Munich - the capital of beer and baroque

Munich is unlike any other city in Germany. The Bavarian capital has its own architectural appearance and a special, colorful and expansive lifestyle. This city is called “Bavarian Rome”. The majestic beauty of its layout has a truly imperial scale, the features of a world capital. Baroque cathedrals and pompous buildings in the classicist style reinforce this impression.

“German Rome” is how the capital of Bavaria, Munich, is often called. The history of Munich goes back centuries - the official date of its founding is considered to be 1158. With its unique Old Town Hall and the historic Hofbräuhaus, beer festivals and excellent museums, Munich is increasingly attracting tourists from all over the world. It is also a large industrial metropolis: since the 60s, world-famous companies such as Agfa, BMW, Siemens were created here, and the film industry also developed. For the Germans themselves, Munich remains a symbol of beer, tradition and celebration. Bavarians secretly consider it the capital of Germany and are very proud of it. Munich is the tourist Mecca of Germany, a city of grace and joy of life

Munich has many faces. Munich is a metropolis and a “big village”, where people will greet you on the street. Munich is a large museum of architecture of all European styles, from Gothic to Art Nouveau, under open air. Munich is home to world-famous beer, fried sausages, white pretzels and the world's largest Oktoberfest. Munich is home to chic boutiques and a huge number of European and especially German celebrities. Munich is the industrial capital of Germany. Munich is a city of cinema. Munich – treasures of world painting in the Pinakothek. Munich is waiting for you, just as it waits for tourists from all over the world every year, and it is significant that the Germans themselves go on vacation to Munich with pleasure!

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The founding date of Munich is 1158. However, the settlement on the Isar River was founded earlier, it all began with a monastery on the Isar River on the site of today's Munich (hence the name of the city - moench/muench in Old German "monk"). In the 12th century, Munich became the possession of the Wittelsbach dynasty, and a little later - the capital of the Kingdom of Bavaria, a state that existed until the beginning of the 19th century. Bavaria and the Wittelsbach family are responsible for a significant part of European history, several very famous historical figures (remember Princess Sissi, the future empress of Austria-Hungary, or the last king of Bavaria, Ludwig II, who patronized Wagner and built around Munich fairytale castles), which is why Bavarians still behave very independently towards residents of other federal states. You could say they are looking at them high.


The starting point and meeting place in Munich is Marienplatz square in front of the neo-Gothic New Town Hall. Behind the Town Hall is the Viktualienmarkt market, a place that is always lively and hectic, where you can buy everything in the world. To the left of the New Town Hall you can see the two towers of the symbol of Munich, the 15th-century Frauenkirche church. And a block away is the huge palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty Residence, which, if you want to go inside, you can immediately plan for half a day. And the Residenz, in turn, is adjacent to the National Theater of Bavaria, and at the same time the National Opera, one of the best in Germany. And so on - having arrived in Old city Munich, it’s impossible to stop: after one attraction you can already see the next one. Unless you want to have a snack and sit on a wide bench in one of the countless Munich beer gardens.

Museums in Munich
The world-famous Munich collections are located quite compactly to the north of Munich Main Station. Here in specially built for them in early XIX century buildings house the Glyptotek (collection of antique sculptures), Antique collections (architecture, ceramics, friezes), City Gallery/Lenbachhaus (collection of works by the Blue Rider group, avant-garde of the early twentieth century, including Wassily Kandinsky), State Graphic Collection and, finally, the world famous Alte and New Pinakotheks. The Alte Pinakothek is undoubtedly one of the most extensive collections of European painting in the world, comparable to the Louvre and the Hermitage. In total, there are more than 150 different museums in Munich: the Egyptian Collection, the Museum of Numismatics, museums of toys, hunting and fishing, musical instruments, fashion... In the Technical Museum “you are allowed to touch with your hands”; the museum has one of the most technically advanced planetariums in Europe, where you can “fly” into space.

Neighborhoods of Munich
And this was only the center of Munich, and even then not all of it! The rest of Munich is also rich in attractions. In the West you will find the Palace of Glory and a huge statue of Bavaria, as well as one of the two most famous palaces of Ludwig II, Nymphenburg, with a beautiful park adjacent to it. In the north - Olympic Park, the huge Olympic Stadium and the 290-meter-high Olympic Tower, which offer beautiful views of the city. In the South there is the Bavaria-Film film studio, where you can go on a tour and walk between the sets of “Little Hollywood”. And 2 hours south of Munich, in the foothills of the Alps, stands the most famous castle in the world, Neuschwanstein, which Walt Disney used as the basis for all his castles in cartoons and Disneyland. Here, under unknown circumstances, Ludwig II died, and now within the walls of the castle there is a musical about his life.

The surroundings of Munich are very picturesque, wherever you go: prestigious ski resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen, town of Weihenstephan, where in former monastery the oldest brewery in the world operates, ancient Freising with its Romanesque basilica, Austrian Salzburg - the city of Mozart... In a word, the more time you can devote to Munich, the better. And no matter how many times you find yourself in the capital of Bavaria, it will always be able to surprise you with something new.

city ​​in the south of Germany. Administrative center lands of Bavaria. An important economic and cultural center of the country. Located on the river. Izar. Population 1.3 million people. (1971); in Big M Yu nkhene, covering 150 surrounding communities, over 1.8 million inhabitants. An important junction for railway, road and air communications (airfields in the suburbs of Riem and Erdinger-Moss are of international importance). In the post-war years, industry developed rapidly, especially new industries.

In terms of the number of employees, the leading place is occupied by electrical engineering, electronics, instrument making (37%), general and transport engineering (29%), paper and printing (9%), clothing and textiles (7%), food and flavoring, including brewing (6% ), industries.

The chemical industry is dominated by the production of chemical-pharmaceuticals, rubber products, film, and artificial materials.

Despite the preservation of numerous craft (14 thousand with 110 thousand employees) and medium-sized industrial enterprises, the leading role in industry belongs to the largest concerns: Siemens - electrical engineering and electronics, Haniel (MAN company) - general and heavy engineering, " Quandt (BMW company) - automotive industry, Flick (Krauss-Maffei company) - production of buses, heavy trucks, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blom - aircraft rocket engineering, Junkers - aircraft and engine manufacturing.

M. is one of the largest centers of banking (Bayerische Vereinsbank AG, Bayerische Ipoteken und Vekselbank) and insurance (Allianz Ferziherungs AG, M Yu Nchener Rückfersiherungs-Gesellschaft") affairs, trade in Germany. International fairs are held periodically. In Moscow there are: University named after. Ludwig Maximilian (see University of Munich), Technical University, Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts and Hochschule für Musik. Museums: German Museum, Bavarian National Museum, Glyptothek, Old and New Pinakotheks, etc.

(see Bavarian state collections of paintings), theater museum and other theaters.

A. I. Mukhin.

The settlement on the site of M. dates back to the 8th century. In 1158, Duke of Bavaria Heinrich the Lion granted M. city rights. From the 13th century by 1871 M. was the capital of Bavaria. In the 13th-14th centuries. Crafts and trade developed significantly in the city.

In the 16th century M. became one of the significant cultural centers of Germany. During the Thirty Years' War of 1618-48 the city was occupied by Swedish troops; in 1705 during the War of the Spanish Succession 1701-14 - by Austrian troops. In 1871, with the formation of the German Empire, together with Bavaria it became part of it.

The city's population grew rapidly: in 1840 - 89 thousand people, in 1910 - 596 thousand, in 1939 - 829 thousand people.

In 1900-02, V.I. Lenin lived in Moscow, who supervised the publication of the newspaper Iskra, which was published here during this period. In April 1919, the Bavarian Soviet Republic was proclaimed in Moscow.

On November 8-9, 1923, Moscow became the scene of a fascist putsch led by Hitler and Ludendorff; Until 1933, the headquarters of the Nazi Party was located in M. After the establishment of the fascist dictatorship in Germany (1933), M., where a number of Nazi Party organizations continued to function, became one of the centers of concentration of the fascist reaction.

The Munich Agreement of 1938 was signed here. During the 2nd World War 1939-45, the city was heavily damaged by bombing. After the defeat of Nazi Germany, it was part of the American occupation zone from 1945-49.

Among the architectural monuments: churches - the late Gothic Frauenkirche (1466-1492 architect J. Ganghofer), the late Renaissance St. Michael's Church (1583-97, architect F. Sustris), the baroque Theatinerkirche (1663-1767, architects A.

Barelli, E. Zuccalli, F. Cuvillier). Old Town Hall (1470, architect J. Ganghofer), buildings of the residence of the Bavarian dukes (16-19 centuries), Nymphenburg Palace (1663-1728); buildings of L. von Klenze - Glyptothek (1816-1830), Alte Pinakothek (1826-36), Propylaea (1846-60; see

ill.); New Town Hall (1867-1908, architect G. I. von Hauberrisser), German Museum (1903-25, designed by architect O. von Miller), House of Art (1933-37). In 1968-72, a complex of structures was built for the 20th Summer Olympic Games (for 220 thousand).

spectators) in the new development area of ​​Oberwiesenfeld with a stadium for 80 thousand seats, a small sports arena for 11 thousand seats, a swimming pool for 9 thousand.

Munich - Munich

places (layout and main buildings mainly designed by the architect G. Benish and others), an Olympic village for 12 thousand people. (layout and landscaping designed by architect G. Gollein). City line built railway, new metro line.

Lit.: Kreisel N., München, die Stadt als Kunstwerk, , 1968.

Klenze. Propylaea in M Yu nhene. 1846-60.

M Yu nhen. City plan.

Amalienburg Palace in Nymphenburg Park.

1734-39. Architect F. Cuvillier.

Olimpic village. 1968-72. Planning and landscaping designed by architect G. Gollein.

Old Town Hall.

