Where is Munich located in which country. Munich is the best city in Germany. A Brief History of Munich

In this article you will learn:

Munich is one of the largest cities in southern Germany, founded in 1158 and is the capital of. It is a large, rapidly developing industrial center. Electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, printing, sewing and chemical enterprises are located here.

The scientific field is widely developed in Munich. There are many universities here, as well as one of the largest European public libraries.

Munich is known for its large brewing production and traditions of drinking this drink. Munich breweries serve - folk festivals, a beer festival, famous throughout the world. It is celebrated on a grand scale in September-October every year on Terezin Meadow.

Story

Munich was given city status by the Bavarian ruler Heinrich the Lion. Soon city walls were built around the settlement, and Munich's long and rich history began. After the unification of all the duchies of Bavaria, which occurred in 1507, it became its full capital. During the Thirty Years' War (1618 -1648), Maximilian, who was at that time the Duke of Bavaria, took an active part in it. At one time, Napoleon visited Munich on a friendly visit. In 1818, the Bavarian Constitution was adopted for the first time.

The First World War is memorable for Munich because it was heavily bombed. And the post-war period became a difficult period for the city. The year 1923 was marked by the Beer Hall Putsch. Then Hitler carried out the first unsuccessful attempt to carry out a coup d'etat, during which he was arrested. But this did not stop the city from remaining the main city of the National Socialists.

Beer putsch “We want beer”

During World War II the city suffered significant destruction. During the post-war reconstruction, it was decided to follow the original layout as closely as possible. Today in Munich there is a fairly high standard of living - high quality and comfortable. It is a city characterized by a thriving economy and a wide variety of cultural life.

Attractions

Munich is a museum city, a collection of masterpiece architectural monuments, a venue for Oktoberfest and simply a city worthy of tourist attention. There are so many attractions in Munich and its surroundings that it is simply impossible to list them all. But the places that every tourist must see will be described below.

Marienplatz and New Town Hall

The center of Munich is crowned by the main square of the city, Marienplatz, with a Gothic palace called the New Town Hall. According to historical data, the town hall was built in the late 19th - early 20th centuries, although when looking at it one gets the impression that it is much older and has stood in this place for hundreds of years.

Marienplatz and Frauenkirche (in the background)

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Frauenkirche)

Tallest building in Munich. The authorities prohibit the construction of buildings higher than the Cathedral of the Blessed Mary.

The cathedral, in fact, is the crypt of the Wittelsbach family, who ruled Bavaria for more than 700 years.

The cathedral was built in the Gothic style and looks majestic, but for some reason it is not very welcomed by local residents, who speak contemptuously of this landmark of Munich.

Externally, the impressive and solid temple does not make the right impression when visiting it; inside, according to reviews from numerous visitors, it is uncomfortable, cold and squalid. Perhaps the attitude of local residents is influenced by the political background of the temple servants and their arrogance towards their parishioners, although that is another story.

Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Old Town Hall

This building is much more laconic, does not have the same elegance of decoration as the New Town Hall, and dates from earlier years of construction.

Old Town Hall

Glyptothek

A place where works of ancient sculptors of ancient Rome and ancient Greece accumulated. The museum was founded under King Charles I. Statues of various mythical characters can be seen in the Munich Glyptothek.

Glyptothek

Dachau Memorial Museum

This is probably one of the scariest museums of our time. A museum imbued with heavy energy, filled with the memory of thousands of deaths of children, women and men during the Second World War. The museum is based on the site of a former Nazi concentration camp. Only the sculpture erected at the entrance to the museum conveys the entire tragedy of those times.

Dachau Memorial Museum

St. Peter's Church

The oldest landmark of Munich with an ancient history, the church survived many fires and reconstructions, after which it successfully combines different architectural styles.

Peterskirche church

Church of St. John Nepomuk

This temple is better known as the Asamkirche Church. This name originated among the people due to the fact that it was the Azam brothers who built this temple on a small piece of land; they managed to erect a truly fundamental work of architectural art. The interior decoration of the church is stunning in its splendor.

