St. Anna Church

Alright everyone, let’s take a moment for quiet reflection as we step inside the Kirche St. Anna, or St. Anna Church, here in Munich! Get ready to discover a place of peace and beauty, hidden away from the city’s bustle, with a story that spans centuries and a unique charm all its own.

So, the Kirche St. Anna isn’t just one church; it’s actually two! We have the Damenstiftskirche St. Anna (Ladies’ Collegiate Church of St. Anna) and the Pfarrkirche St. Anna (Parish Church of St. Anna), right next to each other. The Damenstiftskirche, the older of the two, has roots going way back to the 14th century, but the buildings we see today are largely from later periods.

The Damenstiftskirche St. Anna, the one we are focusing on now, was significantly rebuilt in the 18th century, giving it the beautiful Baroque style we admire today.

The driving force behind this Baroque transformation was Elector Max Emanuel II. He wanted to create a fittingly grand church for the adjacent Damenstift, a noble women’s foundation.

However, like many structures in Munich, the church faced challenges during World War II. Bombing caused significant damage, requiring extensive restoration work in the post-war years to bring it back to its former glory.

It has a close connection to the Damenstift, a noble women’s foundation. For centuries, this church was integral to the lives of the women in the Damenstift, a place of worship, community, and quiet contemplation.

If the door is open, look inside too.