Alter Peter (St. Peter's Church)

Alter Peter, as Munich locals affectionately call their St. Peter's Church, is considered the city's oldest parish church and is also one of Munich's most popular viewpoints. The tower that gives the church its nickname rises above the old town's rooftops immediately south of Marienplatz.

History of Alter Peter

According to tradition, a small chapel already stood on the so-called Petersbergl hill before Munich's official founding in 1158 - meaning the church may well be older than the city itself. A devastating city fire in 1327 largely destroyed the original Romanesque church, so today's building is at its core the result of the subsequent Gothic rebuilding. In the 17th and 18th centuries the interior was extensively redesigned in the Baroque style. The tower itself had to be repeatedly restored after several fires and severe damage in the Second World War; today's spire with new bells dates largely from the reconstruction completed by 1954.

Climbing the Tower & the Interior

Those who climb the roughly 300 steps of the narrow spiral staircase are rewarded with one of Munich's most celebrated panoramic views: from the observation platform, Marienplatz, the twin towers of the Frauenkirche and, on especially clear days, even the Alpine chain come into view. Inside the church, alongside the Baroque high altar with its statue of St. Peter, the figure of St. Munditia draws particular attention - a jewel-adorned skeleton of a Roman catacomb saint kept in a side chapel, ranking among Munich's more unusual sights.

Visitor Tips & Getting There

Alter Peter sits immediately south of Marienplatz and is less than a minute's walk from there. The tower climb follows a very narrow spiral staircase with no elevator, making it unsuitable for visitors with limited mobility; current opening hours and admission prices for the tower should be checked online in advance.

Nearby Attractions

Close by are Marienplatz with the New Town Hall, the Viktualienmarkt and the Frauenkirche - all reachable within a few minutes' walk and ideal for combining into one old-town walking tour.

The View from Alter Peter: Munich's Favorite Photo Spot

The panoramic view from the Alter Peter tower is among the most photographed vistas in Munich, since nearly all of the city center's major landmarks can be seen from here at once - from the New Town Hall to the Frauenkirche and, in the distance, the Olympic Tower. This central, elevated position also historically made the tower an important point of orientation and a fire watchtower, from which city fires could be spotted early. The church's bells, made up of several historic bells, are among the most storied in Munich and can still be heard ringing out across the old town on special religious occasions today.

Petersplatz at the Foot of the Tower

At the base of the church tower lies the small, often-overlooked Petersplatz, offering a quiet contrast to the bustle of nearby Marienplatz. From here, the church façade can best be viewed in its full height before beginning the climb up the tower. Photographers particularly value Alter Peter at the edges of the day: in the early morning light or shortly before sunset, the golden glow across the surrounding rooftops bathes the view in a particularly atmospheric light, making the tower a popular destination for photography enthusiasts from around the world.

Further Artworks Inside

Besides the high altar and St. Munditia, Alter Peter houses numerous other side altars and artworks from different centuries, carefully assembled during the Baroque redesign of the interior. This variety of stylistic periods inside - from Gothic remnants to lavish Baroque ornamentation - makes Alter Peter a small but dense history book of Munich's sacred art, one that many visitors glimpse only briefly on their way to the tower, even though it rewards a closer, more thorough look.

The Bells of Alter Peter

The bells of Alter Peter consist of several historic bells of varying age, some of which survived the Second World War while others had to be recast after wartime damage. Together they form one of Munich's most storied sets of church bells and, much like those of the neighboring Frauenkirche, are a fixed part of the acoustic backdrop around Marienplatz. On special religious feast days, the bells of Alter Peter ring out together with those of other old-town churches, creating an impressive, far-reaching soundscape over the historic city center.