Königsplatz

Königsplatz in Munich is a neoclassical square in the Maxvorstadt district and a centerpiece of the "Athens on the Isar" that King Ludwig I wanted to build. The Propylaea to the west, the Glyptothek to the north and the State Collections of Antiquities to the south give it the look of a Greek acropolis in the middle of Bavaria. The square is free to visit, close to the subway, and a natural starting point for a museum day.

A square with two histories

Karl von Fischer designed the square on the model of the Athenian Acropolis, and Leo von Klenze completed it with the Propylaea and the Glyptothek. The building on the south side, now the State Collections of Antiquities, was designed by Georg Friedrich Ziebland.

The square also carries the memory of Nazi Germany. A book burning took place here in 1933, after which the Nazis removed the lawns, paved the square with granite slabs and used it for party rallies. The US Army blew up the two "Temples of Honor" for the Nazis' dead of the 1923 putsch in 1947. The slabs were removed in 1987 and 1988, and the square largely returned to its early 19th-century look. Memorials today include Wolfram Kastner's burn mark of 1995 and Arnold Dreyblatt's "The Black List" of 2021. For a deeper look, the NS Documentation Center is a few minutes away.

What to see

• The Propylaea: A monumental gate on the west side, perfect for photos of the whole square.
• The Glyptothek: Munich's museum of Greek and Roman sculpture.
• The State Collections of Antiquities: Ancient vases and small works of art.
• The memorials: The burn mark and "The Black List" recall the book burning.

Hours and admission (as of October 2026)

• The square: open at all times and free. It is sometimes closed off for festivals and concerts. Allow 15 to 30 minutes.
• Glyptothek and Antiquities: 6 EUR or 4 EUR, 1 EUR on Sundays per museum, free under 18. Both museums are closed on October 13, 2026. Check the official site for regular hours.
• NS Documentation Center (Max-Mannheimer-Platz 1): Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., free. English-language guided tours run on Sundays at 1 p.m. at no charge.

How to get there

Take the U2 subway to Königsplatz station. From Munich's main station it is a short ride, and the Deutschlandticket covers local transit. The square is largely flat; the Antiquities museums publish an accessibility statement, and the NS Documentation Center says all areas are wheelchair accessible.

Nearby

The Museum Brandhorst, Pinakothek der Moderne, the Lenbachhaus and the NS Documentation Center are all within walking distance.