Perhaps the most recognizable building is the Frauenkirche. The Frauenkirche is Munich’s cathedral. Its towers shape Munich’s skyline. They are visible from far away.
The people of Munich want to keep it that way. In 2004, they voted to stop new buildings exceeding the Frauenkirche’s height. That height is 98.57 meters.
Jörg von Halsbach erected the Gothic cathedral in the 15th century. He used bricks to save money. There were not enough quarries nearby. Except for the tower tops, construction finished in only 20 years. That was in 1488.
Cannons defended the city from the roofless towers during the War of the Succession of Landshut. The hallmark helmed roofs were added in 1525. The style came from the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. People thought it was Solomon’s Temple back then.
The Frauenkirche suffered heavy damage during World War II air raids. It was reconstructed between 1948 and 1955. The design was plainer with fewer decorations. Later renovations added more ornate features gradually. Today, the cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Munich and Freising.
A terrifying legend surrounds the Frauenkirche. The devil left a footprint at the main entrance. It is called the “Teufelstritt”. There are several versions of this myth.
Here is one version. As building work ended, the devil crept around the church. He was annoyed that another building was erected in God’s name. He noticed the church had no windows in the entrance hall. He laughed at the builder’s stupidity.
He leapt up and left his footprint when he landed. But he then saw that the church did have windows. Massive pillars and the former Gothic high altar covered them. In anger, he became a powerful storm. He tried to tear down the church but failed. Even today, you can feel his wind in the streets around the Frauenkirche.
Inside the Frauenkirche, much was destroyed during World War II. The Teufelstritt survived at the entrance. It is a black mark resembling a footprint. Legend says the devil stood there. He ridiculed the windowless church Halsbach built. In baroque times, the high altar hid the one window at the very end. Visitors can see it now from the entrance hall.
Another version says the devil made a deal with the builder. He would finance the church if it contained no windows. The clever builder tricked the devil. He positioned columns to hide the windows. The devil could not enter the consecrated church when he found out. He stood in the foyer and stomped his foot. This left the dark footprint visible today.
Legend also says the devil rushed outside. He manifested his evil spirit in the wind. It furiously rages around the church.
Another version says the devil rode on the wind. He came to see the church under construction. He lost his temper completely. He stormed away forgetting the wind. The wind will continue to blow around the church. It will blow until the day the devil reclaims it.
The crypt contains tombs of Archbishops of Munich and Freising. It also holds members of the Wittelsbach dynasty. These include Louis IV and King Ludwig III.
The current organs were built in 1993–1994 by Georg Jann. The Great Organ has 95 stops and 7,165 pipes. The Choir Organ has 36 stops and 53 ranks. Together, both organs contain 131 stops and 9,833 pipes. It is the largest organ ensemble in Munich.
Many organists have served here. They include Abraham Wißreiter and Msgr Hans Leitner. Ruben Sturm has been the organist since 2022.
Both towers contain ten bells. They were cast in the 14th, 15th, 17th and 21st centuries. Their combination is unique in Europe. The heaviest bell is called Susanna. It is one of the biggest bells in Bavaria.