Munich: the metropolis city of Bavaria

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Munich (München) is a large German city of about 1,300,000 inhabitants whose metropolitan area has over 2,600,000 inhabitants. The city is the capital of the German state of Bavaria. Munich is the third largest German city by population. The city is located in southern Germany, along the banks of the Isar river, in the center of the Bavarian plateau at an altitude above 500 meters above sea level, about 70 km from the border with Austria and a short distance from the Bavarian Alps.

The city is also a nodal point of important railway, road and air communication routes. Munich is one of Germany’s most economically vibrant cities, universally known for Oktoberfest and its brewing industries. Munich is an important industrial center with mechanical industries (engines, cars, locomotives), textiles, food, chemicals, etc.

The city was founded in the 12th century, and soon became the residence of the Dukes of Upper Bavaria. In 1506 it became the capital of unified Bavaria. In the 16th century, Munich was the center of the counter-reformation and the German Renaissance. Munich has suffered heavy destruction since the bombing of the Second World War, despite which there are many interesting buildings to visit.

WHAT TO SEE: THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF MUNICH

The central square of the city is Marienplatz. Here is also the imposing town hall of the city (Neues Rathaus), a grandiose neo-Gothic building. The building was built between 1867 and 1909. This building is famous for the Glockenspiel, a mechanical clock, placed in the tower of the building, which every day (at 11, 12 and 17) rings its 43 bells and it makes its statues dance. The tower is accessible and offers a wonderful view over the city. Furthermore, in the square there is also the old town hall (Altes Rathaus), a 15th century building.

A short distance from Marienplatz is the Peterskirche, an ancient church, one of the oldest in the city. Which was built in the 12th century in Bavarian Romanesque style. Munich’s most popular market takes place a short distance away: the Viktualienmarkt (open Monday to Saturday until 8pm). It contains all the products of German gastronomy: fruit, vegetables, fish, cheeses, cold cuts, desserts.

ONE OF THE MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN GERMANY

The Frauenkirche, the largest church in Munich, is the late Gothic cathedral from the 15th century. The building is dominated by two tall bell towers (99 meters high), the south one can be visited and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city and the Alps. The crypt contains the tombs of the archbishops of Monaco and members of the Wittelsbach dynasty. The Michaelskirche is the Jesuit church, built in the 16th century in the Renaissance style, the facade with many statues of the members of the Wittelsbach dynasty is very beautiful. There are many other historic churches in the city including the baroque Theatinerkirche, and the Asamkirche and St. Anne im Lehel both in Rococo style.

Do not miss a visit to the Residenz, the residence of the Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria, located in the city center, one of the most beautiful decorated room museums in Europe, over 130 rooms and 10 courtyards are visible, the three main sections of the building are the Königsbau, the Alte Residenz and the Festsaalbau; one wing of the Festsaalbau contains the Cuvilliés-Theater. It is also interesting to visit the public parks, the nearby courtyard garden, the Hofgarten, a 17th century public garden and the Englischer Garten, a late 18th century garden.

Among the palaces is also the palace of Nymphenburg (Schloss Nymphenburg), summer residence of the Wittelsbach, the royal family of Bavaria. The palace was built in the Baroque style between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the park that surrounds it is also very beautiful. The Olympiapark is the area built for the 1972 Olympics Games. It houses notable examples of modern architecture such as the Olympiastadion (Olympic stadium). Another interesting example of modern architecture dedicated to sport is the Allianz Arena.

WHAT TO SEE: MUSEUMS IN MUNICH

The museum proposals in Munich are of the highest standard. The visit should start from the Kunstareal (the Art District), a museum district in the city center. Here we find the Alte Pinakothek, one of the oldest and most beautiful galleries in the world, which houses a large collection of European paintings from the 13th to the 18th century. Its collections of ancient Italian, German, Dutch and Flemish paintings are among the most important in the world.

The Neue Pinakothek, on the other hand, exhibits works of painting and sculpture from the 19th century. Among these works by: Francisco Goya, Eugène Delacroix, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Gustav Klimt, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent Van Gogh, etc.

