The neo-Renaissance Maximilianstraße in Munich is one of the city's four royal avenues. It starts at Max-Joseph-Platz, where the Residenz and the National Theatre are situated, and runs from west to east.
Principal was king Maximilian II of Bavaria, who started the project in 1850, the avenue is named for his honour. Leading architect was Friedrich Bürklein.
With this project, the king also aimed to "invent" a new architectural style which would combine the best features of historical models combined with then modern building technology. The avenue is framed by mostly neo-Gothic buildings influenced by the English Perpendicular style.
Opposite to the National Theatre the north facade of the Old Mint Yard got its neogothic decoration when the Maximilianstrasse was built to fit it with the concept of this royal avenue. The new buildings house, among others, in the western portion of the street the Schauspielhaus and in the eastern portion several state buildings like the building of the district government of Upper Bavaria (Friedrich Bürklein, 1856–1864), the Völkerkundemuseum (Museum of Ethnology, built by Eduard Riedel, 1858–1865) and the building of the Wilhelmsgymnasium (built by Carl Leimbach, 1875–1877). After crossing the river Isar further east, the avenue circles the palatial Maximilianeum (Friedrich Bürklein, 1857–1874), home of a gifted students´ foundation and the Bavarian Landtag (state parliament). The opening in the middle of the Maximilianstrasse for the new circular road Altstadtring after World War II still disturbs the appearance.
The Maxmonument in the middle of the eastern part of the avenue is dedicated to King Maximilian II of Bavaria and was sculpted by Kaspar von Zumbusch. In the south the dome of St. Lukas is visible.
The western portion of Maximilianstrasse is known for its galleries, designer shops, luxury boutiques, jewellery stores, and one of Munich's foremost five-star hotels, the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten (Kempinski, built by Rudolf Gottgetreu, 1856–1858).
Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Escada, Hugo Boss, Gucci, Gianfranco Ferré, Bulgari and many other famous shops keep branches in the Maximilianstrasse. They have increasingly ousted the traditional shops, art galleries and restaurants.