Alter Hof (Old Court)

Munich's oldest seat of power (13th c.) and former imperial residence — right in the heart of the old town.

The Alter Hof is Munich's oldest surviving seat of power, built as a ducal fortress in the late 12th century. From 1255 it served as the residence of the Dukes of Upper Bavaria and briefly functioned as an imperial palace under Ludwig the Bavarian. The sprawling complex — comprising several wings and courtyards — survived centuries of urban growth around it. Today it houses government offices alongside a small museum on Wittelsbach history, while the courtyard invites visitors to step into Munich's medieval core.