1470. Architect J. Ganghofer.

Glyptothek. 1816-30. Architect L. von Klenze.

The administrative building of the Osram electric lamp industry enterprise. 1964-65. Architects W. Henn, D. Strebel.

Theatinerkirche.

1663-1767. Architects A. Berelli, E. Zuccalli, F. Cuvillier.

Church of St. Michael's Church. 1583-97. Architect F. Sustris. In the background is the Frauenkirche church (1466-92, architect J. Ganghofer).

M Yu nhen. General view of the city.

Munich

This city in southern Germany is located on the Isar River and is the capital of the federal state of Bavaria and, at the same time, the administrative district of Upper Bavaria.

The so-called “free city”.

Administrative division. Back in 1996, Munich was administratively divided into 41 districts, but as a result of the reform, their number was reduced to 25.

The name of the city comes from the Old High German “Munichen”, which means “with the monks”.

Population of Munich is 1,410,259 people - this is the most Big City Bavaria and the third largest city in Germany.

Local government. The federal government of Bavaria, the government of Upper Bavaria, and the Munich district office are located here.

Education and science

Munich is a major industrial and research center.

Famous universities are located here - the Technical University of Munich, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (originally founded in 1472.

in Ingolstadt, and since 1826 located in Munich), as well as the Institute of Plasma Physics. Max Planck School of Music, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Bavarian Academy fine arts.

Of no small importance is one of the largest libraries in Europe - the Bavarian State Library, numbering 6 million.

copies of the fund. In addition, Munich is home to a nuclear research reactor, the Philharmonic, the Giesing and Sendling observatories.

Sights, architecture

The central square of the city with the column of the Virgin Mary erected by Emperor Maximilian I is called Marienplatz, around it there are various attractions, incl.

Old and New Town Halls.

There are many architectural and historical monuments here.

The area of ​​ancient buildings is called the Old Town - with the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God located here, the tallest in Munich (bell tower height 99 m), and other churches.

St. Peter's Church is the oldest church in Munich, built in the 12th century.

True, at the beginning of the 14th century, it was badly destroyed and restored, but in a different, Romanesque style.

The Church of St. Michael was built at the end of the 16th century and is one of the most beautiful buildings of the German Renaissance.

Here are many kings and princes from the Wittelsbach dynasty (among them Ludwig II of Bavaria, who went down in history under the nickname of the “fairy-tale king”). The Theatine Church of St. Cajetan of the 17th century is distinguished by its grandiose dimensions (the height of the dome is 71 m.) The Asamkirche church, considered a masterpiece in the late Baroque style, is very beautiful.

Museums

Munich is called the “city of museums”; many of them were founded by Louis I of Bavaria: these are the old and new Pinakothek and Glyptothek.

The Alte Pinakothek is Munich's most visited museum, with a collection of masterpieces by European Old Masters that includes 9,000 paintings by 1,400 artists.

The New Pinakothek was built in the middle of the 19th century by order of Louis I of Bavaria, but was destroyed during the Second World War and restored in the late 70s of the 20th century.

Its halls display about 550 paintings and 50 works of sculpture. The collection covers the period from Rococo to Art Nouveau, as well as Impressionist painting.

The Glyptothek is the oldest of Munich's museums and the first museum in Europe open to the public.

Here are masterpieces of ancient sculpture from the collection collected by Louis I of Bavaria. The gallery of contemporary art is located in the House of Arts. Its collection consists of 400 paintings and sculptures dating from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day, including surrealists, fauvists and cubists. You can't miss works by Klee, Ernst Kirchner, Emil Nolde, August Macke, as well as 14 works by Picasso.

The German Museum is considered one of the largest technical museums in Europe; it is dedicated to natural sciences and technology.

It was founded in 1903. Oscar von Miller.

Estate museums are also interesting. Thus, Villa Lenbach is a museum located in the building of the villa of the artist Franz Lenbach; its collection includes works by artists who were part of the Blue Rider group, incl. and Wassily Kandinsky.

Frescoes and paintings of neo-romanticism and symbolism are exhibited in Villa Stuka.

artist Franz von Stuck.

The Munich Museum is dedicated to the history of this city; there is a wonderful collection of old engravings and models of Munich.

It is also worth visiting the Toy Museum, the German Theater Museum, and the BMW Museum.

Other attractions

The English Park is very beautiful, which is one of the largest city parks in the world - it stretches from the center of Munich to its outskirts along the banks of the river. Izar.

The “Olympic Park” architectural complex in a modern style, built for the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, is unique.

The 290-meter tower and the observatory with a glass and metal roof in the form of a huge tent are impressive. There is also a water stadium here, Olympic Stadium, an ice skating rink and a velodrome, and on the tower there is a revolving restaurant with an observation deck.

A remarkable architectural monument is Nymphenburg Palace, the former summer residence of the Wittelsbachs. The palace was built by order of Elector Ferdinand Maria in the 17th century in the Baroque style - it is the largest Baroque palace in Germany.

An interesting thing in this palace is the Gallery of Beauties - a hall decorated by order of King Louis I with portraits of the most beautiful ladies. In Nymphenburg Park there are 3 more modest castles (Amalienburg, Badenburg and Pagodenburg) and the Magdalenenklause chapel.

In addition, it is worth seeing with your own eyes the following architectural ensembles: Allianz Arena, Munich Residence, Blutenburg Castle, Maximilianeum, Holnstein Palace.

Sport

There are 2 football teams in Munich: Bayern and Munich 1860.

Bayern is the most popular and titled German football club.

Public transport

The basis public transport in Munich - a network of fast trains combining city trains and the subway. There are also bus and tram routes. The fare here is charged not depending on the number of transfers and modes of transport, but on the number of conventional roads crossed transport zones cities (4 of them).

Railway connection

Main station

Munich is the second busiest train station in Germany, serving approximately 350,000 passengers per day. Also in Munich there is Ostbahnhof and Munich-Pasing train station.

Air service

Munich New airport has been operating since 1992 and is the 2nd airport in terms of annual passenger traffic in Germany and 7th in Europe (50 million passengers per year, approximately 90 takeoffs/landings per hour). It is an important home airport for Lufthansa and Star Alliance airlines.

Located in the outskirts of Munich near the town of Freising.

Road transport

Munich has three internal transport rings, and international routes pass through this city.

Traditions and holidays

Munich is famous throughout the world for its brewing traditions. There are 6 large breweries here, and every autumn Munich hosts the Oktoberfest festival, which can be called a beer festival in German folk traditions.

Cities of Germany

Munich is a city at the foot of the Bavarian Alps on the Isar River in southern Germany, the capital of the federal state of Bavaria, the third largest and second most visited city by tourists after Berlin in Germany with a population of more than one and a half million people, about a quarter of whom are natives of other countries.

The government of Bavaria, the government of the Upper Bavaria district and the government of the Munich city district are located in Munich.

Modern Munich is not only a concentration of cultural and museum values, but also a large industrial and research center.

Thanks to famous universities, one of the largest Bavarian State Library in Europe, with 6 million volumes, the Max Planck and Heinz Mayer-Leibniz Institutes, a nuclear research reactor and many other institutions, Munich maintains a strong position in European science. Munich is also rightfully considered the IT capital of Germany.

City `s history

It is officially believed that the city was founded by Duke Henry the Lion in 1158.

In 1180, power over the city passed to the Wittelsbach dynasty. And only in 1505 Munich became the capital of Bavaria. Events in the first half of the 17th century brought an end to the period of prosperity. The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and the plague epidemic killed a third of the city's population. At the beginning of the 18th century the city was occupied by Austrian troops. In 1806 Bavaria becomes a kingdom. Under Kings Ludwig I (1825-1848) and Maximilian II (1848-1864), Munich became cultural center.
King Ludwig II of Bavaria, famous for his passion for luxury, reigned from 1864 to 1886.

Many of the city's most beautiful houses date from the reign of these kings. After the First World War the city was gripped by significant political unrest. During these years, National Socialism (Fascism) was founded. In 1923, Hitler and his supporters organized the Beer Hall Putsch, an attempt to overthrow the republic and seize power.

Despite the fiasco, Hitler made Munich the headquarters of the Nazi Party, which in 1933 took control of the German national government.

Second World War brought devastating damage to the city, many of which were later repaired. In 1973, the capital of Bavaria hosted guests at the Olympic Games, for which the modern Olympic Stadium was built especially.

Sights of Munich

The towers of the Frauenkirche Cathedral, erected in honor of the patron saint of Munich, the Virgin Mary, are considered the symbol of the city.

Marienplatz is the central square of the city, which is proud of the wonderful Town Hall building, a rare clock mechanism with moving figures and a Fischbrunnen fountain.

The tallest (91 m) and oldest cathedral in Munich is St. Peter's Cathedral, from its observation deck there is an excellent view of the Old Town, and the pedestrian zone in the center of Old Munich, loved not only by guests of the city, but also by the Munich residents themselves, is, first of all, , two streets - Neuhauserstrasse and Kaufingerstrasse, smoothly flowing into one another.

There are department stores, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants and wonderful monuments of architecture and art - the Burgersal prayer house, the Jesuit Church of St. Michael, the wonderful fountain "Fountain Boy" and everyone's favorite - the bronze hog (those who want to find their love should scratch the hog behind the ear).

The Asamkirche is not the most famous, but the most magnificent and extraordinary church in Munich - the embodiment of the Rococo style in all its irrepressible riot.

The impressive statue of Bavaria on Theresienwiese's Meadow is rivaled perhaps only by the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Nymphenburg Palace is a beautiful summer residence of the Bavarian kings.

Munich residents are no less proud of it than Parisians are of Versailles, and St. Petersburg residents are proud of Petrodvorets. In the palace park, in artificial lake Quite a lot of tame swans swim.