Church of St. John Nepomuk

Olympic Park

The Munich Olympic Park was built to host the Summer Olympic Games in 1972. This is a favorite vacation spot for Munich residents; various cultural events are held here. Olympic complexes serve as training and sports bases for the training of athletes and for ordinary citizens to practice sports.

Olympic Park

BMW Museum

The BMW Museum is a sanctuary for fans of the German car brand. The whole history of the creation of one of the favorite brands of the German automobile industry. More than 120 car models, from the very first to the latest developments of the corporation. Huge selection of motorcycles. This museum will definitely be appreciated by men, but girls will also be interested there.

The museum's opening hours are from 10 to 18 daily, except Mondays. Ticket prices range from 6 (children) to 12 (adults) euros. Discounts for families and groups.

The museum is a 15-minute drive from Munich.

Oktoberfest

The main influx of tourists in Munich coincides with the main event in Bavaria -. Hundreds and thousands of tourists from all over the world come to this grandiose holiday dedicated to the favorite drink of the Bavarians. Beer flows like a river, tons of sausages are eaten, and a joyful mood reigns everywhere. Many connoisseurs of the foamy drink dream of a holiday in Munich for Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest

The city has one of the largest museums of scientific and technological achievements. Unusual museums include the Toy Museum.

Toy Museum Munich

A trip to Munich and getting to know its main attractions will surely be memorable for every traveler. The capital of Bavaria warmly and cordially welcomes visitors!

Sport

The variety of varieties presented in Munich allows everyone to find something to their liking. The close proximity to the Alpine Mountains gave impetus to the rapid development of skiing and tourism.

Seasonal mass roller skating through the city streets has become traditional on Monday evenings of each week. Marathon races, which are organized twice a year, have also become a tradition.

During the summer season, beach volleyball is very popular, with tournaments held on large beaches.

Of particular note is football. is the most famous German football club, which has a huge number of titles. The famous Allianz Arena is the home stadium of the grand club. Hockey and basketball are also well developed in Munich. At one time, the city hosted the Olympic Games and the World Football and Ice Hockey Championships.

club Bayern Munich

Transport

The main urban transport is trains and metro. Munich has a well-developed bus and tram network. Munich's main railway station has a huge passenger traffic and serves more than three hundred thousand passengers per day. In addition, there is the Ostbahnhof and Munich-Pasing in the west. Regional and international high-speed trains pass through them.

Munich Airport is one of the largest airports in Germany, handling up to fifty million passengers a year.

The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Munich and back

Munich is an important part of the motorways in southern Germany. From it originates movement to various parts of the country. From it you can travel to Austria and Italy.

There are several transport rings in the city: the old city, the highway and the middle one. Car traffic is greatly complicated by constant traffic jams.

Taxi

A taxi in the city is not cheap and costs 3.5 euros, plus for each kilometer you pay 1.5 -1.8 euros. Also, if you have a lot of luggage, the taxi driver will charge you 1.2 euros.

Bicycles

Munich is a city where cycling is well developed. It will cost you 3 euros per hour to rent a bike. If you were planning to ride all day - 15 euros. (Like everywhere else, you will be charged a deposit of 50 euros).

Excursions

If you are planning to visit Munich, the Tripster service will help you choose an excursion to your liking. Excellent guides or ordinary people living in Munich are ready to show you the city, its sights and beauty.

Where to stay in Munich

We suggest you take a look at the hotels that are located near the city center.

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 open-air museum of architecture of all European styles, from Gothic to Art Nouveau. 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 Wittelsbachs 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 fairy-tale castles around Munich), so the Bavarians are still very behave 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 Residenz, 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 the Old Town of Munich, it is 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 buildings specially built for them at the beginning of the 19th century, there are the Glyptotek (a collection of antique sculptures), Antique Collections (architecture, ceramics, friezes), the City Gallery/Lenbachhaus (a collection of works by the Blue Rider group, the avant-garde of the early 20th century, incl. including Wassily Kandinsky), the State Graphic Collection and, finally, the world famous Old 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. And 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 its beautiful park adjacent to it. In the North there is the Olympic Park, the huge Olympic Stadium and the 290-meter-high Olympic Tower, which offers a beautiful view 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: the prestigious ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the town of Weihenstephan, where the oldest brewery in the world operates in a former monastery, ancient Freising with its Romanesque basilica, Austrian Salzburg - the city of Mozart... In a word, the more If you manage to spend time in Munich, so much 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 of the state 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 production, 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, Glyptotek, Old and New Pinakothek, 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). A city railway line and a new metro line were built.

