The Munich Residenz (Münchner Residenz, Munich Palace) is the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs in the center of the city of Munich, Germany. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is today open to visitors for its architecture and room decorations, and displays from the former royal collections.
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 Lenbachhaus is situated at the north-west side of the square. The area around Königsplatz is today the home to the Kunstareal, Munich's gallery and museum quarter.
The statue is part of an ensemble which also includes a hall of fame (Ruhmeshalle) and a stairway. It was commissioned by Ludwig I of Bavaria, with the specific design being chosen by competition. It was cast at the Munich foundry of J.B. Stiglmair between 1844 and 1850 and is the first colossal statue since Classical Antiquity to consist entirely of cast bronze. It was and is up to the present day considered a technological masterpiece. Because of its size it had to be produced in several parts; it is 18.52 metres high and weighs about 87.36 tons. It rests on a stone base which is 8.92 metres high.
An internal circular staircase leads up to a platform in the head, where four openings in the helmet provide a view of the Theresienwiese and downtown Munich.