Handsome architectural ensemble Königplatz square, thanks to which Munich began to be called “Athens am Isar”. It was created by order of King Ludwig I. Grandiose buildings in the ancient style - the Glyptotek (which houses one of the best collections of sculpture in Europe), the building of the State Antique Collection and the delightful Propylaea.

The Lenbach House was built in the style of an Italian country villa for the then famous artist Franz von Lenbach.

After the artist's death, the house became the property of the city and was turned into an art gallery. The gallery is famous for the works presented here by Kandinsky and the artists of the Blue Rider group he organized.

When is the best time to go to Munich?

The tourist season begins in May and ends in October, when the weather is at its best. At this time, a large number of holidays and folk festivals take place, among them the famous Oktoberfest.

Summer days are sunny and warm, but be prepared for cool, rainy days even in July and August. Season winter species Sports in the Bavarian Alps last from mid-December to mid-March, although at times, especially in January, it can be quite cold.

Transport

Munich has a well-established integrated transport system (MVV), including the metro (U-Bahn), commuter trains(S-Bahn), trams and buses.

Local passenger transport is the easiest and most convenient way to get to the center and other city attractions. Tickets for all these vehicles are the same. There are a couple of options for tickets on sale, differing in the zones of Munich within which they are valid, in the number of people for which they are valid, and in the duration of validity.

The ticket allows you to use all local modes of transport with the exception of taxis (metro, tram, bus) in Munich and Salzburg, plus the ticket price includes second class train travel to Garmisch-Partenkirche and Salzburg.

The ticket is valid for 24 hours and is designed for 5 people; its approximate cost is 24 euros.

The option of moving around the city by car may seem quite expensive due to high parking costs.

Munich nightlife

Munich is a major performing arts center with a vibrant nightlife scene. The city is home to no less than four leading orchestras plus world-class opera and ballet groups.

A large number of theaters are scattered throughout the city, offering every genre from classics to modern German drama.

Munich's nightlife changes with the weather. When the weather is good and the night is balmy, the beer gardens are filled with hospitality. During the winter months, beer gardens give way to beer halls like the famous Hofbräuhaus. Beer gardens and venues usually empty around midnight, when the club scene starts to pick up steam.

Munich's club scene is very diverse. Based on this, it is not at all difficult to find a club for every taste, from country style to mega techno dance halls.

Many clubs are open until dawn. The districts of Haidhausen and Schwabing, with their cutting-edge clubs and vibrant nightlife, are constantly vying for the best nightlife in the city.

To find out about current events in entertainment and other places worth visiting in Munich, you should go to the tourist office, located right behind train station(Hauptbahnhof), and purchase a monthly guide (Monatsprogramm) with detailed program events for the current month.

Approximate cost -1.50 euros. Unfortunately, the guide is published only in German, but regardless, it can be easy to learn and a very useful tool.

Holidays in Munich

The city's annual calendar is usually full bright holidays and festivals.

In February there is a carnival (Fasching) with a 4-6 week whirlpool of colorful parades. The carnival (in March) is followed by the strong beer festival (Starkbierzeit).

Munich is the capital of Bavaria

At the festival, beer with names ending in “ator” (Triumfator, Salvator) is consumed, following a tradition dating back to monastic days. In April, Munich hosts a mini Oktoberfest - a beer festival (Fruhlingsfest) and a mega colorful 8-day flea fair on the last Saturday of April (Maidult), and also takes place at the end of July (Jakobidult) and at the end of October (Herbst Dult).

In June there is an international film festival, not as famous as in Berlin.

but attracting a fairly serious audience. In July there is an opera festival and a fun parade of gays and lesbians with outrageous outfits. The parade is considered one of the largest events in Europe. From September to October, Munich hosts Oktoberfest - the largest collective drinking party on the planet. Millions of people from all over the world come to this beer festival to have fun and enjoy beer, which is undoubtedly the main attribute of the holiday.

Every December there is a traditional Christmas market with stalls selling handicrafts and warming mulled wine.

The huge Christmas tree on Marienplatz, decorated with a great variety of lights, creates a truly magical mood.

But the biggest attraction, without a doubt, is the beer festival called Oktoberfest. This famous event is attended by millions of people from all over the world every year, during which the beer simply flows like a river.

By the way, it is estimated that, on average, about five million liters of beer are consumed during the entire celebration period.

Oktoberfest in Munich

The beer festival, Oktoberfest, is a real mass event on a global scale.

The holiday dates back to October 12, 1810, when Prince Ludwig I (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Theresa of Saxony were married. Residents of Munich were invited to the wedding celebration, which took place in the meadows opposite the city gates. Subsequently, in honor of the princess, these meadows became known as Theresienwiese.

The holiday was organized by Ludwig I in subsequent years, gradually developing into the current Beer Festival - Oktoberfest. Now the holiday runs from mid-September to the first Sunday in October. The beer festival in Munich is accompanied by many entertainment events, including a procession of people dressed in national Bavarian costumes.

In 1999, Oktoberfest, which took place from September 18 to October 5, was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest beer festival in the world.

That year it was visited by 7 million people, who consumed 5.8 million liters of beer in 11 huge tents set up over an area the size of fifty football fields.

Shopping

Pedestrian zone historical center Munich is the main destination for all kinds of shopping.

Most of the different classes of stores from boutiques to huge supermarkets are concentrated here. The entire shopping streets Kaufingerstrasse and Neuhauserstrasse stretch from the central railway station (Hauptbahnhof) to Marienplatz and further north to Odeonsplatz.

For even more upscale shopping, head to Maximilianstrasse, where you'll find numerous luxury boutiques and fashion houses that rival those on Fifth Avenue.

For extravagant goods, head to the Schwabing district. The streets Schellingstrasse and Hohenzollernstrasse are home to many quirky shopping galleries and boutiques.

Shops, department stores and supermarkets in the center of Munich are usually open on weekdays from 09.00 to 20.00, on Saturdays from 09.00 to 16.00.

Small shops are open on weekdays from 09.00 - 18.30 with a break for lunch (lunch), on Saturdays from 09.00 - 12.00. Sunday, as a rule, is a day off for all stores.

Cities of Germany

In 1806, Bavaria became a kingdom, and Munich its capital. Under King Maximilian Joseph IV, who supported Napoleon, the territory of Bavaria increased, and the influence of France penetrated into all spheres of life.

King Ludwig I declared that he intended to make the capital of Bavaria such a beautiful city that “no one can say that he knows Germany if he has not seen Munich.” He enriched the city with beautiful buildings in the classical style, the National Opera House and the Prince Charles Palace were built, and the most beautiful museums were founded - the Old and New Pinakothek, Glypotek, and the Museum of Numismatics.

In the revolutionary year 1848, due to love story with the Spanish dancer Lola Montes, Ludwig I was forced to abdicate the throne. His son Maximilian succeeded to the throne and artistic traditions father, having decorated Munich with beautiful buildings on Maximilianstrasse, he built the Maximilianeum, where the Bavarian Parliament is now located.

His son Ludwig II did not decorate Munich, but built fairy-tale castles in the Alps - Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herenkiemsee.

He spent all his personal funds and used the treasury on the construction of castles. For this he was deprived of power and a few days after the coup, the “fairy-tale king” Ludwig II died under unclear circumstances. Today, the castles of Ludwig II are the main tourist brand of Bavaria.

Munich, Germany | Munich (München)

In 1886, in the war between Prussia and Austria, Ludwig II took the side of Austria, but Prussia won. As a result, reparations of 50 million marks were imposed on Bavaria. In 1870, Bavaria again fought against France, but on the side of Prussia and was among the winners. King Ludwig II of Bavaria proposed the formation of the German Empire.

But this idea would be brought to life by Bismarck, and the dreamer king preferred “the divine twilight of sublime mountain loneliness” to state affairs.

In 1918, as a result of revolutionary actions, the Wittelsbach dynasty was overthrown. The royal family fled. From April 13 to May 1, the Bavarian Soviet Republic existed.

On November 8-9, 1923, the “Beer Hall Putsch” took place in Munich, led by Hitler and General Ludendorff. The putsch began in the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall, then spilled out into the streets and was stopped by police at Odeonplatz. Several police officers were killed and a memorial plaque was erected at Odeonplatz in memory of this event. Hitler was sentenced to 5 years in prison, but he only served 9 months.

In Munich in the early 20s, the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) appeared and the city became the capital of the “Brown Shirts”.

In 1938, the so-called The Munich Agreement was an agreement on the division of Czechoslovakia, which was signed by the heads of government of England, France, Italy and Germany.

At the end of World War II, Munich was subjected to heavy bombing by Allied aircraft. About 80% of the buildings were destroyed, and outstanding architectural structures were damaged.

After the war, the city, like all of Bavaria, entered the American zone of occupation.

In the post-war years, the city quickly recovered and by 1961 it was restored and cleared of ruins.

All the ruins were taken to the outskirts of the city, where the Olympic Park was later built, and a 52 m high mountain with an observation platform was built from the ruins. The restoration of the city from ruins is rightly called the “German miracle.”

In 1972, the XX Summer Olympic Games were held in Munich, for the opening of which an indoor Olympic stadium and many other sports facilities were built in the Oberwiesenfeld district. The first metro and high-speed train lines opened.

But these Olympic Games were overshadowed by the murder of Israeli athletes by Arab terrorists.

Munich today is a huge and beautiful metropolis, with parks and ponds, canals, wide avenues, theaters, concerts and exhibitions. This city high technology and mass media, here are the editorial offices of newspapers, magazines, the Bavaria Film studio, and more than 300 book publishing houses.

The city is visited by about 3 million tourists a year, and this does not include Oktoberfest. According to the results of sociological surveys, Munich is recognized the best city Germany.

