Peterskirche, Munich

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St Peter’s church(Peterskirche) –also known as Alter Peter(Old Peter)- is one of the oldest churches in Munich. It’s a roman catholic church that was built in 1368 in gothic style replacing the one from late 12th century that was destroyed by the great fire in 1327 but on the same spot there was a pre Merovingian church since 8th century.

Once inside I loved it (pic 3), the ceiling fresco looks bright new, originally made by Zimmermann in mid 18th century but was recreated in 2000. The High Altar is impressive but I also liked some beautiful paintings (among them 5 gothic paintings by Jan Polack). Another weird thing to see is a gilt covered and gem-studded skeleton(pic 5)! It’s the relics of Saint Munditia, an early Christian martyr. The relics came to St Peter church from Rome in 1675.

The 92 meter high tower (a renaasance steeple top was added in early 19th century) can be visited if you dare to climb 306 steps to the top (there’s no lift). From there (the platform is at 56m high) you will have great view over the city. For panoramic view check here

The Peterskirche, or "der alte Peter" is one of the oldest and most notable churches in Munich's center. Just off the Marienplatz and steps from the Viktualienmarkt, the Peterskirche offers a great view from the top of the steeple. The only catch- there's no lift, just the 302 stairs which can be a little overwhelming for the claustro- or acrophobic.

From the top, on a good day, you have a wonderful view of Munich all the way to the Alps.

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You have flown into Munich, have some hours to spare, and wish to see as much as possible? Here's a suggestion:

St Peter's Church, known as Alter Peter (Old Peter), is Munich's oldest parish church (well, it was basically rebuild after WWII) and situated near Marienplatz (townhall) which makes it easy to find. But first and foremost, Alter Peter is one of the best viewpoints the city has to offer - that is, if you are willing to climb 306 steps.

Especially when the Föhn wind blows, and the Alps appear closer to the city than they actually are, the platform on St. Peter's 91 m / 299 ft spire (platform: 56 m / 184 ft) provides a nice panoramic view.
The view comes with a caveat though, as the platform lacks descriptions, so you need to know what the BMW tower looks like.

Alter Peter's chimes are produced by eight bells which can be seen when you walk all the way up to the platform. The biggest, the "Jubiläumsglocke", weights 7,000kg / 15,435lb, produces a low F and is one of the largest bells in Germany.

Inside, the church is dominated by the high altar to which Erasmus Grasser, a leading sculptor in Munich in the early 16th century, contributed.
Likewise worth to be seen are the panel-paintings on the choir walls by Jan Polack, a 15th-century painter, and the relics of Saint Munditia, than a Christian martyr, now a 1,700 year-old skeleton wrapped in jewels.

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Close to Marienplatz you can see St. Peter's church tower. This is one of the main churches and, alike Frauenkirche and Heiliggeistkirche, all three can be seen from this square.

St. Peter has a long history and after WWII was at the point to be demolished. In this place there was originally an ancient church -XIth century- but it was in XIIth century when St. Peter itself began to be built. Immediately it became the first Munich parish church being a transitional style-early gothic church. As time passed it got additions in several styles such as baroque or neoclassical but the whole kept a good balance between those elements. The high altar was changed by a magnificent baroque one made at XVIIIth century resembling that one of St. Peter's basilica at Rome and it's one of the most beautiful elements inside.

Especially valuable were the ceiling frescoes by Zimmermann, added in XVIIIth century too but what you can see now are not the original ones for those were destroyed. The actual ones are a superb restoration work finished at the end of XXth century -few years ago, really-. Nevertheless, the original stucco decoration couldn't be saved and has not been restored.

In the lateral choruses you can see many old and precious altars and you would do right taking a glance there. You can also climb up the tower and get a fantastic view of Munich.

It seems incredible again that this great church had been greatly destroyed and authorities thought it was not worth to rebuilt it again. Fortunately, the determination of some parish priests made the miracle.

St. Peter's Church is the oldest parish church in Munich. It was founded in the 11th century and has been undergone several reconstruction in other architectural styles. The church has an overwhelming rich interior.Everything in Late-Gothic with a lot of 18th-century figures of the apostles.
Don't miss to climb up the 300-ft tower to have a great view over the city. You find photos from the tower in my travelogue.

Entrance fee to the tower: 1.50 Euro (students: 1.00 Euro)

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St Peter's Church, or the Peterskirche, is the oldest parish church in Munich. It offers centuries of beautiful church art and a high tower (306 steps to the top) which affords a great view of the city. On a clear day, one can even see the peaks of the Bavarian Alps.

I just loved the Peterskirche, or "der alte Peter" which is one of the oldest churches in Munich's center. You will find it just off the Marienplatz and a few steps from the Viktualienmarkt. For those who are quite fit, the Peterskirche offers a great view from the top of the steeple. There's no lift, just the 302 stairs which you have to climb in order to be rewarded with the best of views.

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The inside of the church is interesting. The altar has many carved figures and paintings but at its center is the treatment by Egid. Q. Asam of the Church Fathers. Under the tower is the baptismal font of 1620 (H. Krumper). Nearby is a bas-relief in red marble of early 16C (E. Grasser) and the ornate pulpit should be given more than a glance.

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Affectionately given this nickname by residents, this was the first parish church of the city. It was rebuilt after WWII destruction to the original 1379 plans as modified with a Baroque choir as in 1641. Its great bell-tower with 8 bells and both musical and visual attractions was refinished in 1954 with views of the town and Alps nearby. (We are too old to climb and do not remember hearing the bells). The interior has an elaborate main altar and has acquired through the years a fine carved altar of a Last Judgement & Crucifixion (Schrenk 1470) in the North aisle and a Mariahilf Altar in the South.

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The oldest church in Munich, Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), or "Alte Peter" as it is called, the interior is a mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo. It dates from 1180 and has been influenced by many of the art forms over the centuries. The interior has been redecorated since WWII and is now resplendent with new gold and other new embellishments to go along with the trademarks of the past. The tower can be climbed (lots of steps - 302 to be precise) and on a clear day the Alps are visible.