Müllersches Volksbad

The Müllersches Volksbad stands beside the Isar in Munich as a Jugendstil landmark built for indoor bathing. Architect Carl Hocheder shaped its design around Roman, Baroque and Turkish bathing traditions. Its forms combine thermal baths, Baroque halls and Turkish hammams with flowing Art Nouveau detail. Karl Müller, an engineer, funded the baths for Munich’s public. Wide staircases, maritime wall murals and bronze statues define the richly decorated façade. Inside, swimming pools occupy spaces originally separated by gender. A barrel vault covers the larger swimming pool. The smaller, warmer pool once belonged to the women’s bathing area. Bathing facilities include a Roman-Irish steam bath, heated rooms, a Finnish sauna and a steam bath. The clock tower contains water reservoirs that maintain steady pressure throughout the building. Its lantern offers panoramic views across Munich. Restoration work preserved original features, while films including Deep End and Suspiria used the Volksbad as a backdrop.