St. Benno's Church

St. Benno is a Catholic parish church in Munich’s Maxvorstadt quarter, standing near the former barracks district. It was built as one of three new city churches in the late 19th century to serve Munich’s rapidly growing population. The church is dedicated to Saint Benno, the city’s patron saint, and is one of the most convincing examples of neo-Romanesque architecture from that period. The church owes its existence to Archbishop Anton von Steichele, who called for more churches as Munich expanded. Construction began in 1888 after land was donated by Ferdinand von Miller, the founder of the Bavaria statue. The young architect Leonhard Romeis designed the building in the neo-Romanic style, inspired by the rheinische Romanik of the imperial cathedrals. Funding came from the Zentralkirchenbauverein, private donations, and the Bavarian royal family, including a high altar gifted by Prince Regent Luitpold. Inside, the church is a three-aisled basilica with a cross-shaped floor plan and twin towers rising 64 metres. The west façade features a main portal flanked by figures of prophets, while the bronze doors depict New Testament parables. The high altar, designed as a ciborium, stands under an octagonal dome supported by columns. The church also houses a restored organ and seven bells, including the deep-sounding Benno and Mary bells. Outside, a sculpture of a fish with a key recalls a legend about Saint Benno, and a tall porphyry column topped with his statue stands nearby.