Munich

ABOUT

About Munich

Munich, Bavaria’s capital, is home to centuries-old buildings and numerous museums. The city is known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and its beer halls, including the famed Hofbräuhaus, founded in 1589. In the Altstadt, central Marienplatz square contains landmarks such as Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus, with a popular glockenspiel show that chimes and reenacts stories from the 16th century. Other notable sites include the 12th-century St. Peter’s Church and iconic 15th-century Frauenkirche cathedral, with its twin bell towers. The neoclassical National Theater and the rococo Cuvilliés Theater host performances by the State Opera and the State Ballet. Highlights of the Museum Quarter include Pinakothek museums exhibiting everything from Old Masters to modern art. Maximilianstrasse offers fashion boutiques and restaurants, and the bustling Viktualienmarkt sells produce cheese and sausages. The Englischer Garten is a large park popular for sunbathing.

TOP SIGHTS

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is a 19th-century romantic eclecticism palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria. The palace was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and in honor of Richard Wagner. The suite of rooms within the Palace contains the Throne Room, King Ludwig's suite, the Singers' Hall, and the Grotto. The palace has appeared prominently in several movies such as Helmut Käutner's Ludwig II, Luchino Visconti's Ludwig, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the war drama The Great Escape.

Linderhof Palace

Linderhof Palace is a Schloss in Germany, in southwest Bavaria near the village of Ettal. It is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which he lived to see completed. The gardens surrounding Linderhof Palace are considered one of the most beautiful creations of historicist garden design, designed by Court Garden Director Carl von Effner.

Nymphenburg Palace

Nymphenburg Palace is a Baroque palace situated in Munich's western district Neuhausen-Nymphenburg, in Bavaria. Combined with the adjacent Nymphenburg Palace Park it constitutes one of the premier royal palaces of Europe. The Nymphenburg served as the main summer residence for the former rulers of Bavaria of the House of Wittelsbach. Some rooms still show their original baroque decoration while others were later redesigned in rococo or neoclassical style.

Englischer Garten

Englischer Garten is a large public park in the centre of Munich and one of the largest city parks in Europe. Elector Karl Theodor first commissioned the park as a municipal garden for the people of the city over 225 years ago. The meadows and paths of the park are packed with sun-worshippers, football enthusiasts, cyclists and walkers.

Marienplatz

Marienplatz is a central square in the city center of Munich since 1158. Marienplatz was named after the Mariensäule, a Marian column erected in its centre in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation. Today the Marienplatz is dominated by the New City Hall on the north side and the Old City Hall on the east side. Three weeks before Christmas the Christkindlmarkt opens at Marienplatz and other squares in the city, selling Christmas goods and food and drink.

Residenz

Residenz in central Munich is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is today open to visitors for its architecture, room decorations, and displays from the former royal collections. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and displays 130 rooms. It also houses the Herkulessaal or Hercules Hall, the primary concert venue for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Hofbräuhaus am Platzl

Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is a beer hall in Munich, Germany, originally built in 1589 by Bavarian Duke Maximilian I. Today, the Hofbräuhaus Bavarian State Brewery in Munich is one of two still Bavarian-run traditional Munich breweries. Munich's largest tourist attraction after the Oktoberfest, the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is also frequented by locals, many of whom keep their personal steins stored there.

Frauenkirche

Frauenkirche is a church in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, that serves as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and seat of its Archbishop. It is a landmark and is considered a symbol of the Bavarian capital city. It is among the largest hall churches in southern Germany. A rich collection of 14th to 18th-century artwork of notable artists like Peter Candid, Erasmus Grasser, Jan Polack, Hans Leinberger, Hans Krumpper, and Ignaz Günther decorates the interior of the cathedral.

New Town Hall

New Town Hall is a town hall in the northern part of Marienplatz in Munich. It hosts the city government including the city council, offices of the mayors, and a small portion of the administration. Numerous glass windows with local, regional, national, international, and religious motifs adorn the building.

BMW Museum

BMW Museum is an automobile museum of BMW history located near the Olympiapark in Munich. The museum shows BMW's technical development throughout the company's history. It contains engines and turbines, aircraft, motorcycles, and vehicles in a plethora of possible variations.