Once Quiet, now a Theatre: The lost King's Garden

Fotograf: Joseph Albert, Der Wintergarten Maximilians II., Foto des Inneren, um 1860. Das Bild zeigt einen Springbrunnen, der in der Mitte des Wintergarten stand.

The winter garden of Max II. Photo: Joseph Albert, 1860

King Maximilian II. of Bavarian, Photo von Franz Hanfstaengl (ca. 1860)

Eine Fotografie von Joseph Albert von 1860. Sie zeigt den Max-Josephs-Platz mit der Residenz, und dem heutigen Nationaltheater, damals Königliches Hof- und Nationaltheater. Gut zu erkennen ist ein Verbindungsbau (heute der Standort des Münchner Residenztheater), in dem sich damals der Wintergarten des bayerischen Königs Max II befand.

Max-Joseph-Platz, Photo Joseph Albert, 1860

Das Bild zeigt das Münchner Residenztheater - den Haupteingang. Die Fassade zwischen Nationaltheater und Königsbau der Residenz gestaltete nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg der Architekt Karl Hocheder. Im Erdgeschoss befinden sich sieben Säulen, darüber - im ersten Stockwerk - ist eine durchgehende von schmalen Stahlsäulen gegliederte Glasfront, hinter der die Wandelhalle liegt. Dort liegen noch an der zurückgesetzten Fassade des zweiten Obergeschosses sechs Fenster mit Mezzanin. Hier war einst der 1854 errichtete Wintergarten von König Max II,

Residenztheater in Munich

The Wittelsbacher family in the winter garden of Max II.

The winter garden of the Bavarian King Max II was a stunning example of 19th-century garden design and architectural elegance. Max II, King of Bavaria from 1848 to 1864, was known for his love of nature, art, and architecture. His winter garden reflected his passion for the then-popular iron and glass buildings.

A dream comes true

Grundriss und Bepflanzungsplan des Wintergartens von Maximilian II., Zeichnung von 1854 — Floor plan and planting plan of Maximilian II’s winter garden.

Since his time as Crown Prince, Maximilian of Bavaria had the idea of building a special winter garden for himself. The inspiration was a trip the Crown Prince made to Italy in 1847, where he was impressed by the mild climate and vegetation.

At that time, Maximilian still wanted to have the winter garden built in his residence in the Wittelsbach Palace. But when he became king in 1848, a new location was quickly found, and his dream came true.

Between 1851 and 1854, Maximilian II. had his winter garden built between the Old Residence Theatre and the Königsbau as a glass and iron structure (design: Franz Jakob Kreuter, construction: August von Voit).

The construction of the conservatory was a technical challenge. To allow in plenty of natural light and ensure a comfortable temperature for the many exotic plants, it was built with large glass surfaces and an elaborate iron structure.

But Maximilian wasn’t the only one who loved this winter garden. The entire Wittelsbach family enjoyed spending time there. In 1922, there was a discussion about what to do with the winter garden. It was decided to demolish it. The building was finally destroyed in World War II. Today, the six windows with a mezzanine on the recessed facade of the second floor of the Residenztheater still recall the spot where the winter garden of the Bavarian King Max II once stood.

I would be happy to walk with you in the footsteps of the Bavarian King Max II, who, in my opinion, is always neglected in Bavarian history and to whom Bavaria owes so much.