St. Peter, Munich

St. Peter is Munich’s oldest recorded parish church, and the tower rising above it is known as Alter Peter. The church belongs to the Gothic tradition, yet its interior brings together several centuries of work.

Its 91-metre tower is one of Munich’s emblems, and the church stands on Petersbergl, a notable hill within the historic old town. The building you see today carries the marks of repeated rebuilding. A Gothic basilica was consecrated in 1294, then fire in 1327 damaged much of the church.

Later work added a Baroque choir, while the eighteenth-century interior gained a grand high altar inspired by Bernini’s Cathedra Petri. Egid Quirin Asam contributed to the altar, and Johann Baptist Zimmermann created the elaborate stucco and ceiling frescoes, including scenes from the life of Saint Peter. Bombing in 1944 and 1945 left the church largely destroyed.

Reconstruction began in 1946, and the outer form was complete by 1954. The interior restoration continued until 2000. Look at the tower’s open gallery and the church’s substantial masonry: together they show why this parish church remains such a powerful landmark in Munich.