St. Michael's Church (German: Jesuitenkirche St. Michael / St. Michael Kirche) is a Jesuit church in Munich, which after its construction became one of the first Renaissance churches in Germany.
The Church of St. Michael is considered the largest and the first Renaissance church north of the Alps. The style of the building, which is in the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque, became a model and had a huge influence on the architecture of the early Baroque in Southern Germany.
The Church was built by the Bavarian Duke Wilhelm V between 1583-1597 years. The Church was consecrated in 1597 in honour of the Archangel Michael.
At the time this Church was one of the main strongholds of the Counter-reformation in Bavaria. On the East side of the Church adjacent to the former Jesuit College, which today is known as the Old Academy (Alte Akademie) and which are commercial premises.
When the Jesuits were suppressed and banned in most Catholic areas in Europe (1773), the Church passed into the possession of the Bavarian Royal family and became the court Church.
During the Second world war, St. Michael's Church was badly damaged. Reconstruction took place in 1946-1948 years. In subsequent Church several times reconstructed and carried out the repair work.
The appearance of the Church, because of the gable of the main facade and a triangular front, more like the old medieval town hall than a Shrine. However, it has a clear theological features.
The facade of the Church is decorated with 15 statues of the rulers (the Wittelsbach dynasty), which, according to Wilhelm V, made a name for fighters and defenders of the Christian faith in Bavaria. Among the statues, including the statue of the Duke William.
In the upper part of the facade, directly under the cross and pediment, in the niche there is the figure of Jesus Christ enthroned as Salvator (Savior of the world). Before the destruction of 1944, the original sculpture was made of copper, the present copy belongs to the year 1981. Its symbol is a gilded globe.
Between the two portals (entrances to the Church) is a large bronze statue of the Archangel Michael, depicted fighting for the Faith and killing Evil in the form of a demon. The statue made by Dutch sculptor Hubert Gerhard (Gerhard Hubert).
The Church interior is made in bright colors and impressive gold altars and the pulpit. The main high altar is in the apse with the figure of the Savior. Very deep choirs join the mighty nave.
Choirs
In the walls of the Church is an organ and regular concerts.
Days and times of the concerts can be found on the Church website (website address is listed below in this article).
In the Church crypt is the tomb of a relative of Napoleon I - eugène de Beauharnais, and tombs of members of the Wittelsbach dynasty, including Maximilian I, Wilhelm V, the king of Bavaria, Ludwig II, etc.
The crypt of king Ludwig II
Practical information
St. Michael's Church located in the historic old town of Munich, in a pedestrian and shopping street Neuhauser Strasse, at the address: Neuhauser Straße 6.
The building of the former Jesuit College "Old Academy" is next to the Church, at the address: Neuhauser Straße 8.
The website of the Church of St. Michael: St.-michael-muenchen.
