Munich is one of just four cities in Germany with a true subway system. As if that weren’t special enough on its own, Munich’s subway stations are distinguished by their unique architecture . Each one looks different and has its own architectural features. The Marienplatz subway station is not only the busiest in the city, but also one of the most striking thanks to its orange design. Here is its story.
Munich’s most important transfer station
The Marienplatz station is located in the heart of Munich and allows you to transfer between all S-Bahn lines on the main line and the U3 and U6 lines. The entire station is spread across four underground levels. At the top is the mezzanine level, which houses shops and kiosks. Below that are the two S-Bahn tracks, which , unlike usual, are not side by side but one above the other. And at the very bottom, on the lowest level, you’ll find the Marienplatz subway station.
It was built in the 1960s as one of Munich’s first subway stations and opened in 1971, a year before the Olympic Games. Most of the other stations along the U6 were designed by Paolo Nestler; however, the Munich architect Alexander Freiherr von Branca was responsible for the design of Marienplatz. He later also designed other subway stations and buildings in Munich, such as the Residenztheater and the Theresienwiese station.
You can tell the station was designed by a different architect, as it visually deviates from Nestler’s grid. The bold orange panels on the walls immediately catch your eye; the white ceilings reflect the light and further enhance the radiant effect. This is contrasted by the blue of the tiles at the escalator leading up to Marienplatz, which create a strong contrast thanks to the complementary colors . The mirrors on the walls were added later during the renovation work for the 2006 World Cup. They are intended to make the support pillars appear less imposing. The characteristic pedestrian tunnels were also built at that time to manage the crowds during the World Cup.
The “new” mezzanine level
From the Marienplatz subway station, 23 meters below ground , you can take the escalator directly to the mezzanine level without having to stop at the S-Bahn levels. Between 2012 and 2015, this mezzanine level was renovated to give it its current look. The concession stands were moved to the perimeter, and the ceilings were given new cladding. Since then, they have been illuminated in red, with lighting provided exclusively by LEDs. The lighting concept was implemented by Ingo Maurer, who was also responsible for the Münchner Freiheit and Westfriedhof stations. The goal was to make the underground space as bright and welcoming as possible without compromising the station’s essence.
The Marienplatz subway station is one of Munich’s oldest and also one of the most striking. Its unique appearance underscores the importance of the square above it and has made it famous not only throughout Germany but even across Europe. Despite several renovations and refurbishments, its design has remained virtually unchanged over the decades and still corresponds to Branca’s original plans. Currently, another S-Bahn station is under construction beneath Marienplatz, which will serve the second main line. You can look forward to seeing how its design will integrate with the existing one.