← Munich attractions

Vladimir Dergachev, photos by Anton and Vladimir Dergachev

The Bavarian State Chancellery is located east side Hofgarten Park opposite the Munich Royal Residence.In the center of the park is the pavilion “Temple of Diana” (1615).

“The population of Germany is divided into two parts -
those who live in Munich and those who dream of living in it"
Bavarian joke


Federal state "Free State of Bavaria"- is the largest in area in Germany and one of the most highly developed regions of Europe. This is a country within a country with its own traditions, but no one accuses the Bavarians of separatism. The population of Bavaria is 12.5 million people. The capital Munich (1.5 million people, 2015), located on the Isar River in the foothills of the Alps, is the third largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. According to locals, everything here is “the best” in Germany, starting with the football team. We can name three main brands of the Bavarian capital - BMW, Beer and Opera (Wagner). The greatest German composer of the nineteenth century, Richard Wagner, enjoyed the special favor of the Bavarian king Ludwig II.

In international rankings, Munich has repeatedly been among the top ten cities with the most high quality life in the world and at the same time is considered one of the most expensive cities Germany. The city was nicknamed “Toytown” for its high standard of living and safety. German residents call the city "Millionendorf" ("village with a million people").

Munich is a major cultural, industrial and research center in Germany and Europe. Here are the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, the Philharmonic, the Higher School of Music, the Technical University of Munich, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Ukrainian Free University, the Max Planck and Heinz Mayer-Leibniz Research Institutes, a nuclear research reactor and many more other institutions.
One of the largest in Europe, the Bavarian State Library has 6 million volumes. Here the future leader of the world proletariat studied political works Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin, and then the future leader of the Third Reich, an unrecognized Austrian artist, began his political career Adolf Gitler .

Bavaria is a rich federal state, and Munich is one of the most promising European cities for investment, especially in real estate and tourism. In terms of the level of development of the banking system, the Bavarian capital ranks second in Germany after Frankfurt am Main. Thousands of new companies are registered in the city every year.
A powerful industrial infrastructure has been created in Munich; the headquarters of such giants as BMW, Microsoft and Siemens are located here. Medicine, the aviation industry, and environmental protection technologies are developing rapidly. Bavaria is home to one of Europe's largest Silicon Valleys (technopolises), and Munich is considered the high-tech capital of Germany.

The world's first driver's license and car license plates were issued in Munich. The concern "Bavarian Motor Works" (BMW) is represented in Munich by the headquarters of "Bavarian Motors". Next to the skyscraper, reminiscent of the outlines of motor cylinders, a giant advertising and entertainment complex “BMW World” was built.
Munich is famous for its brewing traditions. The world famous Oktoberfest beer festival is held annually.

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History of Munich dates back to the 8th century, when monks settled on a local hill. This is where the name comes from the Old High German Munichen (“with the monks”). Today on this site is the Church of St. Peter. The city was first mentioned in documents in 1158, when the Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, Henry, nicknamed the Lion, showed enterprise. He burned the only bridge over the Isar River near Freising to deprive the local bishop of income from the salt trade from Salzburg and built new bridge near the village of Munichen. And white gold began to work for the future of the Bavarian capital.

In 1240, Munich came into the possession of the German feudal family of the Wittelsbachs and was their residence until 1918, and since 1806 - the capital of the Kingdom of Bavaria. After the First World War and the flight of the king, the Bavarian Soviet Republic was proclaimed in Munich on April 13, 1919, which was defeated on May 3, 1919 by troops of a local revanchist organization.

The Nazi Party was created in the Hofbräuhaus beer hall on February 24, 1920, and in 1923 the Beer Hall Putsch took place in another Bürgerbräukeller beer hall. But then the Weimar Republic survived, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to 5 years (released after 9 months), and the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) was temporarily banned in Germany.

In 1933, after the Reichstag elections, the Nazis came to power and in 1934, Hitler dealt with his political opponents during Operation Night of the Long Knives. Since 1935, Munich began to be officially called the “capital of the Nazi movement,” where, in addition to Hitler, Heydrich and Himmler began their political careers. The Nazis did not forget about the opponents of the regime, for whom the first concentration camp in Dachau was created near the city.

In 1938, an international agreement was signed in the capital of Bavaria between Germany, Italy, Great Britain and France. As a result of the so-called “Munich Agreement”, part of the territory of Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) passed to Germany, and Hitler gained de facto control over the rest of Czechoslovakia.
During World War II, as a result of numerous bombings by British and American aircraft, many local residents and refugees were killed, and the historical center of Munich was almost completely destroyed. Of the 815 thousand inhabitants, 480 thousand remained in the city, and of the 10 thousand Jews, only 746 people remained.

After the occupation by American troops, in the post-war years Munich was completely restored, and in 1957 its population already exceeded 1 million inhabitants. The city continued to play a significant role in the German economy, politics and culture, earning the nickname Heimliche Hauptstadt ("secret capital") of Germany. Since 1962, the International Conference on Political and Security Issues has been held in Munich every February.

One of the railway directorates of the Deutsche Bundesbahn is located in Munich.

Munich's main station, after Hamburg's main station, is the second largest in Germany in terms of passenger traffic, serving 350 thousand passengers per day.

The new international airport, named after the German politician Franz Josef Strauss, was opened in 1992 and is the second largest in the number of passengers served in Germany (38 million passengers per year), the leader in domestic air transport(9 million passengers) and the base for the German national company Lufthansa. Munich is connected by autobahns to cities in Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

Munich hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics, the 1974 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, and the 1975, 1983 and 1993 Ice Hockey Championships. During the 1972 Summer Olympics, a terrorist attack was carried out against Israeli athletes.

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Located in the center of Munich Bavarian State Chancellery- the highest state body, the seat of the prime minister and government of Bavaria. This is where the office is located

Bavarian Minister of State for Federal and European Affairs. Construction of the government building was completed in 1993.

In the past, this site housed one of the largest Bavarian War Museums in Europe, founded in 1879 by King Ludwig II. IN In 1905, a monumental palace in the classicist style was erected for him. During the Third Reich, the residence of the Reichskommissar (governor) of Bavaria was located here. During the Second World War, the building was damaged by bombing. The collection of the Bavarian War Museum has been located in Ingolstadt since 1969.

In 1982, a decision was made to demolish historical palace, however, city citizens spoke out in favor of preserving the architectural monument. As a result, we came to a compromise. The central part of the building with the dome was preserved, and modern extensions made of glass and metal appeared on the sides.

Equestrian statue of the Duke of Bavaria, Otto von Wittelsbach the Red (1117 - 1183), who became the first Duke of the Wittelsbach dynasty, which ruled Bavaria until 1918. The monument is erected in front of the main entrance to the historical building of the Bavarian State Chancellery, erected in 1905.

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Munich's air gate is Franz Josef Strauss International Airport

Many books have been published about Munich, including guidebooks. My library contains an issue of the magazine “Around the World” (March 2009) with a detailed article about the Bavarian capital: Anastasia Butsko “Munich: between monarchy and anarchy.”

Finding something to do in Munich is possible at any time of the year and in any weather. If you are going to the capital of Bavaria to test the slopes of ski resorts, hang out at seasonal sales or celebrate Catholic Christmas on a Russian scale, choose the winter months. Munich spring is a real excursion and walking idyll: it is warm and sunny outside, park areas are blooming and covered with delicate greenery.

If the prospect of wandering around the spring city, looking into museums and halls of royal palaces, seems too bland, you can fool around at Frühlingsfest - the dress rehearsal for the autumn beer festival. The holiday starts at the end of April and takes place in the first week of May. Frühlingsfest is good because it offers everything that Oktoberfest does, but in a more restrained version, without going completely wild. In addition, this is an event “for our own people,” so there are few tourists for the festivities, and accordingly, there are no problems with hotel reservations.

In the summer it is a bit hot in Munich, but not for rampant shopaholics who cordon off shopping centers, fashion galleries and outlets. And in June there is an opera festival here, which all fans of the performing arts dream of attending. By mid-September, the most serious and impenetrable contingent arrives in Mingu - beer fans who have come to celebrate the annual beer bacchanalia called Oktoberfest.

The standard duration of the celebration of eating pork knuckle and drinking horse doses of light/dark/unfiltered is two weeks. During this time, in the Bavarian capital it is impossible to find not only a hotel, but even a corner in a hostel. So book your rooms in advance, and then join in the general beer euphoria. Just first learn how to hold a mug correctly and clink it with it so as not to look like a black sheep.

Story

The founding of Munich is attributed to the monks of the Sheftlarn monastery, who moved here in the 8th century. However, the settlement received the status of a city almost five hundred years after the appearance of church ascetics on the banks of the Isar. In 1240, Munich was appropriated by the Wittelsbach dynasty, which declared it its own residence and sat here until the flight of Ludwig III in 1918.


At the beginning of the 20th century, Munich beer halls became acquainted with National Socialism: in 1923, an attempted coup d'etat took place in the capital of Bavaria, which ended in a short prison sentence for Hitler. After the Nazis came to power in Germany, Munich lived a double life. On the one hand, the city was officially declared the “cradle of the National Socialist movement,” where Himmler and Heydrich took their first steps up the career ladder. On the other hand, it was here that the legendary anti-fascist underground “White Rose” operated.

During World War II, Munich became the cherished target of Anglo-American bombers. As a result, by the end of the war, a little less than half of the historical buildings of the city center remained. After the defeat of the fascist troops, a decision was made on a large-scale reconstruction of the Bavarian capital, but with the preservation of the previous street layout. As an example: about 50% of Munich's architectural monuments today are the result of painstaking reconstruction work that was literally carried out on the ashes of destroyed buildings.

