Odeonsplatz is the grand square where Munich's old town meets the wide, straight Ludwigstraße. Leo von Klenze laid it out for King Ludwig I in the early 19th century, and the yellow Theatine Church, the Residenz and the open loggia of the Feldherrnhalle frame its southern end. It is also a place of hard history: in 1923 Hitler's attempted putsch ended here in gunfire.
Odeonsplatz at a glance
- Where: at the northern edge of the old town, at the southern end of Ludwigstraße, between the Residenz and the Hofgarten.
- Created: from 1816, when Crown Prince Ludwig commissioned the plan; named Odeonsplatz in 1827.
- By: Leo von Klenze; the Feldherrnhalle on its southern side is by Friedrich von Gärtner (1841–1844).
- What it is today: a pedestrian square for events, open-air concerts, parades and demonstrations, with a busy U-Bahn station below.
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes, longer if you walk into the Hofgarten.
From city gate to royal showpiece
Until the late 18th century the Schwabinger Tor, one of Munich's city gates, stood here. When the walls came down, planners wanted a square that would give a grander start to the road from the Residenz to Nymphenburg Palace. In 1816 Crown Prince Ludwig, later King Ludwig I, asked Klenze to design the whole of Ludwigstraße including this square. Klenze built the Palais Leuchtenberg (1816–1821) and the Odeon concert hall (1826–1828) on the west side, both inspired by Rome's Palazzo Farnese; the square took its name from the Odeon in 1827. In 1841–1844 Gärtner closed the southern view with the Feldherrnhalle, modelled on the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence. In 1862 an equestrian statue of Ludwig I was added.
The square became Munich's stage for parades and funerals. On 9 November 1923 the Nazi march on the Feldherrnhalle during the Beer Hall Putsch ended in a gunfight that killed four Bavarian police officers and 16 putschists. Under the Nazis a memorial to the dead putschists stood at the Feldherrnhalle and passers-by had to salute it; it was removed in 1945. A plaque on the Residenz wall now remembers the four police officers.
What to look for
- The Feldherrnhalle loggia, with bronze statues of the generals Tilly and Wrede and a memorial to the Bavarian army inside.
- The two stone lions on the Feldherrnhalle steps, added in 1906; Munich people like to joke that the one facing the Residenz roars while the one facing the church keeps its mouth shut.
- The Theatine Church, begun in 1663 and finished in 1768, whose ochre façade and twin towers give the square its warm colour.
- Viscardigasse, the narrow lane behind the Feldherrnhalle, with a wavy line of polished bronze cobbles set into the paving in 1995.
- The equestrian statue of Ludwig I in front of the Odeon, with figures holding tablets that read his motto, "Gerecht und beharrlich" (just and steadfast).
Shirkers' Alley
When the Nazi memorial stood at the Feldherrnhalle, a guard made sure everyone who passed gave the Hitler salute. Many Munich residents quietly avoided it by cutting through Viscardigasse behind the loggia, which earned the lane the nickname Drückebergergassl, "shirkers' alley". In 1995 the artist Bruno Wank marked the detour with a curving bronze strip in the cobbles. Walk along it: it is a small, physical reminder of everyday refusal.
Tips for your visit
- For the classic view, stand at the southern end of Ludwigstraße and look south: the Feldherrnhalle, the Theatine Church and the Residenz line up in one frame.
- Come in the evening, when the buildings are lit and the square is calmer.
- Step through the Hofgarten gate on the east side for a quiet garden with arcades and a small temple in the middle.
- Check the city's event calendar: the square is often used for open-air concerts and gatherings, which can close parts of it.
Nearby
- Residenz: the former palace of the Bavarian rulers, right next to the square, with lavish state rooms and treasury.
- Hofgarten: a formal garden behind the Hofgarten gate, a good place for a quiet break.
- Marienplatz: the main square with the New Town Hall and its Glockenspiel, a short walk south along Theatinerstraße.
- Frauenkirche: the twin-domed cathedral, a few minutes' walk south-west.
See Munich with World City Trail
Our Munich scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 55 minutes of walking. It includes Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche and the Residenz. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch or Polish.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Munich.
Play the Munich scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Munich →
Play the outdoor escape game in Munich →
Facts checked in October 2026.