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 church.

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 - it is the largest city in Bavaria and the third largest among German cities.

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 named after. Max Planck, Hochschule für Musik, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Bavarian Academy of 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, an 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 of public transport in Munich is a network of fast trains connecting 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 transport zones of the city crossed (there are 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 largest airport in Germany by annual passenger traffic and the 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 a 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.

The Second World War brought devastating damage to the city, much of which was subsequently 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, quite a lot of tame swans swim in the artificial lake.

The architectural ensemble of Königplatz Square is beautiful, 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. The winter sports season in the Bavarian Alps runs from mid-December to mid-March, although it can get quite cold at times, especially in January.

Transport

Munich has an excellent integrated transport system (MVV), including the underground (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 begins 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 the train station (Hauptbahnhof), and purchase a monthly guide (Monatsprogramm) with a detailed program of 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 of colorful 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

The pedestrian zone of the historical center of 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 French influence 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 of 1848, because of a love story with the Spanish dancer Lola Montes, Ludwig I was forced to abdicate the throne. His son Maximilian inherited the throne and artistic traditions of his father, decorating Munich with beautiful buildings on Maximilianstrasse, and 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 20th 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 is a city of 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 sociological surveys, Munich is recognized as the best city in Germany.

← Munich attractions

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 the 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 of the 17th 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 wild and cultivated flora will be fascinated by the neat flower beds of the Munich-Nymphenburg Botanical Garden - as many as 18 hectares of relict ferns, cacti, magnolias, lilies and other green-variegated delights.

Architecture

The Wittelsbach family left Munich a decent collection of architectural masterpieces, which could have been even larger if not for the carpet bombings 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. The oldest temple in the city, Peterskirche or “old Peter”, as the Bavarians affectionately call it, grew up within the city 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 go up to the observation deck of the temple and 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. No less colorful is the Ludwig Mann University, an elite educational institution that has been churning out Nobel laureates for centuries. There are several buildings on the university property, and they are scattered throughout Munich, but the main building is undoubtedly considered the most beautiful - early Gothic, seasoned 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 - an 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 the Triumphal Arch of Munich, and the most compromising ones are taken in the Hofbräuhaus, an iconic beer hall that has been operating since 1607, whose benches perfectly remember Lenin and Hitler who had been having fun.

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 their alcoholic 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 going on a family tour of Bavaria are better off settling 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 have been served 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 also 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 - an absolute record that 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. Shopping can be no less interesting 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 is a tourist card that provides discounts on visiting 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), and 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 out interesting places in Munich is bus route No. 100, which runs 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. At the same time, it is more reasonable to rent a vehicle for a 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 the easiest way - buy a ticket valid for the white part of the city and ride as much as you want.

Zone XXL is the combination of the white and green areas of the transport map. 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) is a one-way ticket that covers four stops by ground transport and 2 stops by metro (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 lines S1 (terminal station - East Station) and S8 (terminal station - 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).

Munich from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Munich.

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The official motto of the Bavarian capital is “Munich loves you.” And indeed, when you get here, it’s easy to immediately feel the friendly, cheerful atmosphere of this southern German city. The capital of the federal state of Bavaria is not only and not so much a fun and riotous Oktoberfest, a great football team and a “mecca” for lovers of powerful cars. Situated on the banks of the Isar River, in southern Germany, in the foothills of the Alps, Munich attracts with its majestic cathedrals with high bell towers, sweeping front squares, ancient houses with richly decorated facades and flower baskets on the windows.

