St. Peter

Before skyscrapers pierced the clouds, St. Peter’s Church, or as the locals affectionately call it, “Alter Peter,” watched over Munich. Imagine Munich in 1158. A small settlement, huddled around a pre-Merovingian church on Petersbergl hill. This, my friends, was the precursor to the St. Peter’s you see today. St. Peter’s Church isn’t just the oldest recorded parish church in Munich. It’s the heart of the city, the point from which Munich itself sprung. The original Romanesque structure, built at the end of the 12th century, fell victim to a fire in 1327. Like a phoenix from the ashes, it rose again in 1368, rebuilt and rededicated. Over the centuries, St. Peter’s continued to evolve. In the 17th century, the iconic 91-meter spire gained its Renaissance top, and a Baroque choir was added. Inside, the grandeur continues. The high altar, featuring Erasmus Grasser’s sculpture of St. Peter, draws the eye. Look closely, for within these walls are masterpieces from across the ages. Jan Polack’s Gothic paintings and Ignaz Günther’s altars are but a few of the treasures waiting to be discovered. Gaze upwards to admire Johann Baptist Zimmermann’s stunning ceiling fresco, painstakingly recreated between 1999 and 2000. St. Peter’s Church has borne witness to Munich’s entire history, from a humble settlement to the bustling metropolis it is today. So, as you admire the “Old Peter,” remember, you’re not just looking at a church. You’re looking at the very heart of Munich.