Feldherrnhalle

The Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshals' Hall) is a striking neoclassical monument that shapes the look of Odeonsplatz in Munich's Altstadt-Lehel district. The building was constructed of Kelheim limestone between 1841 and 1844 on the orders of King Ludwig I. The architect Friedrich von Gärtner modeled the design on the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, though without creating an exact copy. Thanks to the raised outdoor staircase, the structure makes an even more monumental impression than its Italian predecessor. The hall originally served as the southern gateway to Ludwigstrasse, making the transition from the historic old town to the new grand boulevard more harmonious and softening the urban axes. In this way it architecturally corresponds with the Victory Gate (Siegestor), which lies one kilometer away.

Inside the hall, you'll find two important monuments to Bavarian military history. Beneath the eastern arch stands the Tilly Monument, honoring Field Marshal Johann T'Serclaes von Tilly, who led the troops of the Catholic League during the Thirty Years' War. The western arch is dedicated to the Wrede Monument, which commemorates Field Marshal Carl Philipp von Wrede, who led Bavaria into the Wars of Liberation in 1813. Both works were designed by Ludwig von Schwanthaler in 1844 and cast by Ferdinand von Miller. In the middle of the back wall there is also an Army Monument, installed in 1892 at the request of Prince Regent Luitpold. This sculpture shows an ancient warrior holding a shield over an allegory of peace. The depiction deliberately avoids aggressive battle scenes and imperial symbolism in order to emphasize the defensive character of the Bavarian army and the peace that followed the wars of the 19th century.

The history of this site is inseparably linked to the events of the 20th century. On November 9, 1923, the march of Adolf Hitler and his followers ended in bloodshed in front of the Feldherrnhalle when the Bavarian State Police stopped the putsch. Four police officers, thirteen putschists, and one uninvolved onlooker lost their lives in the shooting. After the Nazis seized power in 1933, the site became a central stage for propaganda. A memorial plaque for the slain putschists, guarded by an SS honor guard, forced passersby to give the Nazi salute. Many Munich residents therefore bypassed the hall via Viscardigasse, which is still jokingly called the Drückebergergassl ("shirkers' alley") to this day. After World War II, the propagandistic elements were removed, and the damage from the air raids, which was relatively minor, was repaired over the following decades.

Today the Feldherrnhalle is an important historical site that helps visitors understand the complex history of Bavaria and Germany. Since 2025, the structure has been undergoing a comprehensive overhaul that is expected to take three years. The two marble lions, which have flanked the staircase since 1906 and were originally intended for a monument in Nuremberg, complete the picture. A memorial plaque on the opposite west side of the Residenz now commemorates the four police officers killed in the 1923 putsch, after a floor plaque previously laid in front of the hall was removed so that the tribute could be consolidated in a more fitting location.