How to get to Munich

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Districts of Munich

The historic city center (Altstadt-Lehel), or simply Altstadt, is extremely easy to find - it is all within the famous Altstadtring "road loop". It is here that the lion's share of tourist attractions is located: both Town Halls, the former residence of the Bavarian kings, the National Theater, the legendary Hofbräuhaus and the Frauenkirche church. And here there are boutiques of famous brands, shopping centers, a lot of restaurants and hotels. All this splendor is crowned by the ancient gates leading to Altstadt: these are Karlstor, Isartor and Sendlinger Tor.

Maxvorstadt is both a bohemian and scientific district north of the Historic Center. Here are two leading universities in Germany - the renowned University of Munich and the Technical University of Munich. In addition, Maxvorstadt is home to high-quality art museums, such as the three famous Pinakotheks, the Lenbach House, the Glyptotek and the State Antiquities Collection. It's no wonder that many call this area the "brains of Munich." As a bonus there are a lot of small designer shops, bars and restaurants.

Schwabing and the English Garden are a very fashionable and at the same time charming quarter, located just outside the territory of the Ludwig Maximilian University, where small cafes, expensive shoe and clothing boutiques, a lot of specialized bookstores, galleries and restaurants await their guests. Schwabing has always been popular with artistic personalities - Thomas and Heinrich Mann, Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee, Vladimir Lenin (yes, the same one as Ilyich) and physicist Werner Heisenberg lived here. Looking at the area's shady, cozy boulevards, it's not hard to imagine why. The main points of attraction are Leopoldstrasse (plenty of cafes and bars), Hohenzollernstrasse (Hohenzollernstrasse and Kurfürstenplatz, shopping), as well as the English Garden - a huge green space in the heart of the city with streams, lakes and “beer gardens” in the east of Schwabing.

The Olympic Quarter (Olympiagelände), built, interestingly enough, on the site of the former Munich airport Oberwiesenfeld, appeared on the city map by 1972. In addition to the sports zone itself, a huge stadium, where the largest concerts in the country still take place, this area attracts attention with incredible views of the Bavarian Alps. One climb to the top of the Olympic “hill”, built from the rubble of World War II, provides stunning panoramas. Add to this the BMW Museum and Exhibition Center located a few minutes' walk from the park, and it becomes clear that visiting the Olympic Quarter is a must.

Neuhausen-Nymphenburg is perhaps one of the quietest areas of Munich. Take trams No. 12, 16 or 17 in the center of a multimillion-dollar city to the stop Romanplatz or Rotkreuzplatz, and before you know it, you will find yourself in the idyllic provincial outskirts of Bavaria. Tourists rarely come here, and in vain. Neuhausen is home to the world's largest beer garden. Well, Nymphenburg is the famous palace gardens and the elegant residence of Henrietta Adelaide of Savoy.

The district with the unpronounceable name Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt occupies the area south of Munich up to the central railway station. Despite the fact that compared to other quarters of the city, these two look somewhat dirty and untidy, they are home to the most gambling halls, the funniest strip clubs and the most delicious authentic restaurants of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. In the southwest of Ludwigsvorstadt there is the same Terezin meadow where the revelry Oktoberfest takes place every September-October. The center of Isarvorstadt is the Gärtnerplatz square, full of cafes and bars. The Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz theater, one of the best in the city, is also located here. From the southwest, the square is adjacent to depraved quarters with the hottest places in Munich, where, among other things, the Bavarian gay community “registered” (mostly in establishments along Müllerstrasse).

Finally, the last two areas. This is Haidhausen (Au-Haidhausen) with its Kultfabrik club area and the beautiful French quarter around Orleansplatz, the appearance of which has not changed, it seems, for a couple of hundred years. And the East of Munich, which unites Bogenhausen, Berg am Laim, Trudering-Riem and Ramersdorf-Perlach - mostly residential areas in the east of the Isar River, where the famous Hellabrunn Zoo is located, a good beach and, a little further, in the outskirts of Grunwald, a Bavarian film studio (actually , studio and theme park).

