Ludwigskirche (Munich)

The Catholic Parish and University Church St. Louis, called "Ludwigskirche" in Munich is a monolithic church in neo-romanesque style with the largest altar fresco of the world. The building with its round arches strongly influenced other churchly architecture.

The Ludwigskirche is situated in the northern part of the Ludwigstrasse and was built by the architect Friedrich von Gärtner from 1829 onwards. The principal was King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The facade with two steeples was constructed as balance to the diagonally opposite Theatinerkirche.

The frescoes of the curch were created by Peter von Cornelius and are perhaps one of the most important mural works of modern times. The large fresco of the Last Judgment (1836-1840), over the high altar, measures 62 ft in height by 38 ft in width. The frescoes of the Creator, the Nativity, and the Crucifixion are also upon a large scale. But the work was rejected by the King, Cornelius left Munich shortly afterwards. The sculptue "Four Evangelists with Jesus Christ" was designed by Ludwig von Schwanthaler.

The church was the model for many other churches, such as the "Altlerchenfelder Pfarrkirche" in Vienna, the "St.George's Episcopal" Church in New York City, the "Bowdoin College Chapel" in Brunswick/Maine and the "Congregational Church of the Pilgrims" in Brooklyn. Richard Upjohn's Romanesque design for the Church of the Pilgrims in 1844-1846 was then the first in a rapidly expanding group of churches in this style within North America.