Bavaria statue and Hall of Fame

Early 19th century Bavaria was a pawn in conflicts between Austria and Napoleonic France, so when Ludwig I came to the throne in 1825, he sought an iconic statue to symbolise Bavaria's strength and independence, and a hall of fame to celebrate its heroes. There was a design competition, and since Ludwig was a great admirer of classical Greece, that was the style that won. The ensemble was completed in 1850, and casting the 18.5 m female statue in bronze was a huge engineering challenge. A stairway within ascends to a viewing platform in her head, so you can see what she sees. It's mobbed and claustrophobic during Oktoberfest (when it opens late), as it looks onto the nearby Wiesn grounds. The Hall of Fame was bombed out in the Second World War but re-opened by 1972. The display of famous Bavarians is not static but evolves to recognise new stars. The Hall of Fame is closed during Oktoberfest.

Address

Theresienhöhe 16

Getting there

U-Bahn U4, U5: Theresienwiese

Hours

Apr-mid Oct daily 09:00-18:00; in Oktoberfest statue 09:00-20:00, hall closed

Price

Adult €5, concessions €4

Website

muenchen.de (opens in a new tab)