Glyptothek

About the museum

The Glyptothek goes back to Crown Prince Ludwig, later King Ludwig I of Bavaria. A trip to Italy in 1804/05 sparked his passion for ancient art, and he had outstanding works acquired in a targeted way, paid for out of his private purse. His art agent Johann Martin von Wagner secured, among other pieces, the Barberini Faun in Rome and the pediment figures of the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina in Greece. From 1816, Leo von Klenze designed a building for the collection with an Ionic temple front on the north side of the newly laid-out Königsplatz; in 1830 it opened as Munich's first public museum.

The galleries, arranged around an inner courtyard, were originally richly colored, and Peter von Cornelius decorated several rooms with frescoes. The building was badly hit in air raids in 1944, and the painted decoration was lost. The reconstruction, completed in 1972, deliberately did without restoring it: since then, plain brick walls, shell-limestone floors and large windows facing the courtyard have put the free-standing marble works center stage.

After a general renovation from 2018 to 2021, the building is fully accessible again. The collection spans Greek art from the Archaic period through the Classical and Hellenistic periods to the Roman imperial era and late antiquity, and includes statues of gods and heroes, funerary reliefs and an important series of portraits. Together with the Staatliche Antikensammlungen opposite, the Glyptothek forms the historic core of Munich's Kunstareal (art district).

Highlights

• Pediment figures of the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina (Aeginetans)
• Barberini Faun
• Kouros of Tenea and Munich Kouros
• Drunken Old Woman and Boy with a Goose
• Portraits from Homer to Augustus
• Klenze's Neoclassical building with a café in the inner courtyard

Permanent exhibitions

• Meisterwerke antiker Bildhauerkunst – Arranged around the inner courtyard, the galleries show Greek and Roman marble sculpture from the Archaic period to late antiquity, including the Aeginetans, kouroi and numerous portraits of famous figures of antiquity.

Founded

1830

Operated by

Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek (Freistaat Bayern)

Director

Florian S. Knauß (Leitender Sammlungsdirektor)

Admission & discounts

The day ticket is valid for the Glyptothek and the Staatliche Antikensammlungen. Sundays €1 per museum. Annual pass €20 (reduced €15). Online tickets via München Ticket at different prices and with possible fees. Free admission for groups including ICOM members, holders of the Bavarian Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card) and members of the friends' association. Access to the museum café: day ticket €1, annual pass €2.50.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Step-free access via the northern King's Entrance at the back of the building (Luisenstraße, ring the bell). All exhibition galleries are accessible; a ramp leads to the Roman Hall, and a vertical lift runs from the café into the inner courtyard. Loan wheelchair at the ticket desk, lightweight portable folding stools. Accessible restroom and luggage lockers at ground level next to the ticket desk. Blind visitors can touch sculptures wearing gloves (advance registration requested). Marked guide dogs and epilepsy alert dogs are allowed. Pick-up from the nearest stop possible by arrangement by phone.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Free children's media guide with Glauki the owl (tours for ages 6–8 and 9–14, approx. 60 min each). Children's days, holiday workshops and discovery tours with worksheets. Children's birthday parties through the Museumspädagogisches Zentrum (ages 6–12 depending on the theme, 120 min, max. 12 children).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum café in the inner courtyard and in Gallery VIII with Italian coffee, Franconian museum wine, panini and cake. Cloakroom and luggage lockers next to the ticket area.

Events & venue rental

The official website lists no rental offers. In summer, the inner courtyard is used for the Theaterspiele Glyptothek (theater festival) and concerts.

Plan your visit