Freunde der Residenz e.V. Detmold

Freunde der Residenz e.V. is a Munich-based voluntary citizens' association (eingetragener Verein) founded on 16 February 1945, before the end of the Second World War, to rescue and rebuild the heavily damaged Munich Residenz. Its members are culture-minded citizens who care about the Munich Residenz and, more broadly, about the buildings, gardens and lakes administered by the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, Gardens and Lakes (Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen). The association raises funds for reconstruction and restoration, and it stages demanding cultural events — concerts, lectures, theatre performances and Christmas markets — that have shaped Munich's cultural life since the post-war years. The association's self-image has been described as high-cultural and intellectual, in contrast to the more broadly based Kulturbaufonds München. It opened the Theater am Brunnenhof on 6 May 1946 as an interim theatre for the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel, and it called on citizens to donate tin lids, which were melted down to produce the tin fittings of the new Residenz windows and gates. In the following year it organised the Nymphenburger Sommerspiele, at which the chamber orchestra of the Munich State Opera under Georg Solti also performed. Its programme of concerts in the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche helped make that space one of Munich's most popular venues. Numerous prominent citizens have been members, including Carl Orff, Richard Riemerschmid, Franz Joseph Schöningh, Tino Walz, Hans Döllgast, Hermann Leitenstorfer, Max Hoene, Friedrich von Hausegger, Gert Hornung, Hermann Krings, Hans Thoma and the Oldenbourg publishing family. The association remains active today; alongside the still-unfinished reconstruction of the Residenz, its statutes also commit it to engaging with the other buildings, gardens and lakes of the Bavarian palace administration, including the preservation of the English Garden. Its emblem, designed by Richard Riemerschmid, shows a phoenix rising from the ashes.

The Freunde der Residenz was founded on 16 February 1945, before the end of the Second World War, when Munich citizens came together to create an association for the rescue of the severely destroyed Residenz. The association collected not only financial means for reconstruction but also shaped cultural life in the devastated metropolis through numerous demanding cultural events such as concerts, lectures, theatre performances and Christmas markets. In contrast to the Kulturbaufonds München, which was carried by ordinary citizens, the Freunde der Residenz cultivated a more high-cultural and intellectual self-understanding. On 6 May 1946 the association opened the Theater am Brunnenhof, the interim theatre for the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel. It then called on citizens to donate tin lids, from which the tin fittings of the new Residenz windows and gates could be obtained. In the following year the association organised the Nymphenburger Sommerspiele, where the chamber orchestra of the Munich State Opera under the direction of Georg Solti also performed. The first concerts in the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche before its happy revival contributed to making this high-ranking space one of the most popular event venues in Munich. Numerous prominent citizens were members of the association, including Carl Orff, Richard Riemerschmid, Franz Joseph Schöningh, Tino Walz, Hans Döllgast, Hermann Leitenstorfer, Max Hoene, Friedrich von Hausegger, Gert Hornung, Hermann Krings, Hans Thoma and the Oldenbourg publishing family. The association remains active to this day; alongside the still-unfinished reconstruction of the Residenz, its statutes also enshrine engagement with the other buildings, gardens and lakes of the Bavarian palace administration, for example the preservation of the English Garden. The association's emblem, designed by Richard Riemerschmid, bears a phoenix rising from the ashes.

• 1947

  Organised the Nymphenburger Sommerspiele, featuring the chamber orchestra of the Munich State Opera under Georg Solti.

• 1946

  Opened the Theater am Brunnenhof on 6 May 1946 as the interim theatre for the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel.

• 1945

  Founded on 16 February 1945 by Munich citizens to rescue the destroyed Residenz.

A high-cultural, intellectual citizens' association dedicated to preserving and promoting Munich's Residenz and the wider Bavarian palace, garden and lake heritage.

1. 1Freunde der Residenz e.V. München – official websitefreunde-der-residenz.de
2. 2Freunde der Residenz – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Freunde der Residenz e.V. Detmold – Wikidatawikidata.org