Bankgasse

Bankgasse, or “Bank Alley,” is hidden just behind the popular tourist plazas of Marianplatz and Mohrenplatz in Garmisch.

Bankgasse 4.

Lüftlmalerei by Otto Ertl.

According to Ertl, the paintings he made were based on old photographs of the building, of lüftlmalerei that have long since been lost.  So the pictures are reminiscent of the original paintings, but in actuality, are the fantasy of the artist.1

Bankgasse 5, home of the restaurant Isi’s Goldener Engel, or “Golden Eagle”, first founded (and painted by) lüftlmalerei artist Isidor Winterholler and his son Franz.

In Latin above the door, a painted sign that says “Peace Entering, Peace Leaving.”2

To the right of the door, a placard explaining in both German and English, the history of the building, noting that in 1939, Isidor Winterholler, a painter from Unterwindach, acquired this building and established an inn on the first floor — hence giving the house its name.3

Above the plaque, the original inscription from  1736.

  1. Conversation with the author 2020-08-18.
  2. "Pax Intrantibus - Pax Eceuntibus".
  3. Historischer Ortsrundgang: Haus „zum Winterholler Isi” / Historic Town Tour: The „zum Winterholler Isi” House (Plaque on the wall of Bankgasse 5). Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Fremdenverkehrsverein und Verein für Geschichte, Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte: "Isidor Winterholler, a painter from Unterwindach near Landsberg, acquired the house in 1939 and established an inn on the ground floor.  He and his son, Franz painted many of the murals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.