Michaelskirche - Sankt Michael

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Defeating the evil

St. Michael church was built in the late 16th century (1583-1597) by the Dutch architect Friedrich Sustris.
Duke Wilhelm V. intended to demonstrate by means of this building his power and his will to strengthen the catholic faith in his country.
The statues in the huge front embody a religious and political statement: High up in the triangle of the gable is Christ the Savior of the world. In the three levels below Bavarian dukes and famous catholic emperors and kings are shown as shining defenders of the catholic faith. Nearly on the ground level, between the entrance doors, in a gold gilded niche there is an impressive bronze statue: St. Michael killing the devil - the good defeating the evil.
The inside dimensions of the church are outstanding; the barrel vault (31mtrs wide and 28mtrs high) is after St. Peter in Rome the biggest in the world.
On the right side near the high altar is the entrance to the "Fuerstengruft"(rulers' crypt) where you see the graves of many members of the Wittelsbach dynasty; among them also the tomb of "dream king" Ludwig II.. For the visit of this crypt you have to buy a ticket.
There are a lot more things to see and to admire in this church (e.g.:painting in the high altar, in a niche on the left side the tomb of Napoleon's stepson Eugene Beauharnais (architects Klenze and Thorwaldsen, near the entrance the big bronze angel (16th century).

Keywords: Free, Historic Site, Interesting, All year, In the city, Historic, Everyone, Easy to reach, Architecture