Richard-Wagner-Denkmal (München)

The Richard Wagner memorial stands in a small park on Prinzregentenplatz in Munich’s Bogenhausen district. It is a neoclassical seated statue of the composer by the sculptor Heinrich Waderé, completed in 1913. The square itself lies between the Prinzregententheater and the Prinzregentenstadion, forming a cultural triangle in the quarter. The monument was commissioned as a public gesture of reconciliation. Wagner had fled Munich abruptly in 1865, and the city’s belated tribute coincided with the centenary of his birth. The unveiling on 21 May 1913 drew large crowds and was attended by Ernst von Possart, the initiator, and Prince Regent Ludwig. Cosima Wagner and her son Siegfried chose not to attend, citing personal and financial reasons. Visitors find a calm green space with the marble figure seated on a plinth. The sculpture shows Wagner in a pose reminiscent of Goethe’s portrait in the Campagna. The surrounding square offers benches and views of the theatre and stadium, making it a quiet place to pause before or after a performance.