The Pinakothek der Moderne is a museum of modern and contemporary art which exhibits drawings, graphics, architecture and design. The museum presents works by: Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Giorgio Morandi, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Giorgio De Chirico, Francis Bacon, Marino Marini, etc.

The Lenbachhaus is a museum that offers a rich collection of paintings by the artists of the “Der Blaue Reiter” such as Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc, August Macke, Marianne von Werefkin, and Paul Klee. The Glyptothek is a museum dedicated to Greek and Roman sculptures. Here are exhibited works such as the Medusa Rondanini, the Barberini Faun and figures from the Temple of Aphaea in Aegina. Staatliche Antikensammlungen, houses collections of Greek, Roman and Etruscan art.

ART HOUSE

Other interesting museums are located in other areas of the city. In the Haus der Kunst (Art House), there are works by the main German artists of the twentieth century, as well as works by Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, René Magritte and Henri Matisse. In the Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde there is a collection of about 150,000 pieces, related to the life and culture of non-European populations (Africa, Asia, America, Oceania). These pieces were collected starting from 1782 by the Wittelsbach. The Alpines Museum is a museum dedicated to the scientific and aesthetic aspects of the Alps. Rocks and minerals are exhibited here. Finally, a section is dedicated to the history of the exploration of the Alps.

THERE ARE MANY INTERESTING MUSEUMS

The Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, exhibits the Wittelsbach collection, donated to the city by the King of Bavaria Maximilian II in 1855. The collections of popular art, Neapolitan and southern German nativity scenes, musical instruments, porcelain, art in style are exhibited Biedermeier is a collection of paintings, sculptures, artifacts up to the 18th century.

The Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, museum of modern art and contemporary art, exhibits numerous works by Vasilij Kandinskij as well as works by Paul Klee, Franz Marc, Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol and August Macke. Deutsches Museum (Museum of Science and Technology). Divided into different sections, it shows the wonders of science, technology, transport, communication, a section is dedicated to children.

The Schackgalerie, is a museum where the collection of the art gallery of Baron Adolf Friedrich von Schack is exhibited, with works by German artists such as Arnold Böcklin, Moritz von Schwind, Franz von Lenbach, Anselm Feuerbach, Karl Spitzweg and Hans von Marées. The Stadtmuseum, is the city museum of Munich, there are the Moriskentänzer sculpted by Erasmus Grasser in 1480, ancient weapons, handicrafts and folklore. It also houses the Puppet Museum, the Musical Instrument Museum, the Photographic Museum and the Film Museum. Staatliche Sammlung für Ägyptische Kunst is a museum dedicated to Egyptian art.

THE OKTOBERFEST IN MUNICH

Oktoberfest is the largest popular festival in the world, every year 6 million visitors come to Munich for this festival, the fair, which lasts two weeks, is characterized by a fairground and large beer tents.

The festive atmosphere, the orchestras, the good Bavarian cuisine, the colorful rides, the characteristic stalls and the famous Bavarian beer offer an unforgettable event for everyone.

Curious to know, that the first Oktoberfest took place in October 1810 (between 12 and 17 October 1810) for the wedding of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

In the following years the festival became a classic of Bavaria, but the starting dates were moved to September, a month that generally has better climatic conditions than those of October, in memory of the first festival of October 1810 the name of Oktoberfest was kept.

The beer festival usually takes place between mid-September and early October. Admission is always free – both at Oktoberfest and at tents.

The breweries are open at the following times: Monday – Friday 10-22.30; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 09-22.30.

The “Käfers Wiesnschänke” and the “Weinzelt” are open until 1.00 am.

The stalls are open at the following times: Monday – Friday 10-23.30; Saturday 09-24; Sunday and holidays 09-23.30.

HOW TO MOVE IN MONACO

Munich has one of the most complete public transport systems in the world, part of it: the Munich U-Bahn (underground), the Munich S-Bahn (suburban trains), and a dense network of trams and buses.

The climate of Munich.

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