Munich building history in the Old Town - with palace, opera and theater
Max-Joseph-Platz in Munich: The square at the Opera
Max-Joseph-Platz is located next to the State Opera and the Residence. It was named after King Max I Joseph, whose statue stands in the center of the square. On December 9, 2025, the newly designed Max-Joseph-Platz was reopened to the public.
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Reopening on December 9
After a year of renovation by the building department, Max-Joseph-Platz has reopened with new green spaces based on old plans. Mayor Dieter Reiter, Building Department representative Dr. Jeanne-Marie Ehbauer, City Planning Officer Professor Dr. (Univ. Florence) Elisabeth Merk, Mobility Officer Georg Dunkel, and the General Conservator of the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation Professor Mathias Pfeil opened the square for public use on December 9.
Mayor Dieter Reiter: "Perhaps not the absolute best time to inaugurate a square, but there are supposed to be summer temperatures in winter too. In any case, I am delighted that Max-Joseph-Platz is now complete and offers a significantly better quality of stay than before! It is closer to my idea of an Italian piazza, and I am sure that the square will be a hit with the public and attract locals and tourists all year round. The positive reactions of many citizens and visitors already show that we have done a lot right with this redesign."
Pictures of the renovated Max Joseph Square
Interim design of Max Joseph Square
The central square in front of the Munich State Opera House was temporarily redesigned and landscaped between August 2024 and December 2025. The redesign was based on historical designs by Leo von Klenze, who first designed the area in the early 19th century. Now, as proposed at the time but never realized, a path system oriented towards the monument has been created.
The previous Isar gravel surface has been replaced by asphalt with a split surface. This has created eight areas, each measuring around 170 square meters, which are now planted with grass. In addition, trees have been planted in mobile, round planters with integrated seating. In the spring, flexible furniture will also be added to the new lounge area on the lawn.
The entrance to the State Opera's underground car park was narrowed, while the sidewalks were widened to create spacious areas for strolling and lingering. Thanks to the variable design, the square can still be used for events. The eight historic street lamps (known as candelabras) were also renovated and fitted with LED bulbs. The renovation cost €3.87 million.
After completion of the second trunk line in the 2030s, Max-Joseph-Platz is to be redesigned again.
Max-Joseph-Platz: The most important information at a glance
History: The square was created in the early 19th century, when the Franciscan monastery there was demolished to make way for the construction of a national theater.
Architect: The square was designed by the famous architect Leo von Klenze, who left his mark on several buildings in Munich: among them are the Königsplatz, the Glyptothek and the Old Pinakothek.
Monument: Maximilian I Joseph not only gave the square its name, but in 1835 a monument was dedicated to him in the center of the square.
Events: Every summer, the open air event "Oper für alle" (Opera for All) takes place on Max-Joseph-Platz.
Parking garage: Directly under the Max-Joseph statue is an underground parking garage with up to 500 parking spaces.
Nice to know: Munich residents like to spend time at the sunny front of the palace.
