Munich - Monastic Church of St Anne

(Local Name: Klosterkirche St Anna im Lehel) The Monastic Church of St Anne, built by Johann Michael Fischer in 1727-33, was the first Roccoco church in Old Bavaria (i.e. Bavaria within its smaller pre-1803 boundaries). Its central plan was a novelty, the Italian pattern of a rectilinear nave with pilasters here giving place to a central oval with niches and with the chancel and porch built on at either end.

The church was badly damaged during the Second World War, and the reconstruction of the building, decoration and furnishings took many years. In the course of this work the church's beautiful Roccoco facade (concealed since 1853 by a Neo-Romanesque facade built on to it) was brought to light and restored. The fine interior decoration and furnishings (largely reconstructed) were the work of the Asam brothers and Johann Baptist Straub.

High altar: tabernacle and angels in adoration by Straub (1737); stucco figures by Egid Quirin Asam; altarpiece by Asam (reconstructed), "St Anne teaching Mary the Scriptures in the presence of St Joachim".

Front niches: altarpieces, "The last Communion of St Jerome" (right) and "St Paula of Rome with her daughter Eustachia" (left).

Side niches: Early Baroque figure of St Anthony (1682; right), altar with 17th c. "Mater Dolorosa" (left).

Frescoes: scenes from the life of St Anne (by Asam, reconstructed).