Ruhmeshalle and Bavaria Statue, Munich

After finding the Endless Staircase and Sweet Brown Snail sculptures I went in search of the Bavaria statue, which was situated close by in Bavaria Park. I was expecting a normal-sized statue and wasn’t expecting to be too amazed. But as I walked up the hill and saw the statue, I was actually blown away by how massive and impressive it was!

The Bavaria is an 18m high statue (27.4m if you include its base) commissioned by King Ludwig I. The statue was put up in 1850 and is intended to represent the female personification of the state of Bavaria, and all of her strength and glory. Next to her stands a lion, which has long been a symbol of Bavaria (it can be seen on the Bavarian coat of arms). Now, you might look at this and think it looks more Greek than German (I did, too). The fact that the Bavaria statue resembles a Greek goddess, and that the Ruhmeshalle building around her looks like something straight out of Ancient Greece, is not an accident; Ludwig I loved Greece and saw Munich as his very own, little Athens!

You can pay 3 Euros to climb up inside the Bavaria statue and see Munich from her eyes. She looks over Theresienwiese, by the way, which is the site of Oktoberfest.

Bavaria looking out over Theresienwiese, where Oktoberfest is usually held. When I visited, there were lots of fire engines lined up in some sort of exhibition.

Like I said, I wasn’t expecting to feel much about this statue, but in the end it was quite empowering to see Bavaria represented as a huge, strong woman looking out over her capital city (and also, as a Greek goddess – because who wouldn’t want that association?!). It was nice to stand and people-watch here for a while before moving on.

Surrounding the Bavaria is the Ruhmeshalle (Hall of Fame), whose walls are lined with white busts of notable Bavarians from over the years. Again, this was commissioned by Ludwig I, designed by Leo von Klenze, and completed in 1853. Because much of the Ruhmeshalle was destroyed during 2. Weltkrieg (WW2), and then re-built, there are also busts of some more contemporary Bavarians in and amongst them.

The nearest U-Bahn (underground) stop for Ruhmeshalle and Bavaria is Schwanthalerhöhe. You can see this, Bavaria Park, the Deutsches Museum and Endless Staircase all in one visit, because they’re all really close to one another!

Bis bald (see you soon),
Conni x