Address: Germany, Munich
Coordinates: 48 ° 08'11.5 "N 11 ° 34'32.8" E
Content:
Short description
Traveling through Germany and admiring the numerous beauties of the country, historical sights and architectural monuments, one of the oldest temples in the Bavarian capital, St. Peter's Church, cannot be missed.
Church from Rindermarkt
Of course, you shouldn't underestimate the importance of such majestic cathedrals as, for example, the Frauenkirche, or the New Town Hall in Munich. However, this material will focus on about the oldest temple in the city, the Church of St. Peter, which the locals affectionately call among themselves "Alter Peter", which in translation from German into Russian literally means: "Old Peter".
St. Peter's Church - history
As historians and archaeologists have found out, this temple was originally built by monks from the Tegernsee Monastery, the very ones who were the founders of the city of Munich in the 8th century AD. Departing a little from the topic, I would like to remind you that the name of the city of Munich literally from the ancient German language sounds like “monks”. St. Peter's Church dates back to the 11th century.
View of the church from the tower of the Frauenkirche cathedral
It was then that the construction of the temple began on the Petersbergl hill, which is located in the very center of Munich. Initially, it was a small wooden church, made in the popular Romanesque style at that time. However, in 1181, the famous and legendary ruler from the Wittelsbach dynasty Otto I gave an order, which spoke of the need to rebuild and expand the building. The new church was rebuilt in the shortest possible time, after which it was consecrated by Bishop Otto von Frizing and reopened its doors to numerous parishioners.
About a century later, the Church of St. Peter is again experiencing its bad years: the temple was completely destroyed, and a new building in the Gothic style is being erected in its place, which was consecrated in the late 1200s.
View of the church from the New Town Hall
However, according to historians, already in 1327, the church of St. Peter was literally destroyed to the ground by a severe fire, only the basements survived the western part of the temple. The local population, led by the ruler, do not give up, and rebuild the Church of St. Peter, however, this time, not in the Gothic architectural style, but in the Romanesque. It is worth noting that at the end of the 14th century, St. Peter's Cathedral in Munich adorned the facade with two beautiful towers, between which there was a majestic bell tower reaching a height of 92 meters.
Over the next centuries, the church again undergoes some changes and is partially rebuilt, however, a significant redevelopment and new construction of the temple took place in the 18th century. Then all the work was supervised by the then famous architect Johann Baptist Zimmermann, who also became the author of a new project in the Rococo style. Many famous historians and archaeologists argue that it was from this time that the austere "appearance" of the Church of St. Peter, due to the Gothic and Romanesque style, is filled with a kind of rainbow "airiness" and "lightness".
Facade of the church
The Second World War also left its mark on this Munich architectural building, the structure was badly damaged, but restoration work began already in 1946 and continued until 1954.
St. Peter's Church - interior decoration
Modern travelers, who were first brought to Munich by road-roads, namely to St. Peter's Church, will undoubtedly pay attention to the small gilded carvings of angels that adorn the entrance to the temple. The main decoration of the church, which occupies a central place in the interior, is the altar, which was made in 1733 by two Azam brothers. The altar is a majestic "pedestal", the sides of which are decorated with Corinthian columns, and the back - the so-called velvet-golden backdrop. In the central place of the altarpiece Baroque composition, there is a sculpture of St. Peter sitting on the throne, who for the parishioners of the Bavarian capital is the personification of papal power.
On the head of St. Peter the papal tiara, with which the locals have a special tradition: in the event of the death of the Pope, in Munich, not only the flags are lowered as a sign of mourning, but the tiara is also removed from the head of St. Peter. At the end of the new elections for the Pope, and during the solemn coronation ceremony, which, as you know, in Rome, the papal cap is returned to the saint's head.
Around the figure of St. Peter, there are standing figures of other saints: St. Augustine, Gregor, Jerome and Ambrosius. By the way, this work, made of wood, belongs to the hand of Aegis Quiron Azam. The lower part of the main interior of the church is decorated with angels worshiping the crucifix, on which the sculptor Franz Schwanthaler once worked.
View of the church from Marienplatz square
It is clear that in the church of St. Peter in Munich there are other masterpieces that attract the attention of many travelers. This is the altar, made in the Gothic style of sandstone, which depicts the scene of the Last Judgment; and paintings by the famous Polish artist Jan Polyakov; and a relief epitaph of Erassmus Grasser. However, according to many tourists who have already visited the Church of St. Peter, once in the temple, you should definitely climb the bell tower of "Old Peter". True, for this the traveler will have to overcome almost 300 steps, but the panorama of the city, which will open to the eyes of a tourist who has got to the observation deck of the bell tower, will instantly relieve the fatigue from the ascent.
St. Peter's Church - tourist guide
St. Peter's Church is located near the world-famous Marienplatz square, you can get to it, either using the city train or underground transport.
Chimes and observation deck on the tower of the church
A visit to the temple itself is free, while a visit to the bell tower will cost schoolchildren and students 1 euro, and everyone else 1.5 euro. Children under 6 years old can enter for free, but must be accompanied by an adult. It would not be superfluous to add that the bell tower meets its guests every day from 10 am, however, if in summer it closes at 18.30, then in winter at 17.30.
