Allerheiligen-Hofkirche

The All Saints' Court Church (Allerheiligen-Hofkirche) in Munich is an architectural one-of-a-kind that now serves as an impressive concert and lecture hall. Designed by Leo von Klenze and built between 1826 and 1837, it was the first church built in Bavaria after secularization. Inspired by the Palatine Chapel in Palermo and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, the building is considered the first Neo-Byzantine church in Europe. The church was originally intended for the king and his family, but it was also open to the public through the east entrance.

The building was badly damaged in World War II, which led to the loss of numerous works of sacred music. Rather than a full restoration, the decision was first made to preserve the ruin as a memorial. The south aisle was removed to make way for an annex of the Residenztheater, but protests prevented the complete demolition of the church. The domes were restored in the 1980s, and the interior was rebuilt between 2000 and 2003. The architects Guggenbichler and Netzer took a restrained approach to integrating modern technology, with new additions of steel, glass, and concrete clearly set apart from the historic fabric.

Today you'll find a space in which the traces of wartime destruction have deliberately been left visible. The walls and vaults are unplastered, revealing the raw brick surfaces and the striped pattern of the tuff stone, while newer repairs can be recognized by their smoother surfaces. The original painted decoration and marble cladding have largely disappeared. As an event venue with room for 399 people, the church is used mainly for classical concerts, award ceremonies, and commemorative events. Since 2025, it has also been the central venue for the Volkstrauertag (German Remembrance Day) commemoration in the Free State of Bavaria.