Sights of Munich

The course for the sights of Munich is usually set at Marienplatz - the main city square, stuffed with all sorts of tourist attractions. It is here that the Old and New Town Halls are located (neo-Gothic versus late Gothic), as well as the Mariinsky Column, erected in gratitude for ridding the city of the plague epidemic. Next to Marienplatz are the Viktualienmarkt market, which moved here in 1807, and the tallest church in Munich - Frauenkirche. Those who like to combine walks with small shopping will not get bored here either: the perimeter of the square and the approaches to it are filled with souvenir shops. In addition, the main trade artery of the city, Kaufingerstrasse, originates from Marienplatz.



Museums of Munich

The Second World War taught the city to take care of its historical heritage, so today the art objects that survived the Allied bombing are safely hidden in museums and galleries. The Alte Pinakothek continues to dominate this niche - a sort of “Tretyakov Gallery in Bavarian style.” Miniature creations of the “Little Dutchmen”, Da Vinci’s “Madonna with a Flower”, self-portraits of Dürer, Rubens and Van Dyck – these and other painting masterpieces can only be seen in the Alte Pinakothek. Opposite the main museum of Munich is the building of the Neue Pinakothek, where people usually go to see the French impressionists - Gauguin, Van Gogh, Degas, as well as to look at representatives of the Biedermeier and Art Nouveau movements. During the war, the museum building was destroyed to the ground and then rebuilt from scratch.


In 2002, the Old and New Pinakotheks had a “sister” - the Pinakothek Nouveau, the basis of which was the work of German modernists, as well as paintings by Picasso, slightly diluted with works by Kandinsky, Dali, Matisse and the “king of pop art” Andy Warhol. By the way, about Warhol: about a hundred of his paintings can be found in the Brandhorst Museum, which grew out of the private collection of Annette Brandhorst, heir to the Henkel chemical empire.

After a tour of three Pinakotheks, there is usually a desire to change the picture to a more voluminous one, and here the Glyptothek, whose main “specialization” is ancient sculptures, is suitable. If its exhibitions seem small, you can continue your acquaintance with Greek and Roman art in the State Antique Collection. By the way, the museum has a “relative” - the State Graphic Collection, where they prefer to surprise visitors with two-dimensional exhibits, or rather graphics and sketches of great artists from Da Vinci to Munch.

It is better to get acquainted with the past of the cultural and historical region at the Bavarian Archaeological Museum (not available for visits until 2021 due to reconstruction work) and the Bavarian National Museums. The City Museum deserves an honorary prize for its masterly combination of incongruous elements. Here you will find doll collections designed for young visitors, a hall dedicated to the history of Bavarian National Socialism, and the “Typical Munich” exhibition - in general, spectacles for any age, taste and political beliefs.


Tech-minded excursionists will have plenty to do at the Deutsches Museum, where visitors will be shown the world's first hairdryer, a life-size U1 submarine and a whole bunch of other equally interesting retro exhibits. Well, to complete your acquaintance with the technical wonders in Munich, you should visit the BMW Museum, which, due to its futuristic design, the Germans sarcastically call a soup bowl.

If the past and present of the “free state” have been studied far and wide, and all the Matisses, Klimts and Warhols have been reviewed in the city galleries, it remains to put the final touch on excursion program by visiting the Museum of Five Continents. Here is everything you wanted to know about America, Asia and Southwestern Europe and not a single mention of Bavaria and Germany.



Parks

Munich's parks do not dilute the urban landscape, as happens in most megacities, but condescendingly tolerate it next to them. The two main competitors in this category are the English Garden and the Royal Hofgarten Park. The former is known for its noisy streams that local surfers love to tame, beer gardens and the fact that it is far behind rivals such as New York's Central Park and London's Hyde Park in size. The second boasts an impressive history (founded at the beginning XVII century) and the Temple of Diana, which is a pavilion with fountains. However, if we evaluate both places very critically, then Hofgarten loses on some points, if only because it is not the same Hofgarten that was specially built for Maximilian I. Military bombings wiped out the recreation area from the face of the earth, so in the late 40s trees were replanted here.

The legacy of the 1972 Olympic Games is the Olympic Park. Among the attractions here, in addition to neat green lawns, are a television tower with a restaurant on the upper floors and a sports stadium, turned into a stage for performances by local pop and rock bands. Westpark remains very cozy and has not yet been fully developed by tourists. Relaxing and listening to burgher gossip in the biergarten, “grazing” the children on the playground, relaxing near the well-kept rose gardens - all these are common pastimes of the local regulars. Experts in the field of wild and cultivated flora will be fascinated by neat flower beds botanical garden Munich-Nymphenburg - as many as 18 hectares of relict ferns, cacti, magnolias, lilies and other green-variegated delights.



Architecture

The Wittelsbach family left a significant collection to Munich architectural masterpieces, which could have been even greater if not for the carpet bombing of World War II. In the center of the city there are chambers of the Munich residence - the ancestral nest of several generations of Bavarian kings, which today has turned into a gigantic museum of luxury. By the way, this is where such pan-German relics as the crown of Empress Cunegonde, the life-giving cross of Saint Henry and the prayer book of Charles II are kept. If you can’t explore all the premises of the complex in a day, at least take a look at the Antiques room and the Porcelain Cabinet - that’s the case when you’ll be both surprised and delighted.


The “Bavarian Versailles” - the Nymphenburg palace complex, which includes as many as five buildings, is also besieged by tourist groups every day. In addition to the apartments that are dazzling with their elaborate luxury, the place is notable for the fact that it was here that the “fairy-tale king” Ludwig II was born. The Blutenburg hunting castle looks less pompous, but it can tell several scandalous stories about its owners. It was in it that the Bavarian Duke Albrecht the Pious met with the barber's daughter Agnes Bernauer, who, with her interference in state affairs, annoyed Albrecht's father so much that he ordered her to be drowned in the Danube. Gothic mixed with Renaissance is the Maximilianeum Palace, where the Bavarian Landtag meets today. Of course, you won’t be able to get inside, but hanging around to appreciate the luxury of the facades is already a great success.

The local church architecture is also impressive - Munich builders and architects were creative wherever they could, including when erecting churches. Oldest temple city ​​- Peterskirche or “old Peter”, as the Bavarians affectionately call him, grew up within the city limits in 1150. Inside, visitors will find a real immersion in history - the building’s interiors contain traces of architectural and pictorial styles from several eras. Well, the most agile ones can climb the observation deck temple, admire the Munich panorama.

Against the background of the ascetic “old Peter”, the Asamkirche church looks like a sponge cake, drowning in clouds of “creamy” stucco - the Baroque style in all its pretentiousness. The exterior of the Church of St. Michael is more elegant and austere. Maybe because 15 bronze rulers from the Wittelsbach clan were hiding in the niches of the building, looking condemningly at everything that was happening under their noses.

The list of the most spectacular churches in Munich also includes Theatinerkirche, Frauenkirche with its 99-meter towers and Lukaskirche, decorated with rare stained glass windows. Ludwig Mann University looks no less colorful - elite educational institution, which has been churning out Nobel laureates for centuries. There are several buildings on the university property, and they are scattered throughout Munich, but the most beautiful is undoubtedly considered main building- early Gothic, flavored with Renaissance.





Everything else

If you thought that the capital of Bavaria is exclusively museums, royal residences and old churches, then you really did. The attractions in Munich are diverse, designed for tourists of any age. For example, sports fans and comrades who are simply not indifferent to football can go and have a look at the Allianz Arena - a giant snow-white stadium in the shape of a tire. Even if you're not in town during Oktoberfest, you can still take a ride to Theresienwiese, where the annual beer bacchanalia takes place. For what? Well, of course, to climb inside the statue of Bavaria and through the viewing areas in its eye sockets to appreciate the opening panorama.

Fun fact: During his youth, Albert Einstein worked part-time at the Munich Oktoberfest. The future genius, of course, did not carry mugs of beer, but he did screw in light bulbs in the pavilions.

With children in Munich it is worth visiting the Hellabrunn Zoo – amazing place, where animals do not exist, but truly enjoy life. Avid theatergoers will be treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the National Theater (as part of a guided tour, of course), and if you're lucky, a ticket to the ballet. The most pretentious tourist selfies are taken against the backdrop of the Charles Gate and Arc de Triomphe Munich, and the most compromising ones are in the Hofbräuhaus, an iconic beer hall that has been operating since 1607, whose benches clearly remember Lenin and Hitler who had been on the spree.



You can remember the price our country paid for its victory in 1945 at the Dachau memorial complex. This, of course, is just the pitiful remains of a former death factory, but even incorrigible cynics are chilled to the bone here. Another not quite typical attraction of Munich is the Waldfriedhof cemetery. The object appeared in the city in 1907 and is a mix of a park and a necropolis. So if you like to look at original sculptures of tombstones and don’t mind finding the grave of some Bavarian celebrity, this is the place for you.

Night life

Munich by day is respectable, practical and prudent, while Munich by night is excitedly cheerful and reckless. And not to say that the capital of Bavaria has such a dominance of nightclubs and bars, but those that exist are never empty. The legend of the city and the abode of glamorous pathos, where Freddie Mercury himself once hung out, is the P1 club. It's mainly celebrities and other high-profile people who hang out here, so there's strict face control at the entrance.

But it’s easier to get to Backstage, so if you like indie music, you’ll definitely like it here. Jazzclub Unterfahrt is a jazz classic aimed at representatives of an older age group, for whom Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong are not just “some kind of Americans.” Travelers who are no longer impressed by traditional nightlife can take a tolerance test and take a walk to the Glockenbachviertel quarter. The concentration of gay bars per square kilometer here is record-breaking.



Sehnsucht-bar promises unbridled fun and good drinks. The establishment has a permanent promotion for female visitors who can drink a glass and treat their companions by paying with their own underwear. And judging by the collection of bras above the bar, there are a lot of such thrifty young ladies in Munich. If you wish, you can try to “go out to the people.” At night, on the Gartnerplatz square, local youth have fun and empty alcohol containers, among whom there are also frankly marginalized individuals.



