Special Locations
An Art Nouveau swimming hall, a hotel full of art, a patent office with an art depot and a former public toilet: not every stop is a classic museum. These seven places show a side of Munich you rarely get to see, and that's exactly why they're worth a detour.
Holzforschung der TUM
A library where the shelves hold wood instead of books: the xylotheque of TUM's wood research department is a unique collection of historical and scientific wood libraries. The historical holdings tell of forests, timber and forestry science from centuries past. The scientific collection is still in use today: it helps identify wood species so that protected and endangered timber can be reliably recognised in international trade.
Address: Winzererstraße 45
Bus tour: 93 Tour Schwabing
Accessibility: not accessible
More info: Programme at the Holzforschung
KUNSTLABOR 2
Set in the former public health office on Dachauer Straße, KUNSTLABOR 2 is Munich's largest temporary cultural use project, and its façade covered in painted satellite dishes is a teaser in itself. Inside you'll find pop-up exhibitions by international and local street artists and a varied music programme. At the Open Studio Day, up to 100 artists, creatives and musicians open their studios and give exclusive insights into their work.
Address: Dachauer Straße 90
Bus tour: 92 Tour West
Accessibility: accessible
More info: Programme at KUNSTLABOR 2
Hotel Mariandl
Hotel Mariandl is housed in a magnificent old building on Beethovenplatz, and tonight it's "Zimmer frei" (Vacancies), but for art. On two floors, international artists transform hotel rooms into exhibition spaces, while ordinary hotel life carries on as usual on the other floors. Artists include Jannis Besen, Shaghayegh Chamani, Luzia Ehrmann, Anna Hölzl, Camilla Metelka and Yiyuan Zhang, among others.
Address: Café am Beethovenplatz, Goethestraße 51
Bus tour: 91 Tour Innenstadt
Accessibility: not accessible (details as PDF)
More info: Programme at Hotel Mariandl
Synagoge Ohel Jakob
Opened in 2006, the main synagogue of Munich's Jewish community on St.-Jakobs-Platz is an architectural landmark of the old town, and tonight it opens its doors. From 8:30 pm, talks by Dinah Zenker (8:30 pm) and Ellen Presser (10 pm) explain the name "Ohel Jakob", the building's architectural features and the role of music. The synagogue choir "Schma Kaulenu", conducted by David Rees, gives mini-concerts at 9:15 and 10:30 pm. Restaurant Einstein in the Jewish Community Centre serves kosher specialities until 11:30 pm. The talks are in German.
Address: St.-Jakobs-Platz 15
Bus tour: 91 Tour Innenstadt
Accessibility: accessible
More info: Programme at the Synagoge Ohel Jakob
Europäisches Patentamt
Beneath the striking high-rise on the Isar, designed by gmp Architekten, lies an unexpected place for art. The listed main building is currently being renovated, but the cultural space on the lower ground floor is open. Discover the open storage with more than 350 works, highlights from over 45 years of collecting and the "Cosmic Bar", an immersive installation by Esther Stocker. At 6:30 pm the artist talks about how the bar came about. Please note: due to the renovation, there are no high-rise tours this year.
Address: Bob-van-Benthem-Platz 1, entrance A&T 5–10 (access via Kohlstraße)
Bus tour: 90 Linie Zentral, 94 Tour Ost
Accessibility: not accessible (details as PDF)
More info: Programme at the Europäisches Patentamt
Müller'sches Volksbad
Opened in 1901, the Müller'sches Volksbad on the Isar is considered one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau baths in Europe: architects call it a "jewel of Art Nouveau", journalists a "temple of bathing pleasures". From 9 pm there are 20-minute tours of the swimming halls and the Roman-Irish sweat bath, no swimsuit required. Places per tour are limited, so don't arrive too late.
Address: Rosenheimer Straße 1
Bus tour: 94 Tour Ost
Accessibility: not accessible (details as PDF)
More info: Programme at the Müller'sches Volksbad
Tip: Das KloHäuschen
Art in a former public toilet: the KloHäuschen at the west gate of the Großmarkthalle in Sendling is one of the city's most unusual exhibition spaces. Its trademark, a privacy wall made of glass blocks, has just disappeared, buried under colourful plastic objects by Munich artist Annegret Bleisteiner. "The Wall" can always be seen from outside, and tonight you can experience it from inside together with the artist, from 7 to 8 pm, 9 to 10 pm and 11 to 11:30 pm. Longer if the weather is nice.
Address: Thalkirchner Straße 81 / corner of Oberländerstraße
Getting there: no shuttle stop, U3 / U6 to Implerstraße
Accessibility: not accessible (details as PDF)
More info: Programme at Das KloHäuschen