Great viewpoint over Munich: St. Peter’s parish church

The parish church of St. Peter in the heart of Munich is the oldest mentioned parish church in the city. The people of Munich affectionately call the tower “Alter Peter”. It is one of the most beautiful vantage points over the city.

History of the church

After Munich was officially founded in 1158, the first Romanesque church was built around 1180 on the site where the parish church stands today. The growing importance of the city soon showed that the building was no longer sufficient. A comprehensive new building in the Gothic style was undertaken, which expanded the church into an impressive structure.

Tragically, St. Peter’s suffered severe damage in a devastating town fire in 1327, which made a redesign necessary. Both church towers were burnt out and it was decided not to rebuild them. At that time, St. Peter’s received its new striking tower, which symbolized its function as the center of the town. This tower was not always as high as it is today.

In the 17th century, during the Baroque remodeling of the church, the tower was given a new, magnificently designed spire with an onion dome. This baroque dome gave the tower a more striking silhouette and adapted it to the taste of the time. But even this shape did not last. A lightning strike and the associated damage meant that the design of the spire had to be adapted again and again.

The church experienced a new heyday, particularly in the Baroque period. Artists such as Johann Baptist Zimmermann shaped the interior of the church with their works and gave it a magnificent appearance. The baroque style was later complemented by rococo elements, including the magnificent high altar and ornate ceiling paintings. These continue to captivate visitors to this day.

The destruction of the Second World War was also evident in the church. Large parts of the church and the tower were destroyed. It took until the 1950s for St. Peter’s to be rebuilt in its historical appearance. In the process, the various architectural styles – from Romanesque and Gothic to Baroque and Rococo – were harmoniously combined. The tower was restored to its present form. The baroque spire was replaced by a simpler form that reflects the post-war reconstruction concept.

Visit to the tower of St. Peter’s

In front of a small door that leads into the interior of the church building is a small wooden structure that reminds me of a stall at a Christmas market. This is where you get your ticket to climb the tower and then step through the door.

We climb over 300 steps. Always keeping an eye on the signposted number of floors – it was 17! But the effort is worth it. Once at the top, we enter a narrow gallery that leads around the tower. It is 56 meters high and the top of the tower is 91 meters high. The reward after so many steps – a spectacular view over Munich and the Alps. When the sky is clear and a foehn wind is blowing, you can see a good 100 km away.

We slowly circle the tower several times and always discover something new. I was particularly impressed by the view of the Frauenkirche and the town hall with its carillon. The carillon in particular, which you can never really see from below, can be seen very well with a little zoom on the camera. I can imagine that the view when the little figures move is unique.

The tower guard room is located in the tower. Until November 1901, the fire watch still sat here and gave the people of Munich the good feeling of being warned of danger in good time. During the Second World War, air raids on Munich were observed and reported from the viewing platform – the “Alter Peter” was effectively a strategic vantage point. And today? You can get married up there.

The church bells of Alter Peters

Today, there are eight bells in the tower of Alter Peters. The oldest bell in the tower is the so-called “Pummerin”, dating from 1382. It is not only the oldest bell in the church, but also one of the oldest surviving bells in Munich. The Pummerin has a deep and majestic sound, which is traditionally rung for special occasions.

Over the centuries, the church bells have been constantly expanded. In the Baroque period, when the church was redesigned, more bells were added. These were intended to support the liturgical function of the church and emphasize the solemn character of the services. Each bell was carefully tuned so that they sounded harmoniously together.

However, the bells suffered heavy losses during the Second World War. Several bells were melted down to use the metal for the arms industry. Only a few bells, including the Pummerin, survived this period unscathed.

Today, the ensemble comprises eight bells, which are used in liturgical practice and on special occasions. Each bell has its own name and a specific task, from the smallest bell, which accompanies the daily service, to the large Pummerin, which only rings out on special occasions. The largest bell is the “St. Peter” bell from 1958. Weighing over 3,000 kilograms, it is the heaviest bell in St. Peter’s and has a deep bass tone.

Back into the nave

After enjoying the wonderful view, we went back down the steps in the tower. The exit is not the same as the entrance. The path leads through the nave.

You can also visit the church without going up the tower. Entry is free of charge and is also possible outside of church service times. However, it is expressly pointed out that it is a place of silence and prayer. Unfortunately, there are always visitors who talk loudly and disturb other visitors.

We took a look around the really beautiful church. The three-aisled basilica is divided into naves and aisles. Chapels are attached to both sides of the side aisles between the recessed buttresses. Large windows illuminate the building.

If you are looking for something unusual, you will find it in a window portal of the choir apse. An Austrian cannonball is walled in here. It was fired at the church from the Gasteig during the Coalition Wars. It smashed through a church window and landed inside the church.

Legends surrounding the church

As with almost every church, legends and stories surround the building.

The legend of the devil’s visit

One legend tells that the devil himself is said to have visited the building site during the construction of St. Peter’s. It is said that he expressed his dissatisfaction with the building in order to prevent another church from being built in Munich. However, the master builders are said to have tricked him into believing that the work was imperfect.

The ghost of the priest

One of the best-known legends says that the ghost of a former priest wanders through the church, who allegedly did not agree with the building plans of the time. Visitors sometimes report strange noises or a feeling of “cold wind” in certain corners of the church.

The unfinished frescoes

Another story revolves around the so-called “unfinished frescoes” in the church. It is said that an artist died suddenly while working on the frescoes and his spirit has been watching over the works of art ever since.

The tower cross

Legend has it that the tower cross was turned 90° by a kick from the devil.

In reality, King Ludwig II had the tower cross replaced during a tower renovation and put it back up at right angles to the wind direction. The prevailing westerly wind had caused the cross to lean more and more. Eventually, the top was almost 45m further to the east than the base and the cross was in danger of falling.

Visitor information

Address

Rindermarkt 1,
80331 München

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