9 things to do in Munich

  • Order a glass of the Munich Mule, a Bavarian interpretation of the famous American Moscow Mule cocktail.
  • Take a walk to house 36 on Schillerstrasse, where “Iron Arnie” once trained and huddled in the back room.
  • Walk through the Gallery of Nymphenburg Beauties and admire the portraits of noble and not so noble women of the city, whose faces Bavarian King Ludwig I considered worthy of his own collection.
  • Visit inside the Frauenkirche to personally see the “footprint of the devil” - a shoe print that inexplicably appeared on the marble slab of the cathedral.
  • Taste the foamy drink in any restaurant owned by the Augustiner brewing company. Aging only in oak barrels and no newfangled features like metal tanks.
  • Find “naked areas” in the English Garden where Munich nudists sunbathe and have fun.
  • Stand on the bridge over the Eisbach stream to watch the weirdos with surfers trying to swim through the ditch where the water is knee-deep.
  • Watch a puppet show that takes place three times a day on the façade of the New Town Hall. The performance begins with the striking of the wall clock and copies the wedding ceremony of Elector William V.
  • Holding your hand under the stream of the amusing Brunnenbuberl fountain on Neuhauserstrasse and rinsing your own wallet in the waters of Fischbrunnen - you might suddenly become rich.

Where to stay




Well, a little about the best places to stay in Munich. The areas of Hauptbahnhof (surrounding the city railway station) and Schillerstrasse are occupied mainly by hostels, strip bars and clubs, so living here is fun, but only for tourists who are used to spending nights out of their own bed. In addition, next door there is an emigrant Turkish quarter with all that it implies. If you require relative peace, you will have to pay a couple of hundred euros for it - there are several decent hotels near the station, located on less busy streets. The districts of Schwabing and Ostbahnhof have a more respectable reputation, so tourists who go to family tour in Bavaria, it’s better to settle here.

The center of Munich will appeal to those who like to have the main attractions at hand and are willing to pay for it - hotel room prices exceed even the most immodest expectations. The Maxvorstadt district has a good reputation - there are minimal eating places, the main museums of the city are within walking distance and the infrastructure is in perfect order. You should settle in Neuhausen-Nymphenburg if you want to get as far away from the noisy center as possible, but at the same time you are not going to spend half a day on the road every time you want to wander around Marienplatz.

Cafes and restaurants

In the main city of the “free state” there is supposed to be a lot of food, plenty of calories and without unnecessary haste. A true Bavarian uses his own digestive system to its full capacity, otherwise he is simply not a Bavarian. Where to eat in Munich? Yes, almost everywhere, depending on how much you are willing to spend on it. Even in the historical center, elite restaurants are interspersed with nice taverns of the “tasty and inexpensive” category. In particular, if you want to get a traditional Bavarian breakfast with sausages, beer and crispy pretzels, stop by Bratwurstherzl. Fried sausages They have been serving food here since 1633.


The same menu, but in a more expanded version, plus 14 types of beer, can be found in Tattenbach, a cozy restaurant on Tattenbachstrasse. Prices are higher here, but there are discounts for lunch. You can have a snack without the risk of emptying your wallet to the last note at Alter Simpl - locals love to come here, which is already considered a sign of quality. For a pair of white Bavarian sausages, the local chefs charge only 5.60 EUR, but those who wish can “make” a hamburger, Niçoise salad or Wiener schnitzel.


Ultra-budget options that are ready to help out a hungry tourist are eateries like Bergwolf. The menu usually includes currywurst, French fries, pretzels and a couple of other simple fast food items. You can treat yourself to a sausage and bun in such places for 3.50-4 EUR, which is ridiculous for Munich. In Asian eateries the price tag is even lower, but the menu already has an oriental “accent”.

Haute cuisine also has its place in the Bavarian capital. Winner of two Michelin stars Geisels Werneckhof, specializing in modern interpretation of traditional recipes Schwarzreiter, Michelin three-star Atelier, authentic Pfistermühle - the list of atmospheric places where you can appreciate regional and international specialties will take a couple of pages. The only thing that slightly curbs the appetite in elite establishments is the average bill from 130-150 EUR. However, according to the travel bloggers who commented on them, the taste impressions gained during the meal are worth it.


And of course, don't forget about beer. If you couldn’t get into the iconic Hofbräuhaus, try a marathon race through the biergartens (beer gardens). For example, the Hirschgarten is ready to accommodate up to 8,000 foam fans - absolute record, which no Bavarian establishment has yet managed to beat. The beer garden at the Viktualienmarkt market is mostly occupied by tourists, which in no way detracts from the taste of the beer served here. Munich's oldest biergarten, the Augustiner, should be found on Arnulfstrasse. And the most peaceful place is considered to be Waldwirtschaft, also known as Vavi - mostly locals and a very small percentage of tourists relax here. The biergarten in the area of ​​the Chinese Tower in the English Garden has a more dynamic atmosphere, thanks to the high traffic volume of the park and the establishment itself, which promises to welcome and entertain up to 7,000 visitors at a time.

For your information: To treat yourself to a glass of beer, you don’t have to look for a suitable biergarten. The favorite drink of the Bavarians is served in every Munich cafe and restaurant with national cuisine, with the exception of coffee shops and pastry shops.

Shopping

“Not on Saturday!” - a motto that should be followed when going shopping in Munich. Why is that? Because samstag (Saturday) is the favorite day of local shopaholics, who organize a weekly Babylonian pandemonium in boutiques and outlets (remember that it is not customary to work on Sunday in Bavaria). The area richest in retail outlets is between Karlsplatz, Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz squares. Well, more specifically, the commercial life of the Bavarian capital takes place mainly on the streets of Kaufingerstrasse, Hohenzollernstrasse, Neuhauserstrasse and Theatinerstrasse. No less interesting shopping can happen on Maximilianstrasse: if you need things from Armani, Chanel, Gucci and Versace, look for them here.


Those who like to make diverse purchases should go to any of the Munich shopping centers, or better yet, to a couple, in order to stock up for sure. For example, in Riem Arcaden, where in addition to branded boutiques there are also a bunch of food courts. Or Olympia, which houses 135 stores aimed at middle-class buyers and fans of affordable brands. You can take a ride to the outlet in Ingolstadt, where they will sell you an original couture outfit, but at a decent discount.

If you find yourself in Munich during Advent (the pre-Christmas period), wander around the holiday fairs, the most interesting of which sets up its tents on Marienplatz. The most spectacular food market in the Bavarian capital is the Viktualienmarkt market, which has been feeding the townspeople for more than 200 years and whose stalls are passed down from parents to children. It’s better to stock up on farm products here – sausages, cheeses and spices. But be prepared for the fact that you won’t be able to save money. There are a lot of tourists on Viktualienmarkt who came to admire the gastronomic abundance.

), Olympiapark, Messegelände Riem. However, if you want to unearth something worthwhile from the rubble of ancient rubbish, go shopping early - most flea markets in Munich are open from 7 am. In addition, all local flea markets have their own websites, where sales announcements periodically appear. Accordingly, to be aware of the best offers, check them out more often.

How to save money in Munich


You can visit the top attractions of the Bavarian capital without going broke with the CityTourCard München. This tourist map, providing discounts on visits to museums, restaurants, attractions and other iconic locations of the city. Discount coupons are valid for a stay in Munich from one to six days and come in two types: for single tourists and groups of travelers up to 5 people (two children aged 6 to 14 years go for one adult). The cost of a one-day ticket for one person is 12.90 EUR, for a group – 19.90 EUR. You can get more complete information on prices for CityTourCard for a duration of two days or more on the official website.

There is also an extended version of the card that offers a discount on sightseeing outside the city. Such an offer will cost more, but the savings will still be greater than with a self-planned excursion. You can purchase the CityTourCard München at tourist centers, the airport (DB and Travel Center ticket machines), at the central station (in addition to DB and Travel Center, there are MVG and BOB machines). Another option is to buy online on the official websites of MVG, MVV, BOB and S-Bahn München.

Transport

On the one hand, Munich has a decent number of pedestrian areas. In the same Altstadt (the old part of the city) it is generally prohibited to travel by car. On the other hand, getting around all the major attractions on your own, given that some of them are located outside the historical center, is not always possible within one trip.


The easiest and relatively inexpensive way to check in interesting places Munich - bus route No. 100, running between the East Station (Ostbahnhof) and the main railway station. The beauty of this type of transport is that it goes around all the major museums and turns to the English Garden.

The city is also convenient for cyclists: this, of course, is not Amsterdam, but there are decent trails for bike fans in Munich. As for rental companies, there are also a lot of them - Mike's Bike route & Rentals, Radius Tours & Bike Rental, Deutsche Bahn, MVG and others. All companies have official websites where you can check tariffs. If we talk about average prices, then an hour of skiing is approximately 2-3 EUR. It makes more sense to rent vehicle immediately for the day - it will cost 16-18 EUR.

Munich public transport will be appreciated by those who are ready to understand tariff zones and types of travel tickets. So, let's remember! The capital of Bavaria is divided into four color (and price) zones:

  • white;
  • yellow;
  • green;
  • red.

The white area is the so-called internal space or Innenraum. It is within its boundaries that most of Munich's attractions are concentrated, including Nymphenburg and the BMW Museum. Getting around within the Innenraum is easiest - buy a ticket valid for the white part of the city and ride as much as you want.


Zone XXL is the combination of white and green areas transport card. That is, if you are going from the historical center (white zone) to the Hirschgarten (green zone), purchase a ticket marked XXL. The green, yellow and red areas together form the Ausserraum. You can move within its boundaries only with a travel card valid for three zones. Well, a universal option is Gesamtnetz, which includes travel through all four zones from white to red.

