Old Academy, Renaissance architectural monument in Münchner Altstadt, Germany.
The Old Academy is a Renaissance building in Munich's old town featuring four inner courtyards and a carefully restored facade. The structure contains multiple wings housing different functions, from retail spaces to residences and offices.
The building was commissioned in 1583 by Duke William V of Bavaria and initially served as a Jesuit school and college next to St. Michael's Church. Over the centuries its functions shifted repeatedly, reflecting the changing needs of the city.
The building's name refers to its long role as an educational center, and this identity remains visible in how locals talk about the place. Visitors can still sense the layered uses of the space through the architecture of the courtyards and rooms.
The building is freely accessible and easy to reach from Marienplatz or Sendlinger Strasse, as it sits in the heart of the old town. Visitors can admire the outer architecture at any time and explore the public inner courtyard, which connects to surrounding shops and restaurants.
The building housed the Royal Library and Bavarian Archives from 1783 to 1826 before becoming an important art school. This early role as a knowledge repository is no longer obvious today but continues to shape how locals view the place in Munich's scholarly culture.
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