Reconstruction of the Royal Palace in Munich
N 48° 08.410 E 011° 34.706
32U E 691810 N 5335094
The Residenz (German word for residence) in the city center of Munich, Bavaria was the former royal residence of the Bavarian Dukes, Electors and Kings. It was mostly destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944, but by 1958 was reconstructed.
Waymark Code: WM18MA
Location: Bayern, Germany
Date Posted: 02/24/2007
Views: 238
Two photos show the Antiquarium and the Grotto yard as they were after the bombing. I have included a photo of the Antiquarium as it is today.
The "shell grotto" at Munich's Residenz palace is one story of the reconstruction. This artificial grotto was built in the 1550s. This structure is made from Bavarian freshwater shells, depicting Mercury (the pre-Christian god of trade and business), a mermaid and a Medusa's head. It's found in a courtyard of the palace. The palace and the grotto were demolished by Allied bombing in 1944. After the war, people had no money to contribute to the reconstruction. Instead they gathered shells. All the shells in today's reconstructed grotto were donated by small-town Bavarians.