The bronze chariot
A chariot drawn by four lions atop the arch, standing for Bavaria.
Martin Falbisoner — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Flocci Nivis — CC BY 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wzwz — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Siegestor is a large three-arched stone gateway at the end of the broad Ludwigstraße, north of central Munich. It was built in the mid-nineteenth century in honour of the Bavarian army, its design drawn from Roman triumphal arches, and topped by a bronze chariot drawn by four lions. The arch was badly damaged in the Second World War. The decision afterwards was unusual: it was only partly restored, and the damage was deliberately left visible on one side. An inscription on it reads, in effect: dedicated to victory, destroyed by war, calling for peace. That shift in meaning — from a military monument to an anti-war one — is the most interesting thing about it. It is free and always open. The arch marks the edge of the university quarter, and Ludwigstraße runs from it towards the city centre.
A chariot drawn by four lions atop the arch, standing for Bavaria.
War damage left deliberately visible, with an inscription turning the monument from victory to a call for peace.
Ludwigstraße, 80539 München
Museum BrandhorstMuseum Brandhorst is the newest of the museums in Munich's Kunstareal, opened in9 minutes walk4.3
English GardenThe English Garden is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, bigger t9 minutes walk4.8
Pinakothek der ModerneThe Pinakothek der Moderne is not one museum but four under a single roof: the s11 minutes walk4.6
Die Neue SammlungDie Neue Sammlung is the oldest design museum in the world: founded in 1907, whe11 minutes walk4.6
Haus der KunstThe "House of Art" is a vast exhibition hall at the edge of the English Garden, 12 minutes walk4.3A deliberate post-war decision. Rather than return it to its original state, the damage was left visible and an inscription added that turns its meaning from celebrating military victory into a warning against war. That is what makes it more interesting than an ordinary triumphal arch.