Stachus is a large square in central Munich

Munich

Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...

, southern Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. The square has been named officially Karlsplatz in 1797 after the unpopular Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria

Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria

Charles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...

. Munich natives seldom use that name, calling the square instead Stachus, after the pub Beim Stachus, once owned by Eustachius Föderl, that was located there until construction work for Karlsplatz began.

Architecture

Most important buildings dominating the square are on the east side the Karlstor, a gothic gate of the demolished medieval fortification and the rondell buildings on both sides next to the gate (constructed by Gabriel von Seidl 1899-1902). In front of the Karlstor, which was first documented in 1301 and called Neuhauser Tor until 1791, is during the summer period a big fountain. In winter an open-air ice rink is installed there. The most significant buildings on the opposite west side are the neo-baroque Justizpalast

Justizpalast (Munich)

The Justizpalast Munich is a palatial courthouse and administrative building in Munich.It was constructed in 1890-1897 by the architect Friedrich von Thiersch in neo-baroque style at the west side of the Karlsplatz . The building of the Gründerzeit is dominated by a glass dome...

(Palace of Justice) and the Kaufhof, the first postwar department store of Munich (by Theo Pabst, 1950/1951).

The underground contains a large shopping center. Also between Stachus square and Marienplatz

Marienplatz

Marienplatz is a central square in the city center of Munich, Germany. It has been the city's main square since 1158.-Architecture:...

 the main pedestrian area of the city (Neuhauser Strasse / Kaufinger Strasse) houses numerous shops and restaurants.

The Karlsplatz (Stachus)

München Karlsplatz railway station

München Karlsplatz is an underground S-Bahn and U-Bahn station below the Karlsplatz in central Munich. It is one of the busiest stations in Munich, as it is located at the western end of Munich's Altstadt ....

 U-Bahn

Munich U-Bahn

The Munich U-Bahn system is an electric rail rapid transit network in Munich, Germany. "U-Bahn" is the German contraction for Untergrundbahn or "subway." It is operated by the municipally owned Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft...

 and S-Bahn

Munich S-Bahn

The Munich S-Bahn is an electric rail transit system in Munich, Germany. "S-Bahn" is the German abbreviation for stadtschnellbahn , and the Munich S-Bahn exhibits characteristics of both rapid transit and commuter rail systems.The Munich S-Bahn network is operated by S-Bahn München, a subsidiary...

 station is located below the square. The Stachus also serves as a hub for the city's tramway system

Munich Tramway

The Munich tramway is the tramway network for the city of Munich in Germany. Today it is operated by the municipally owned Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft and is known officially and colloquially as the Tram...

, with a four track tram station located on Altstadtring

Altstadtring

Altstadtring is located in Maxvorstadt, Munich, Bavaria, Germany....

, the Old Town's orbital road system.

External links

• 360° View of Stachus