Königsplatz, Munich

Königsplatz (King's Square) is a square in Munich, Germany. Built in the style of European Neo-Classicism in the 19th century, it is a center of cultural life. The area around Königsplatz is today the home to the Kunstareal, Munich's gallery and museum quarter.

The square was designed as part of the representative boulevard Brienner Straße by Karl von Fischer working for Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and laid out by Leo von Klenze. Fischer modeled the Königsplatz on the Acropolis in Athens. The concept was classical rigor embedded in living green, and so an expression of urban ideas of Ludwig I. who wanted to see cultural life, civic ideals, Catholic Christianity, royal administration and the military all together and embedded in green.

Klenze framed the square with the Ionic Glyptothek and the Doric Propylaea (Propyläen; created as memorial for the accession of Otto of Greece). The Corinthian State Museum of Classical Art was erected by Georg Friedich Ziebland, on its back St. Boniface's Abbey is situated. The Glyptothek was built from 1816, the Propylaea were only completed in 1862.

The Lenbachhaus is situated at the north-west side of the square.

As a beautiful and monumental place, the Königplatz was used during the Third Reich as a square for the Nazi Party's mass rallies. The Brown House, the national headquarters of the Nazi Party in Germany was located at 45 Brienner Straße close to the square.

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