Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), Munich

Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), Munich (must see)

The church known as Peterskirche, affectionately referred to as "Old Pete" by Munich residents, is a historic site believed to be central to the city's development. It traces back to the 12th century and stands on the grounds of a former 8th-century monastery and an even older church from before the Merovingian era.

The name "Munich" is derived from the monks who inhabited the original monastery, with "Munchen" echoing the German term for monk, "Monch." The location, once named "Petersberg" or Peter's Hill, saw its first Bavarian Romanesque church in 1180, which was destroyed by fire in 1327. The current structure of the church dates to 1368, with a steeple and Baroque choir installed in the 1600s. It underwent significant repairs after WWII to revive its pre-damage state.

Inside, Peterskirche houses a 15th-century sculpture by Erasmus Grasser and artwork by Johann Baptist Zimmerman. It's also home to the ornate remains of Saint Mundita, embellished with jewels. The church's steeple offers an observation deck, accessible by climbing 306 steps, which provides expansive views of Munich and the distant Alps on clear days. The visibility from the steeple is indicated by color-coded circles on the lower platform, with a white circle suggesting good conditions for viewing the Alps.

Tip:
It's worth to pay a few euros to climb to the tower's top for a 360° view of Munich. The climb is not easy and definitely not for those with fear of heights – only for the adventurous lot!
If you come before noon, you can get a brilliant view of the Glockenspiel clock in action at Marienplatz without having to jostle with tourists down there.
The are two viewing binoculars allowing to soak up the atmosphere (colored rooftops, etc.).
Note: it might get windy and cold up there.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Munich. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church) on Map

Sight Name: Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church)
Sight Location: Munich, Germany (See walking tours in Munich)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Munich, Germany

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Old Town Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Third Reich Munich Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

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