City Statistics
Location
Bavaria (Bayern), southeast Germany.
Dialing code
49.
Time zone
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temperatures
34°F (1°C).
Average July temperatures
73.5°F (23°C).
Annual rainfall
35.7 inches (905mm).
...
More >>
Overview
Located to the north of the Bavarian Alps, on the River Isar, Munich (
München) is
Germany's third largest city, and is where the country's
wealthy trendsetters like to ‘be seen'.
Founded by Duke Henry the Lion in 1158, within a century, the city had become the seat of the
Wittelsbach dynasty, who ruled the duchy, electorate and kingdom of Bavaria until the end of WWI.
Their
influence is evident in the concentration of grand gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and neo-classical architecture adorning Munich's streets
. Perhaps most importantly, the Wittelsbachs'
patronage of the arts and extensive collections provided the basis for this affluent city's
world-class museums and
galleries.
The city acquired the name München (
‘home of the monks') from its first
monastery, founded in the eighth century. Monasteries have since played an important role in the history of the city, not least by starting the
beer brewing traditions for which the city has received worldwide renown.
Successive rulers, detecting a profitable source of tax revenue, actively encouraged beer production as a means both of raising money and keeping the populace happy at the same time.
Following recent mergers, the city's six breweries have been reduced to four -
Augustiner, Hofbräuhaus, Paulaner (who now own Hacker-Pschorr) and the merged
Spaten-Löwenbräu. Beer quality is still based on the
Reinheitsgebot (
Purity Edict), introduced by the Bavarian Duke Wilhelm IV, in 1516, which forbids the use of anything other than the core ingredients of barley, hops and water in the brewing process.
Drinking a foaming
Mass (measure) of beer in one of the city's
beer halls or
gardens is an essential part of the Munich experience.
The period between the wars represents the low point in Munich's history and tends to be glossed over by tourist brochures. The city was the cradle of the
Nazi movement after WWI and was the scene of Hitler's first attempt to seize power - the infamous
‘Beer Hall Putsch' on 8 November 1923.
Moreover, in 1938, the treaty that surrendered a large portion of Czechoslovakia to the Nazis was signed by Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy in Munich - an act of appeasement that started the slide towards WWII.
The city suffered
intensive bombing damage during Allied air raids at the end of the war but the economic success of the post-war years has supported a comprehensive rebuilding and restoration programme, making the city one of the most
popular tourist destinations in Germany.
The citizens of Munich demonstrate a
cosmopolitan refinement as well as genuine passion for the region's many
traditions, and tourists flock to the city for the world famous
Oktoberfest,
to indulge in an orgy of beer and revelry.
The stereotypical images of lederhosen-clad Bavarians quaffing vast portions of beer and sausage might apply at this time, however, with a
strong cultural scene, richly endowed
art collections and
excellent shopping, the city, also home of BMW cars and centre of the German film industry, certainly has more to offer than just light entertainment.
With warm summers accommodating
lovely garden restaurants and
open-air stages, and snowy winters with
romantic Christmas markets, Munich is a place to visit all year round....
More >>
Tourist Information
Marienplatz, where the main pedestrian streets converge, is the undisputed centre of the city, and the location of the impressive town hall, the Neues Rathaus. Many of the city's main attractions are in the immediate vicinity, so sightseeing can easily be done on foot or by hopping on and off trams. Be sure to see the Stadtmuseum just south of Marienplatz, on the fringe of Munich's famous market, the Viktualienmarkt.
Nearby are some of the city's most impressive churches, including the cathedral, Frauenkirche, with its distinctive Italian Renaissance style onion domes. Also worth seeing are the 16th-century Michaelskirche, with its imposing barrel-vaulted interior, and the Asamkirche, considered a masterpiece of south German rococo architecture.
The oldest part of the city is just east of Marienplatz, including the Alter Hof (the original royal residence) and the world-famous Hofbräuhaus. The palatial Residenz complex lies to the north.
The wide boulevard and grand palatial architecture of Ludwigstrasse and Leopoldstrasse stretches north of Odeonsplatz to the Siegestor. These grand building schemes were commissioned by Ludwig I, as were those around Königsplatz, in the part of the city known as Maxvorstadt - home to some of Munich's most important museums and galleries, including the celebrated Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek and Pinakothek der Moderne - a fascinating gallery complex spanning art from late medieval times to the present day.
From the Siegestor, Leopoldstrasse forms the central artery of the popular district of Schwabing. The former artists' quarter is now considered the most fashionable part of the city, with numerous cafes, bars, restaurants and nightlife venues.
To the east of Leopoldstrasse, side roads lead off to the Englischer Garten, a quiet retreat from the busy city.
Tourist Information
Munich Tourist Office
Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhofplatz 2
Tel: (089) 2339 6500.
Website: www.muenchen-tourist.de
A second tourist information office is located in the Neues Rathaus, on Marienplatz. Both offices provide a hotel reservation service.
Passes
The Munich CityTourCard (available from selected hotels and ticket machines at rail, S-Bahn, tram and U-Bahn stations) entitles the holder to free travel by MVV transport in the designated area and to the castles at Schleissheim, as well as up to 50% reduction on admission fees to 35 attractions. Cards are available for one or three days, for both central Munich and the surrounding area. Cards for families or small groups (up to five people) are also available.
...
More >>