The Munich Residenz is the former seat of the Wittelsbach dynasty and one of the largest city palaces in the German-speaking world. The complex evolved over four centuries — from the late Gothic period through Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical additions — and the result is an accumulation of architectural decisions rather than a single design statement. The museum occupies more than 100 rooms and contains the largest secular treasury collection in Germany alongside the Cuvilliés Theatre, the Antiquarium, and the Royal Apartments. The Brunnenhof — the fountain courtyard at the building's centre — is one of Munich's most atmospheric squares and is accessible without purchasing museum entry. The scale means that most visitors see only the surface; the rooms open to fewer visitors reward return visits considerably. Allow more time than you plan for.
Altstadt, Munich, Germany