The Maximilianstraße is named after King Max II. Contrary to the monumental Ludwigstraße of his father he wanted to create a lively boulevard with shops, apartments, cafés and galleries. After an architectural competition King Max II. favoured the drafts of Friedrich Bürklein. His design is known as Maximilan style in art history and is unique in Europe. This individual style is a combination of English Gothic and Italian Arcade architecture. The Maximilianstraße starts at the Max-Joseph-Platz and connects the suburb Haidhausen with the city. It culminates in the Maximilianeum on the high terrace of the river Isar.
In the first part of the street you find a lot of designer shops, galleries and cafés. Even the shop of our local designer Rudolph Moshammer is located here. Just accross the street the flags are blowing in front of the Four Seasons Hotel, one of Munich's first class hotels. An attraction in the eastern part of the street is the theatre Münchner Kammerspiele, an Art Nouveau theatre designed by Richard Riemerschmid in 1901.
The Altstadtring built in 1968/69 crosses the Maximilianstraße in the middle and is considerably disturbing the unity. Beyond the Altstadtring the Maximilanstraße is extended to a forum. On the left hand side rises the Government of Upper Bavaria, one of the most impressive examples of Friedrich Bürklein's Maximilian style. Opposite the Government Eduard Riedel erected the Museum of Ethnology. In the middle of the semicicular square in front of the Isar there is a monument to King Max II. This monument is also the starting point for the annual traditional costumes parade during the Oktoberfest.
Tram: 19, 27, 29