celebration. Upstairs, a vaulted ceremonial hall can seat another 1,300 people, with additional side rooms for smaller gatherings. And when the weatherâs warm, the beer garden becomes a favorite hangoutâwith its shady chestnut trees, bubbling fountain, and relaxed outdoor vibe. On a typical day, around 10,000 liters of beer are served hereâthatâs over 17,000 pints.
True to tradition, the beer follows the Bavarian Beer Purity Law of 1516, which allows only natural ingredients. That standard is still upheld across the city, and the brews here are no exceptionâcrafted with care and full of flavor.
But not all of the buildingâs history is festive. On February 24, 1920, Adolf Hitler stood here to announce the official program of the then-fledgling Nazi Party. Just over a year later, on July 29, 1921, he was elected as the Partyâs leaderâright in this very hall. So while the beer house is rightly remembered for joy, music, and beer, it also witnessed one of the more sobering moments of 20th-century history.
On the ground floor, long tables fill the hall that can hold 1,000 drinkers while bands belt out folk tunes. The menu is full of Bavarian classics, and the atmosphere is pure celebration. Upstairs, a vaulted ceremonial hall can seat another 1,300 people, with additional side rooms for smaller gatherings. And when the weatherâs warm, the beer garden becomes a favorite hangoutâwith its shady chestnut trees, bubbling fountain, and relaxed outdoor vibe. On a typical day, around 10,000 liters of beer are served hereâthatâs over 17,000 pints.
True to tradition, the beer follows the Bavarian Beer Purity Law of 1516, which allows only natural ingredients. That standard is still upheld across the city, and the brews here are no exceptionâcrafted with care and full of flavor.
But not all of the buildingâs history is festive. On February 24, 1920, Adolf Hitler stood here to announce the official program of the then-fledgling Nazi Party. Just over a year later, on July 29, 1921, he was elected as the Partyâs leaderâright in this very hall. So while the beer house is rightly remembered for joy, music, and beer, it also witnessed one of the more sobering moments of 20th-century history.
4) Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
Before the New Town Hall took over in 1874, the Old Town Hall was where Munichâs city government did its business. Unlike many buildings that were torn down to make way for the new structure, this one remainedâpreserved as a testament to the cityâs commitment to restoration over replacement.
With its dove-grey façade, amber-tiled steeple, and delicate Gothic spires, the Hall captures the essence of its 15th-century originsâthough what stands today isnât an exact replica. Over time, additions like a baroque onion dome and later, an overly enthusiastic attempt at âregothification,â took the structure further from its medieval roots than what the current version reflects. Ironically, the faithful postwar reconstruction you see today may be closer to the spirit of the original than what existed before the Allied bombing.
The oldest surviving element is the 12th-century tower, once part of the cityâs medieval fortifications. Today, it houses the Toy Museum, where youâll find a charming collection of vintage toysâfrom antique train sets to miniature zoosâspread across four narrow floors connected by a spiral staircase. There's also a gift shop with hand-picked items that make for great souvenirs.
The ceremonial hall still retains its Gothic grandeur, with broad wooden barrel vaults and a frieze of 96 coats of arms lining one wall. Meanwhile, on the buildingâs side, there's a whimsical surprise: a bronze statue of Shakespeareâs Juliet, a gift from the city of Verona in the 1970s.
But the building also carries a darker legacy. In 1938, Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels delivered a speech here that triggered the âNight of Broken Glass.â That night of terror saw synagogues burned, Jewish businesses destroyed, and thousands arrested. Itâs widely seen as the moment when Nazi anti-Semitic violence escalated into what became the Holocaust.
With its dove-grey façade, amber-tiled steeple, and delicate Gothic spires, the Hall captures the essence of its 15th-century originsâthough what stands today isnât an exact replica. Over time, additions like a baroque onion dome and later, an overly enthusiastic attempt at âregothification,â took the structure further from its medieval roots than what the current version reflects. Ironically, the faithful postwar reconstruction you see today may be closer to the spirit of the original than what existed before the Allied bombing.
The oldest surviving element is the 12th-century tower, once part of the cityâs medieval fortifications. Today, it houses the Toy Museum, where youâll find a charming collection of vintage toysâfrom antique train sets to miniature zoosâspread across four narrow floors connected by a spiral staircase. There's also a gift shop with hand-picked items that make for great souvenirs.
The ceremonial hall still retains its Gothic grandeur, with broad wooden barrel vaults and a frieze of 96 coats of arms lining one wall. Meanwhile, on the buildingâs side, there's a whimsical surprise: a bronze statue of Shakespeareâs Juliet, a gift from the city of Verona in the 1970s.
