The year is 1897. The heart of Schwabing pulses with a newfound energy, not from the clinking of beer steins, but from the solemn hymns echoing from the newly erected Kirche St. Ursula. The “Dom von Schwabing,” they call it, a grand basilica reaching towards the heavens, a beacon of faith in the burgeoning city. This isn’t just any church. Architect August Thiersch envisioned a new heart for Schwabing, a departure from the medieval designs, a step towards the modern era with its foundations firmly rooted in Renaissance Florence. Look around, the spirit of the Italian masters is alive in the delicate majolica reliefs crafted by Balthasar Schmitt, echoing the artistry of the della Robbia family. Kirche St. Ursula was a testament to innovation. Thiersch, a champion of modern techniques, chose the then-new material, concrete, for the foundation, the soaring tower staircase, and the majestic dome. Sadly, his vision of a symmetrical architectural marvel, with flanking buildings mirroring the church, was never fully realized. Only the eastern Pfarrhaus stands today, the western counterpart lost to history’s austerity. Step inside, and let the grandeur wash over you. The air hums with a stillness that belies the bustling city outside. Notice the soaring dome, a marvel of design that almost wasn’t. Only after much deliberation did Thiersch settle on a daring, double-shelled structure of concrete, a testament to his architectural prowess. But Kirche St. Ursula is more than just brick and mortar. It’s a vessel for faith, a sanctuary echoing with the prayers of generations, a symbol of Schwabing’s evolving identity.
Hofmarkschloss
Deep beneath the modern facade of Krailling, the whispers of the Hofmarkschloss still echo. Imagine standing here, centuries ago, before