Pinakothek der Moderne

Maxvorstadt, which borders Schwabing, is the cultural, artistic and intellectual heart of Munich. Here newcomers can satisfy their appetite for art and culture many times over. You’ll see a stunning array of magnificent classical buildings towering over Odeonsplatz, Königsplatz and Ludwigstraße if you come to Maxvorstadt from the southern corner of the English Garden. It’s possible to admire countless works of art in the space of just a few hundred meters – take your pick from the collections at the three Pinakothek Museums (paintings), Glyptothek (sculptures), Lenbach Haus or antique collections. Also concentrated in Maxvorstadt are tax offices, law courts, banks, insurance firms, many large companies, the Bavarian Broadcasting Company and even two major breweries.

At the beautiful beer gardens of the Löwenbräu- and  Max-Emanuel Brewery you can quench your thirst for beer in true Bavarian style.
Students satisfy their thirst for knowledge at the Technical University, the Academy of Creative Arts or at the Ludwig Maximilians University. And on Ludwigstraße an entire collection of knowledge is concentrated in just one building – the impressive Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library). This is the biggest general library in Germany and it shelves a staggering 4.7 million books.
The abundance of pleasant cafés and bars as well as the presence of so many young people give this quarter its special vivacious charm. An atmospheric highlight takes place here every year in July. Then people from all over Munich flock to Maxvorstadt’s unique Königsplatz, venue of the annual open air film screenings.

Sightseeing highlights

Pinakotheken
›› Alte Pinakothek, Maxvorstadt, Barer Str. 27, Tel. 2 38 05-216, 10am-5pm, Tues 10am-8pm, Mon closed
›› Neue Pinakothek, Maxvorstadt, Barer Str. 29, Tel. 2 38 05-195, 10am-5pm, Wed 10am-8pm, Tues closed
›› Pinakothek der Moderne, Maxvorstadt, Barer Str. 40, Tel. 2 38 05-360, 10am-5pm, Thurs & Fri  10am-8pm, Mon closed, www.pinakotheken-muenchen.de

Königsplatz
King Ludwig I. had this classical-romantic square created as a western entrance to the city and as an artisitic square, the “Glyptothek” and the “Antikensammlung” museums are located here. In July the annual open air film festival takes place here.
›› Glyptothek & Antikensammlung, Königsplatz, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-8pm, Glyptothek: Tel. 28 61 00, Antikensammlungen: Tel. 59 98 88 30, www.antike-am-koenigsplatz.mwn.de

Circus Krone
The circus has had its winter base in Munich since 1919. A zoo, the circus, cabaret and rock concerts can be seen here.
›› Maxvorstadt, Zirkus-Krone-Str. 1-6, Tel. 01805/24 72 87, www.circus-krone.de

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
King Ludwig I commissioned Friedrich von Gärtner to build the university on Ludwigstraße in 1826. Anti-Nazi campaigners Hans and Sophie Scholl were executed four days after they were discovered distributing anti-Fascist leaflets in the university courtyard in 1943, memorial site on the ground floor.
›› Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, Tel. 2 18 00, www.uni-muenchen.de

Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Around 8 million books and 39,500 magazines.
›› Maxvorstadt, Ludwigstr. 16, Tel. 2 86 38-0, -23 22, www.bsb-muenchen.de

Universitätsbibliothek München
A total stock of 2.4 million volumes, 3,170 scripts, 3,576 incunables, 4,600 up-to-date magazines, as well as audio-visual and other material.
›› Maxvorstadt, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, Tel. 21 80 24 29, www.ub.uni-muenchen.de

Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau
German portrait painter Franz von Lenbach’s bequest. Unique collection of the Blaue Reiter.
›› Maxvorstadt, Luisenstr. 33, Tel. 233-3 20 00, Tues-Sun 10am-6pm, www.lenbachhaus.de