Tour of LMU’s main building

The historic main building on Geschwister-Scholl-Platz is the landmark that everyone associates with LMU Munich. Recently published, a handily sized picture book devotes itself to this building, providing fascinating insights into its construction, historic events and unique architectural features.

For example, did you know that LMU had to pay for the main building itself? And that, unlike the other buildings, this one also belongs to the University? The guide LMU Munich´s Main Building contains a compendium of information – most of it probably unknown to the majority of people – about this historically and architecturally eye-catching edifice. Better still, the picture book provides at least a virtual, pictorial tour for those who can’t wait for the chance to once again stand in the middle of the atrium and the Audimax auditorium – however difficult the current pandemic makes it to realize this wish in real life.

A virtual tour of LMU’s main building

The following image gallery takes you on a tour of this unique building – from Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, through the auditorium and atrium to the forum on the Amalienstrasse. The photographs that follow are taken from the recently published book LMU Munich´s Main Building.

The historic main building on Geschwister-Scholl-Platz – the landmark that everyone associates with LMU – was built between 1835 and 1840. Since LMU had to pay for it itself, the building belongs to the University as a public body – unlike the other buildings used by LMU, which all belong to the Free State of Bavaria.

Friedrich von Gärtner was commissioned to plan and construct the main building, whose colonnaded entrance hall extends into the interior.

View of the auditorium maximum in the main building. This is the only part of the main building that was not destroyed during the war.

Although it feels like the main building’s centerpiece today, the atrium is actually part of the extension erected about 70 years later, following plans drawn up by the architect German Bestelmeyer.

This historical photo shows work on building the extension at the start of the 20th century.

The skylight dome is the central ceiling element above the atrium. Natural daylight enters during the day, while spotlights mounted in the dome are used at night.

The White Rose Memorial commemorates the student resistance group that stood up to the Nazi regime. It features biographies of members and their activities.

The Amalienstrasse forum. The two monoliths depict the “Victory of Science” and the “Truth”.

All pictures are taken from the recently published guide to the main building. The book provides an insight into the building’s construction, historic events and unique architectural features. It can be purchased from the LMU shop.

The guide LMU Munich´s Main Building is available now at a price of EUR 7.00 from the LMU shop. We wish you an enjoyable and enlightening read!

Tour of LMU’s main building

A virtual tour of LMU’s main building

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