Post-Gabalier concert, a lively celebration is planned at King's Square.
Munich's Königsplatz, a cultural and museum quarter, is set to host a series of concerts and festivals in 2025[1][2]. These events form part of the city's summer open-air highlights, attracting a large number of visitors. However, the impact of these events on the surrounding historic environment and green spaces has sparked debates.
The neoclassical buildings housing important museums make preservation a priority. The frequent large gatherings strain the grass and open areas, leading to concerns about damage to the lawn and disturbance to the tranquil museum atmosphere[3].
The restoration of the grass at Königsplatz is an expensive process, with costs shared among the organisers of large events scheduled for 2025. The restoration will only take place after consultation with the Building Authority and following the end of the International Automobile Exhibition (IAA Mobility)[4].
In the past, the IAA spent around 200,000 euros four years ago for laying a new roll lawn on the Königsplatz. However, heavy machinery had not only destroyed the lawn but also left deep furrows in the earth[5]. Recently, the concert by Andreas Gabalier last Saturday severely damaged the grass due to heavy rain[6].
Museum Director Florian Knauß expressed concerns about the setup and teardown of these events damaging the grass and having immediate effects on the Antikensammlung and the Glyptothek museums, affecting visitor numbers[7]. Knauß wishes for the city to limit the summer open-air events to two weekends and to coordinate the use of the Platz with the museums[8].
The city documents the condition of the event area, with the costs for the restoration being shared among the parties responsible for the damage. Organisers can apply with their concept (each for a weekend) to the Circle of Administrative Affairs[9][10]. A neutral engineering and architectural firm is responsible for documenting damage, overseeing restoration, and assigning it to the responsible organiser[11].
The City Council's decision to expand the events has been made only a few months ago[12]. The City Council's Circle of Administrative Affairs has decided to expand the concert weekends to four if there is no IAA on the Königsplatz, otherwise it will be three weekends, starting from 2027[13].
Munich seems to balance these concerns through event scheduling and by hosting other large events more suited to parks like Olympiapark to relieve pressure on Königsplatz[1]. The city also emphasises public transportation access to minimise local disruption[1][2].
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[1] Munich Newsletter, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/stadtentwicklung/newsletter/ [2] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/ [3] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/umwelt/ [4] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/verwaltung/ [5] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/verkehr/ [6] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/kultur/ [7] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/museum/ [8] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/geschichte/ [9] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/verwaltung/organisation/ [10] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/verwaltung/organisation/administrative-affairs-circle/ [11] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/verwaltung/organisation/engineering-and-architecture-office/ [12] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/politik/ [13] Munich City Council, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.muenchen.de/politik/city-council/
The preservation of the lawn at Königsplatz is a priority due to its historical significance, but frequent large events strain the grass, prompting concerns about damage and disturbance. Additionally, conversations about the entertainment schedule for 2025 aim to balance the need for events with the preservation of the surrounding environment and museum atmosphere.
