The two tall towers of the Frauenkirche, each topped by a typical onion dome, soar high over the city’s roofs. They are the hallmark of Munich. The official name of the church is “Cathedral of Our Lady”.Walking around this gigantic brick construction, you might just feel unnervingly small, which is hardly surprising: The Frauenkirche numbers among the largest gothic hall churches in Germany. Inside, you will be amazed by the clear, almost severe structure, the elegance of the high vaulting and the light that fills the space. The church, erected in 1468, was severely damaged during the war. Near the entrance is an interesting documentation about its reconstruction; the work was only completed in 1994. Among the treasures to be seen here is the marvelous royal tomb of Ludwig the Bavarian on the right near themain portal.

Around the Frauenkirche there is a colorful assortment of nice little stores selling all sorts of items, from handmade candles to unusual jewelry. Head north by the basket shop to leave the church area. Between Schäfflerstrasse and Maffeistrasse you will come upon the Schäfflerhof, whose bare brick façade makes a conscious connection with the northern German design of the Frauenkirche. Its counterpart is situated on the other side of Maffeistrasse, an even larger complex of passages, the Fünf Höfe (Five Courtyards). A new era of shopping and experience dawned here under the heading “living culture” – relinquishing pure shopping for a sophisticated lifestyle experience.

Immerse yourself in this special world, a colorful mixture of luxury brand shops, “art spaces”, converted inner courtyards with the occasional, daring installation, and cafés, bars, restaurants, galleries and the exhibition spaces of the Kunsthalle at the heart of the complex. Applying a revolutionary new“architecture of the senses”, three internationally famous architectural firms, Ivano Gianola from the Ticino, Herzog & de Meuron from Basel and Hilmer & Sattler from Munich, have turned the concept of “living culture” into reality.