Climbing into the head
A narrow spiral stair inside the figure ending at openings you look out from. An unusual thing to do.
Martin Falbisoner — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Martin Falbisoner — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Burkhard Mücke — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rijksmuseum — CC0
The Bavaria is a huge bronze statue of a woman representing the state of Bavaria, standing at the end of the Theresienwiese — the open ground where Oktoberfest is held each year. The figure is about eighteen metres tall and stands on a high base, making more than thirty metres in total. It was cast in the middle of the nineteenth century, and at the time was among the largest bronze statues in the world. The interesting part is that it is hollow. You climb a narrow spiral staircase up inside the body until you reach the head, where small openings let you look out over the ground and the city. It is an odd experience and not one you get often. Behind the statue is a colonnade called the Hall of Fame, holding busts of notable Bavarians. The ground and the hall are free; climbing inside the statue is the paid part.
A narrow spiral stair inside the figure ending at openings you look out from. An unusual thing to do.
A colonnade behind the statue with busts of notable Bavarians, free to enter.
The wide ground where Oktoberfest happens. Empty most of the year and surprisingly vast.
Theresienhöhe 16, 80339 München
Deutsches Museum VerkehrszentrumThe Verkehrszentrum is the branch of the Deutsches Museum devoted to everything 4 minutes walk4.5
Umschreibung — the Endless StaircaseA sculpture in the form of a double spiral staircase with no beginning and no en6 minutes walk4.1
Sendlinger TorThe Sendlinger Tor is one of three surviving gates from Munich's medieval wall. 20 minutes walk4.6
Karlsplatz (Stachus)Karlsplatz — which Munich locals call "Stachus" and nothing else — is the wester22 minutes walk4.6
KarlstorThe Karlstor is one of three surviving gates from the second medieval wall that 23 minutes walk4.5No. The climb is seasonal: open in the warmer months, closed in winter, and closed during Oktoberfest. Check before going so you do not arrive to find it shut.
Narrow, spiral and a little dark, and the space inside the head is small. Not for anyone claustrophobic or with mobility difficulties.
The statue impresses at any time, and the place is very quiet off-season. But the ground is completely empty, so anyone wanting atmosphere should come during the festival — and accept the crowds.