Under the guidance of art historian Dr. Thomas Raff the RG Munich learns about the history surrounding the huge ‚Bavaria‘, the first colossal sand-cast bronze monument (18.52 m) made since antiquity. We will climb up inside her head and and look down through her eyes on the Theresienwiese. The  Frühlingsfest (spring equivalent of the Oktoberfest) is under way here and beckons us to come and frolic.

Before we enter the fray, however, we will explore the Ruhmeshalle (Hall of Fame) located above the Bavaria, a classicist building erected 1843 -1853 as a pantheon for celebrated Bavarians of all ‚tribes‘ from the fields of politics, science and the arts.

The ensemble Bavaria/Ruhmeshalle was – like the Walhalla (by the Danunbe near Regensburg) and Befreiungshalle (near Kelheim ) erected by the Bavarian King Ludwig I (grandfather of Ludwig II) and unifies art and politics in a way that is unique in Germany. King Ludwig’s heritage is of great importance to Munich: We owe him the Oktoberfest, the Königsplatz ensemble, Feldherrnhalle, Siegestor, Ludwigsstraße with LMU buildings, Ludwigskirche and Staatsbibliothek, as well as the Alte Pinakothek.

Participants: max 20

Language either German or English, as needed

Contribution: 2.50 euros admission to Bavaria monument for students with student ID/3.50 for non-students

Contact: fk-muenchen@daad-alumni.de