Münchner Kaiserburg
Exhibition in the Gothic vaulted cellar of the Alter Hof on Munich's oldest castle, Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and the city's history – free admission.
About the museum
The Alter Hof is the oldest seat of the Wittelsbach dynasty in Munich. The castle complex was built from the late 12th century onward at the edge of the town as it was then, and remained the residence of the Bavarian dukes into the late Middle Ages, before they moved to the Neue Veste, later the Residenz. Its best-known resident was Ludwig IV, known as Ludwig the Bavarian, who was probably born here in 1282. In 1314 he became the first Wittelsbach to be elected King of the Romans, and in 1328 he was crowned emperor in Rome, making Munich an imperial residence for a time.
Since 2007, the Landesstelle für die nichtstaatlichen Museen in Bayern (the state office for Bavaria's non-state museums), which is based in the Alter Hof, has presented the exhibition “Münchner Kaiserburg” in the late Gothic vaulted cellar. It is linked to the Infopoint Museen & Schlösser in Bayern, a downtown information center offering advice on some 1,300 museums and palaces across Bavaria.
No original furnishings from the castle era have survived. The exhibition therefore relies on a multimedia show about Ludwig the Bavarian and the legend of the Affenturm (Monkey Tower), a film on Munich's development up to the end of the kingdom in 1918, and replicas of seals, coins, medals and the emperor's Golden Bull; a few archaeological finds point to the rooms' earlier use. The most vivid testimony is an exposed section of the oldest castle wall from the late 12th century, built like the first city wall from two masonry shells with a core of pebbles from the Isar river.
Highlights
- Multimedia show on Ludwig the Bavarian and the legend of the Affenturm (7 minutes, on the hour)
- Exposed castle wall from the late 12th century
- Film on Munich's urban development up to 1918 (German or English)
- Replicas of Ludwig the Bavarian's Golden Bull, seals, coins and medals
- From monk to Münchner Kindl: the evolution of the city's coat of arms
Permanent exhibitions
- Münchner Kaiserburg – Multimedia exhibition in the vaulted cellar of the Alter Hof on Munich's oldest castle, Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and the city's history up to 1918, with an exposed castle wall and replicas of seals and coins.
- Founded
- 2007
- Operated by
- Landesstelle für die nichtstaatlichen Museen in Bayern (Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege)
- Director
- Sabine Wieshuber
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Children & teens | –Free admission for everyone. |
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Admission is always free for everyone. During the Long Night of Munich Museums, from 18:00 only with a Long Night ticket.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The Infopoint on the raised ground floor can be reached via an eight-step outdoor staircase or an outdoor platform lift (key held by staff; ring the bell at the mailbox). An indoor elevator and a key-operated platform lift lead to the exhibition in the basement; according to the website, the indoor elevator has been out of service for repairs since June 2026. Tactile floor guidance system in the Infopoint, not yet in the exhibition. Accessible restroom with Euro key. Accessible parking spaces on Burgstraße. Dogs allowed in the exhibition only as an exception (assistance dogs).
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
Four-page search game for children ages 7 and up (also available for download); lift-up audio stations. For groups on request: a puzzle and building kit about the Alter Hof; occasional activity days with children's programs in the Alter Hof.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Marienplatz · 2-min walk
S-Bahn (all lines), U3 and U6 to Marienplatz, then about a 2-minute walk. The main train station is two S-Bahn stops away.
By car
Parking available
Nearest parking garage: Operngarage at the Bayerische Staatsoper (Max-Joseph-Platz 4). Coaches park at the central bus station (ZOB).
On foot, it is best to approach from the west (Dienerstraße) or south (Burgstraße); from the east (Sparkassenstraße), a stairway passage leads into the Alter Hof.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The info point offers advice on museums in Bavaria, brochures, and a shop with palace tickets, books, and souvenirs; quiet areas.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The multimedia show runs on the hour in German (ask at the information desk for the English version); the 12-minute film on the city's history runs on a loop in German or English. Groups of up to about 25 people with their own tour guides are welcome; registration recommended. |
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