A lofty tower and an eerie bejeweled skeleton are just two of the highlights of this ornate gothic structure, Munich’s oldest parish church.
Founded in 1180, St. Peter’s Church (Peterskirche) is the oldest recorded church in Munich. The church has a tumultuous past it was rebuilt in 1368 following a fire and it was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Repairs from the World War II damage were completed in 2002, finally restoring Peterskirche to its former glory.
Over Peterskirche’s long history, many different architectural aesthetics have been added to the church. During the 17th and 18th centuries the interior of the gothic Peterskirche gained new rococo and baroque features. Once inside the church, keep an eye out for Esamus Grasser’s carving of St. Peter on the high altar. This gold-adorned marble shrine depicts St. Peter sitting on a thrown, crowned with a tiara. According to tradition, the tiara is removed when the pope dies and is not returned until a new pope is elected.
If you are interested in the spookier aspects of the church’s history be sure to visit the side altar, where the gold-covered and jewel-encrusted remains of St. Munditia are kept. The skeletal remains of this Christian martyr were moved from Rome to Munich in 1675 and have been kept in this Baroque-era shrine in Munich for more than a century.
Climb the 300 steps to the top of the church’s tower to get a wonderful view of Munich. The tower, which is known to locals as Alter Peter, or “Old Peter”, provides a spectacular vantage point and on clear days visitors can see as far as the Alps. The tower also has a collection of eight bells, though only seven of them ring. The smallest bell is located behind a barred window in the tower basement and was rung during executions on the Marienplatz.
The Peterskirche is open daily, though entry to the church’s tower varies seasonally, so check local guides. The church is closed to visitors during religious services. Peterskirche is only a short walk from the nearby Marienplatz U-Bahn (subway) station.