Important: in Munich there is a single type of travel card, with which you can ride on any type of public transport (don’t forget to validate your travel cards to avoid getting fined). You can buy tickets on buses or from MVV machines installed in the metro.

You can get to the desired point in the city by metro, city trains, buses (classical and metrobuses) and trams. But first you will have to understand the types of travel cards:

  • Kurzstrecke (for any tariff zone) – a one-way ticket that can travel four stops by land transport and 2 metro stops (valid for 1 hour).
  • Einzelfahrkarte (can be for 1, 2, 3 or 4 zones) – valid for 3 hours, during which you can change to other types of transport without the ability to return to your starting point.
  • Streifenkarte is a travel card consisting of 10 ticket strips. Each lane is a 1-hour trip within one tariff zone. If the travel time is more than an hour, we tear off and compost two strips; we travel within two zones - we tear off and compost four, etc.
  • Single-Tageskarte – ticket for the whole day. You can choose the number of included tariff zones yourself.

Of course, these are not all travel options. As an example: in Munich there are special transport rates for children, tourist groups, and passengers bringing a bicycle. Therefore, in order not to get confused in the variety of tickets, it is better to get a Bayern Ticket, which works both as a city and intercity travel card. You can find out more complete information about it on the website.

Important: The Bayern-Ticket is not valid on express buses and high-speed trains.


If you plan to travel around Munich by taxi, be prepared to pay 1.20 EUR for calling and another 3.70 EUR for landing. The first five kilometers of the journey are usually charged at 1.90 EUR/km, then a discount is included - up to 1.70 EUR. Renting a car in Munich is also easy, but it is difficult to find parking for it, so if you do not plan to go outside the city, trust public transport, a bicycle and your own legs.

Tourists usually leave the airport by S-Bahn train S1 ( end station– East Station) and S8 (terminal – Herrsching). Both the first and second run on schedule, with very small intervals, and both pass Marienplatz. An alternative to rail transport is Airportbus. Departure from the second terminal starting at 06:30 am, with an interval of 15 minutes. Travelers who do not need to save money can make the same journey by taxi or rented car (rental counters are located in the airport building).

The history of Munich is very rich and over eight and a half centuries the city has seen a lot of good and bad. Let's take a quick look at the main dates in the history of Munich.

Spring in Munich. Olympic Park, Olympic complex, television tower, central office of the BMW concern.

The official history of Munich began in 1158, when the ruler of Bavaria, Duke Henry the Lion, granted city rights to the local settlement. The settlement itself appeared on this site back in the 8th century, when monks from the Tegernsee Monastery settled on Mount Petersbegl. Here, at the beginning of the 12th century, the first church of St. Peter was built, which is still in use. Then the settlement was called Villa Munichen, i.e. "village of monks" But by 1175 city walls were erected.

The main dates in the history of Munich regarding the official status of the city:

The city has a long history, rich in events that influenced the course of not only the history of Germany and Europe, but also world history. The main events in the history of Munich can be shown in the form of a chronological table.

  • 1255 – 1290 - construction second city wall Munich, 4 km.
  • 1290 – 1295 - construction St. Peter's Church in Romanesque style.
  • 1314 – 1347 – Munich during this period had the status capital of the Holy Roman Empire German Nation.
  • 1324 – 1350 - in Munich, in the Court Chapel of the Old Court, they are placed to store the relics of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. The imperial colors - black and yellow - become the colors of Munich.
  • 1347 – Emperor Ludwig of Bavaria the first of the Wittelsbach dynasty to be buried in Munich
  • 1393 – Schrannenplatz (grain square), future Marienplatz, received road surface.
  • 1468 – 1488 – construction of the city cathedral Frauenkirche.
  • 1467 – 1508 - Duke's reign Albrecht the Wise; construction Old Town Hall.
  • 1505 – Munich becomes capital united duchy of Bavaria.
  • 1508 – 1550 - Duke's reign Wilhelm.
  • 1516 – adoption beer purity law.
  • 1525 – Onion domes were installed on the towers of the Frauenkirche Cathedral.
  • 1521 - Dukes Wilhelm and Ludwig decide to fight against the ideas of Martin Luther.
  • 1563 – Munich becomes center of the Counter-Reformation.
  • 1579 – 1597 - governing body William the Pious, during which the city turns into a center of late Renaissance art.
  • 1597 – 1651 - Duke's reign Maximilian, at which it occurs rise of Catholicism.
  • 1601 – 1618 - construction Residences.
  • 1608 – foundation Evangelical Union(union of Protestant princes) and Catholic League(in Munich) - The Reformation divided Europe into two warring camps.
  • 1618 – 1648 – Thirty Years' War. Duke of Bavaria Maximilian I, who headed the Catholic League, took an active part in the war.
  • 1623 – Munich becomes the capital Electorate.
  • 1632 – Swedish occupation cities.
  • 1638 – installed on the central shopping square column of St. Virgin Mary.
  • 1638 – 1645 – fortification of the city with bastions with towers and ditches.
  • 1651 – 1679 - reign of the elector Ferdinand Maria.
  • 1663 – 1690 - construction Theatinerkirche.
  • 1664 – 1676 - construction Nymphenburg Palace.
  • 1664 – work began first post office.
  • 1679 – 1726 - reign of the elector Max Emmanuel.
  • 1685 – construction of the Lustheim hunting castle.
  • 1701 – construction New Schleissheim Castle.
  • 1705 – 1715 – occupation of Munich by Austria; governing body Habsburgs.
  • 1714 – return of Max Emmanuel to Munich.
  • 1725 – 1745 - reign of the elector Karl Albrecht.
  • 1729 – City street lighting began to operate.
  • 1734 – 1739 – construction of the Castle Amalienburg.
  • 1742 – 1744 - Occupation of the city by the Austrians.
  • 1751 – construction Cuvillier Theater at the Residence.
  • 1759 – foundation Bavarian Academy of Sciences To.
  • 1777 – 1799 - reign of Elector Karl Theodor of Bavaria and the Palatinate; opening English garden for the military.
  • 1791 – the fortress walls of Munich are destroyed.
  • 1799 – 1825 – reign of Duke Max IV Joseph.
  • 1803 – secularization carried out; closing of monasteries.
  • 1805 – visit to Munich Napoleon as an ally.
  • 1806 – founded kingdom of bavaria with its capital in Munich; Duke Maximilian IV Joseph becomes King Maximilian I.
  • 1810 - in honor of the wedding ceremony of the Crown Prince Prince Ludwig and Princess Theresa the festival is being held for the first time Oktoberfest.
  • 1811 - 1818 - construction of the opera house.
  • 1818 – adoption of the first Constitution of Bavaria.
  • 1825 – 1848 - reign of the king Ludwig I; a fan of classical antiquity, he strives to turn Munich into “Athens on the Isar.”
  • 1826 – The university was moved from Landshut to Munich.
  • 1827 – 1836 – construction of an art gallery Old Pinakothek.
  • 1848 - during the March unrest, the king Ludwig I abdicated the throne.
  • 1848 – 1864 – reign of King Max II.
  • 1855 – founded Bavarian National Museum in Munich.
  • 1857 – white sausages invented in Munich Weiswurst(!).
  • 1868 – opening of the Munich Higher Technical School.
  • 1864 – 1886 – reign of the “fairytale king” Ludwig II.
  • 1886 – 1912 - reign of the prince regent Luitpold.
  • 1882 – electrification Munich.
  • 1890 – construction of the first city sewerage system.
  • 1892 – formation of the literary and artistic association Secession.
  • 1895 – first electric tram in Munich.
  • 1896 – the beginning of publication of the first magazines “Jugend” and “Simplicismus”.
  • 1906 – start of construction German Polytechnic Museum.
  • 1910 – Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky creates his first abstract painting.
  • 1911 – group of artists "Blue Rider".
  • 1913 – entrepreneur Karl Friedrich Rapp founded a company in Munich "Bavarian Motor Works"(Bayerische Motoren Werke, BMW).
  • 1913 – 1918 - reign of the king Ludwig III.
  • 1914 – 1918 – World War I.
  • 1918 – November revolution in Munich; flight of King Ludwig III; The Wittelsbach dynasty is overthrown.
  • 1919 - from April 13 to May 1 - creation and defeat Bavarian Soviet Republic.
  • 1919 – July – Bavaria becomes part of German Republic as one of the states under the Weimar Constitution.
  • 1919 – September 12 – creation in Munich National Socialist Workers' Party; the city becomes a hotbed Nazism.
  • 1923 – "beer putsch" Nazis on Odeon Square.
  • 1933 - The Nazis come to power.
  • 1933 – March – in the area Dachau first created Nazi concentration camp.
  • 1933 – mass book burning in Royal Square.
  • 1935 – Munich – capital of the National Socialist movement.
  • 1938 – "Munich Agreement"- agreement on the division of Czechoslovakia; "crystal night"- the beginning of open violence against Jews, the destruction of a synagogue in Munich;
  • 1943 – anti-fascist group White Rose.
  • 1942 – 1945 – massed carpets bombing of Munich; Up to 80% of the city's buildings were destroyed.
  • 1945 – May 9 – surrender of Germany; entry of American troops into Munich.
  • 1946 – acceptance new Bavarian Constitution; Munich – capital of the Free State of Bavaria.
  • 1948 – opening Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts.
  • 1949 – education Federal Republic of Germany; Bavaria is part of the Federal Republic of Germany as a federal state with broad autonomy.
  • 1972 – summer Olympic Games in Munich; Arab terrorists kill 11 Israeli athletes.
  • 1978 – 1988 - holds the post of Prime Minister of Bavaria Franz Joseph Strauss, leader of the CSU; economic recovery of Bavaria.
  • 1981 – opening of a new art gallery building – New Pinakothek.
  • 1990 – October 3 – unification of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic to one state.
  • 1992 – start of work new airport named after Franz Joseph Strauss.
  • 2000 – opening Pinakotheks of Contemporary Art.
  • 2003 – opening monument to Fyodor Tyutchev.
  • 2005 – on Alliance Arena stadium Football matches began to be held.
  • 2006 – World Cup in Germany; one of the semi-final matches (Portugal - France, 0: 1) takes place in Munich.
  • 2009 – start of operation of the BMW exhibition complex – BMW World.


