This radially shaped square is named after the first Queen of Bavaria, Queen Karoline. It was created at the beginning of the 19th c. according to a design of Carl von Fischer. The square is based on the "Place de l'Etoile" in Paris. With help of Napoleon Bavaria became kingdom in 1806. Therefore Napoleon ordered 36.000 Bavarian soldiers for his Russian campaign in 1812 from which only 6.000 soldiers returned. The obelisk in the middle of the square (designed by Leo von Klenze) commemorates the 30.000 Bavarian soldiers who fell.
The "Amerika Haus" is also located at the Karolinenplatz, a cultural meeting point with an extensive library.
Between the "Karolinenplatz" and the "
Koenigsplatz" relicts from the Nazi period are to be seen, designed by Hitler's architect Paul Ludwig Troost.
The former "Führerbau" where the Munich Agreement was signed in 1938 serves today as the College of Music. Its pendant opposite was built as the headquarter of the Nazi party and is now hosts the State Collection of Graphic Art. After the failed putsch of 1923 Hitler had two temples of honour built commemorating his 16 killed followers. These temples were pulled down after the war, only the foundations are still to be seen.
U-Bahn: U4,
U5 to Odeonsplatz, U2 to Königsplatz