But the building also carries a darker legacy. In 1938, Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels delivered a speech here that triggered the âNight of Broken Glass.â That night of terror saw synagogues burned, Jewish businesses destroyed, and thousands arrested. Itâs widely seen as the moment when Nazi anti-Semitic violence escalated into what became the Holocaust.
5) SterneckerbrÀu (Sternecker Brewery)
The Sternecker building may look like just another spot in Munichâs old town, but it quietly holds one of the darker turning points in 20th-century history. Originally part of the cityâs long-standing beer hall tradition, it gained far more notoriety for its role in the early formation of the Nazi Party.
Back in September 1919, a young Adolf Hitler, working as an army intelligence agent, showed up at a meeting of the German Workersâ Partyâa small, fringe political group holding court in the beer hall. He challenged a speaker mid-session, and his intense rhetoric left an impression on the partyâs founders, including Anton Drexler. Before long, they invited him to join. He acceptedâand the Sternecker became ground zero in the origin story of his political ascent.
Years later, in 1933, after seizing power, the Nazis turned a room above the beer hall into a small museum, packed with artifacts from the partyâs early daysâphotos, furniture, and documents curated to feed the myth. Somehow, the building survived the Allied bombings that flattened much of Munich. The museum, however, was shut down after the war, and the beer hall faded out of existence in the decades that followed.
Today, the structure still stands, now home to a retail shop. Thereâs no plaque, no sign, no marker of its historical weight. Unlike other Nazi-era sites that have been formally preserved or publicly contextualized, the Sternecker remains quietly anonymousâits past buried beneath the rhythms of modern commerce. Yet for those who know the story, this building was a silent witness to a moment when history took a dark turn.
Back in September 1919, a young Adolf Hitler, working as an army intelligence agent, showed up at a meeting of the German Workersâ Partyâa small, fringe political group holding court in the beer hall. He challenged a speaker mid-session, and his intense rhetoric left an impression on the partyâs founders, including Anton Drexler. Before long, they invited him to join. He acceptedâand the Sternecker became ground zero in the origin story of his political ascent.
Years later, in 1933, after seizing power, the Nazis turned a room above the beer hall into a small museum, packed with artifacts from the partyâs early daysâphotos, furniture, and documents curated to feed the myth. Somehow, the building survived the Allied bombings that flattened much of Munich. The museum, however, was shut down after the war, and the beer hall faded out of existence in the decades that followed.
Today, the structure still stands, now home to a retail shop. Thereâs no plaque, no sign, no marker of its historical weight. Unlike other Nazi-era sites that have been formally preserved or publicly contextualized, the Sternecker remains quietly anonymousâits past buried beneath the rhythms of modern commerce. Yet for those who know the story, this building was a silent witness to a moment when history took a dark turn.
6) Hitler's Early Residence in Munich
Adolf Hitlerâs early residence in Munich played a significant role during the years when his political influence was taking shape. From May 1920 to October 1929, he lived in this third-floor flatâa period that saw him rise from fringe agitator to leader of the Nazi Party.
The building itself was well-situated: close enough to major meeting halls, yet far enough removed to offer a degree of privacy. During this time, Hitler wasnât just livingâhe was strategizing. He worked on his autobiography, âMy Struggleâ, hosted party loyalists, and slowly built the organizational backbone of National Socialism from this very spot.
In the late 1920s, his half-niece, Geli Raubal, moved in. Their close and controversial relationship became the subject of intense speculation, ending in tragedy when Geli took her own life in 1931, after moving out. Her death left a lasting mark on Hitler.
After he relocated in 1929, the apartment faded into anonymity. Today, the building still stands, serving as a regular residential address with no plaque, no signage, no public trace of what once took place behind its doors. A quiet relic of a deeply consequential chapter.
The building itself was well-situated: close enough to major meeting halls, yet far enough removed to offer a degree of privacy. During this time, Hitler wasnât just livingâhe was strategizing. He worked on his autobiography, âMy Struggleâ, hosted party loyalists, and slowly built the organizational backbone of National Socialism from this very spot.
In the late 1920s, his half-niece, Geli Raubal, moved in. Their close and controversial relationship became the subject of intense speculation, ending in tragedy when Geli took her own life in 1931, after moving out. Her death left a lasting mark on Hitler.
After he relocated in 1929, the apartment faded into anonymity. Today, the building still stands, serving as a regular residential address with no plaque, no signage, no public trace of what once took place behind its doors. A quiet relic of a deeply consequential chapter.
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