And finally, a few facts about Munich at the moment:

These are just the main dates of the eventful history of Munich at the moment.

Within a two-hour drive there are several large lakes And ski resorts, which formed a temperate climate in the region, with a transition from marine to continental. Little snow winter and cool summer largely contributed to the fact that excursion holiday in Munich is relevant all year round. However, there are exceptions when the thermometer in winter can drop to ... -30 C°.

Story

The history of the city begins in the 8th century; it was at this time that a small settlement of monks appeared here, which later acquired the status of a city. Over time, the lands came into the possession of the Wittelsbach dynasty, which ruled Bavaria until its division in 1255, but until 1918 the city remained their residence. Today, the Wittelsbach Palace operates as a museum and is open to tourists throughout the year.

During the First World War, Munich suffered greatly from air attacks organized by French troops. In 1918, the November Revolution brings the Social Democrats to power. King Ludwig III and his family have to flee the city. In 1919, the Bavarian Soviet Republic was proclaimed in April, but a month later it was liquidated by government troops.

The Second World War also left its mark on the city. Munich suffered more from Allied bombing. The result of seventy raids on the city was the almost complete destruction of its historical part, and Munich itself was 50% in ruins.

In the post-war period, the city quickly recovered and already in 1972 it was awarded the honor of hosting the Olympic Games on its territory. The Olympic Park, built specifically for this event, is still a place of pilgrimage for tourists.

Useful information for tourists

Getting around the city is much more convenient by public transport than by taxi. Firstly, taxis are expensive, and secondly, finding a car is not so easy, only in special parking lots. Moreover, not everyone local They will be able to give you the number of a taxi service, since few people use this service. Everyone has heard about German pedantry, but the organization of public transport can be the best way to see this.


Munich is connected by a large and well-branched tram network, bus routes, metro and even city trains. They all run on schedule, down to the minute. Those cases when transport is delayed are rare - so rare that it becomes the event of the day.

To move around the city comfortably, just choose the right ticket. At first glance, this may seem like a difficult task, but if you plan your tourist route in advance and understand the German language a little, everything is quite simple. Munich transport system divided into 4 zones, internal, white and green (XXL) and general. The cost of tickets depends not on the distance you need to travel, and not even on the type of transport, but on the zone. For a tourist, the most optimal would be a day or three-day ticket Single-Tageskarte (for one person) or Partner-Tageskarte (up to 5 people).

How to get to Munich

Munich Franz Josef Strauß Airport (Flughafen München "Franz Josef Strauß") receives more than a hundred flights daily from different countries world, including from Russia. You can get from the airport to the city center by S-Bahn train, which stops at all significant stops in the city. You can buy a train ticket from one of the many machines, which, as a rule, are located right next to the escalators. Taxis are also available for Munich guests. The cost of a trip from the airport will be significantly higher than in the city.


You can also get to Munich by train. The railway connection here is well developed. However, those who like to travel by car will be satisfied with the road infrastructure, because many highways German cities connected specifically with Munich.

Where to stay

You can stay anywhere in Munich. It all depends on the tastes and preferences of the tourist. Luxurious and modest hotels, inexpensive apartments, hostels - everything is at the disposal of guests. However, you should take care of booking in advance, especially if we are talking about the peak tourist season.

Shopping and purchases

The capital of Bavaria will enchant shopping lovers. In Munich, in addition to large shopping centers where time flies, you can find boutiques of famous brands on literally every street, souvenir shops and various shops offering to buy anything you want. However, it is worth noting that boutiques and small shops are usually open until 18:00 and only from Monday to Saturday.


Seasonal markets and fairs

Antique market - you can only get to it on the first Saturday of the month. Here you can buy antique jewelry, furniture, accessories, postcards, and stamps.

BRK-Flohmark is a grand fair taking place at the end of April. Here you can buy children's things and toys, including antique ones, and their cost will be much lower than in local shops.

Riem Market is the largest Bavarian market. Mostly people come here to sell old things, but it’s difficult to call them old, rather new ones that have not found use in everyday life.


Viktualienmarkt - flea market. Contrary to prevailing stereotypes, for more than 200 years they have been selling not unnecessary things, but all kinds of products, including delicacies. By the way, farm products are constantly brought here, and bakeries also operate on the territory of the market.

Sights of Munich

If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Munich, feel the atmosphere of the capital of Bavaria, visit its main attractions: Frauenkirche, Nymphenburg Palace, St. Peter (St. Peter's Church), Residence, Old Town Hall. No less interesting would be a visit to the BMW Museum, Karlplatz. And, of course, do not forget to visit the English Garden and the Olympic Park.


Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady) - Gothic Cathedral, built in the 15th century, one of the symbols of Munich. The cathedral is 109 meters long, 40 meters wide and 37 meters high and can accommodate 20,000 people. The architecture of the cathedral features two towers, almost 100 meters high with stunning views of the city. The Frauenkirche is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. This is a simple brick three-nave church with simple interior decoration. The footprint in the church hallway is called the Devil's footprint. According to legend, the evil spirit argued with the architect of the cathedral, but lost the argument. Enraged, he turned into the wind and tried to destroy the temple. That is why there is always a light breeze here.


Nymphenburg Palace is one of the main attractions of Munich, luxurious palace with a picturesque garden and a canal. Built as a summer residence for kings, the palace amazes with its luxury and severity of form. The construction of Nymphenburg dates back to the 17th century. The architect was the Italian Barelli. Inside you can appreciate the life of monarchs, see objects of art and history. No less famous is palace park- 229 hectares of park landscape in the English style. You can take a gondola ride along the palace canal.

Marienplatz


Marienplatz

Munich's Marienplatz square with the New and Old Town Halls is the world famous center of the Bavarian capital. This is a real place of attraction for guests and residents of the city, a venue for major cultural events and fairs.


Particularly striking in the architecture of the square is the New Town Hall, a grandiose neo-Gothic building built at the beginning of the 20th century. Now the Munich City Council sits here. The tower of the New Town Hall provides a wonderful view of the old town. You can climb it by elevator.

In the center of the square there is an 11-meter Marian column from the late 16th century with a sculpture of the Virgin Mary with Christ.


Old Town Hall (left) and St. Petra (right)

In the eastern part of Marienplatz you can see two interesting buildings. The Old Town Hall is an ancient building from the 14th century in Gothic style, restored after the destruction of World War II. The tower houses a toy museum.

Next to the Old Town Hall is the Cathedral of St. Petra is the oldest parish church in Munich, whose history goes back more than 8 centuries. The building combines features of many architectural styles, and a beautiful Baroque altar was built inside. The cathedral's architecture features a 91-meter tower that offers one of the most beautiful views of Munich. To do this you need to overcome more than 300 steps.


The Allianz Arena is the home stadium of the Bayern Munich football club, one of the most famous and comfortable stadiums in the world.


Karlplatz (Charles Square) is one of the main squares of the historical center with beautiful architecture. The square is named in honor of Charles IV Theodor, although the Munich residents themselves simply call the square Stachus. In honor of the old beer tavern that existed before its formation. The main architectural attraction is the Charles Gate - an ancient Gothic gate from the early 14th century, which used to be part of the city fortifications. Opposite is the Neo-Baroque Palace of Justice and the Kaufhof Gallery shopping complex. home pedestrianized street connects Karlplatz with another central area Marienplatz.


Odeonplatz is an Italian-style square in the northern part of the historical center of Munich near Ludwigstrasse. Here you can admire a beautiful 17th century church in the late Baroque style with two powerful towers and a dome, a loggia similar to the structure in Piazza della Signoria in Florence, royal residence and the Hofgarten garden.


The residence is one of the largest palace complexes Germany, located near Odeonplatz on Max-Joseph-Platz. This is an impressive structure with an area of ​​more than 23,000 square meters. meters with luxurious halls in the style of classicism, baroque and rococo, decorated with objects of culture and art. The history of the Residence is more than 600 years. More than 40 original bronze sculptures from the 16th and 17th centuries are exhibited in the bronze halls of the palace, and the treasury contains royal regalia and other valuables.


The Olympic Park is one of the most beautiful and popular places in Munich. Built on the occasion of the 1972 Olympic Games. There are several famous places Bavaria: Olympic Stadium, Olympic Hall and Olympic Towers. In addition, here is the most big park entertainment in Bavaria, concerts, entertainment and cultural events, festivals and various sporting events are held.

Other sights of Munich

BMW Welt is a museum of the world famous BMW brand. Exhibitions and promotions, excursions around the museum and factory are held here.

Pinakothek is an art gallery in Munich. The Old Pinakothek exhibits European paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries, while the New and Modern Pinakothek displays about 400 works of art from the 18th to 20th centuries.


The Bavarian State Opera is one of the largest opera houses in the world, giving 450 performances annually.

Hofbräuhaus is an old beer house. Here you can touch the secrets and traditions of Bavarian brewing, enjoy regional cuisine, beer, music and folk dances that convey the historical atmosphere of Munich.


The Old Court is the old imperial residence, located along the road from Marienplatz. This is Munich's Kaiserburg, where the museum is located.



Oktoberfest is Germany's legendary beer festival, held annually in Munich in the fall from mid-September to early October. This is the largest beer festival in the world, visited by more than 6 million tourists. During this time, millions of liters of beer are drunk here. Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture and its roots go back to the Middle Ages.

Video - Munich