Munich Hotels

Transport

Munich is a large city, not much smaller in size than Berlin or Hamburg, so the issue of public transport is very important here. You can and should walk directly around Altstadt; moreover, this is a so-called car-free zone. But getting to Nymphenburg Palace or the BMW Museum, for example, without a bus will be problematic.

Buses, trams, metro (underground U-Bahn and light overground S-Bahn) and electric trains run throughout the city. On average, the fare varies from 1.5 to 5 EUR, depending on the number of “zones” crossed (there are four in total). A day pass will cost about 6.5 EUR per person or about 12 EUR for a group of up to 5 tourists who must travel together (that is, you will have to present the ticket to the conductor as a group). An IsarCard weekly pass costs about 15 EUR. You can buy travel cards and tickets for one trip from bus drivers, but in the metro there are no ticket offices, only special MVV machines, almost the same ones in trams. All tickets must be validated, otherwise a fine of up to 40 EUR. A “punched” ticket is valid for 2 hours within its zone, you can change as many times as you like, just follow your own direction and on “your” territory. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Look out for bus line 1000, also called the Museenlinie (“museum line”). It departs every 10 minutes from the Ostbahnhof to the main railway station, passing the best Munich museums (for example, the Bavarian Museum), as well as the English Garden and Königplatz.

Taxi

A taxi costs 3.5 EUR per ride plus 1.5-1.8 EUR per kilometer. You will have to pay extra for luggage: 1.2 EUR per suitcase. A trip, for example, from the city center of Marienplatz to the station area, where most hotels are located, will cost 10-15 EUR.

Bicycles

Munich is, as they say, a bike-friendly city. You can find bicycle rentals everywhere; one of the largest and most conveniently located rental points is located near the main station, at Arnulfstrasse 2. Cost: 3 EUR per hour, 15-18 EUR per day. A deposit of approximately 50 EUR in cash or credit card is required.

Maps of Munich

Rent a Car

Munich is charmingly beautiful and in terms of excursions, there is little point in renting a car here, if not for one “but”. And this is called “but” - the surrounding area. The Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle, amusement parks, Nuremberg restored brick by brick and a dozen other places that need no introduction. Rental offices (Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt and others) are plentiful at the airport, train station and throughout the city, but it is better to book in advance.

Now - the disadvantages: a lot of one-way and pedestrian streets, parking is a problem, showdowns with the parking meter for a ticket - a nightmare with cold sweat. The cost in the center is from 1.7 to 2.2 EUR per hour. The average cost of an economy class car is 30-35 EUR per day.

Munich CityTourCard

The Munich CityTourCard is designed to make life easier for tourists and significantly reduce their costs. In addition to discounts to various museums and the main “must-sees” of the city, in the booklet that is issued along with the card, you can find two lunches for the price of one, discounts on souvenirs, bicycle rentals and similar entertainment. There is a card for one tourist, or for five at once, which is much more profitable (two children from 6 to 14 years old are considered as one adult).

The cost for 1 day for 1/5 tourists in the city is 12.9/19.9 EUR, for 3 days - 24.9/39.9 EUR. The same card, but valid for most of the Munich area, is valid for at least 3 days and costs 32.9/53.9 EUR. You can find out detailed information and purchase a card online on the official website.

If you want to go to the sights of Bavaria (for example, Neuschwanstein Castle or Nuremberg), it is better for tourists to purchase a “Bavarian Travel Pass”. This Bavarian Pass is valid for 5 people and costs 28 EUR for the whole day. Considering that a one-way ticket to Fussen (where the aforementioned castle is located) costs 24-27 EUR for one person, the benefits of such a pass are simply undeniable.

Shopping

Munich has really good shopping with a lot of shops for every taste and budget. An endless network of shopping streets runs from Marienplatz square and further, to the pedestrian shopping arteries Kaufingerstrasse and Neuhauser Strasse. All goods are hand-picked: high-quality, but often not cheap; local society does not waste money on consumer goods. Therefore, the best time to shop here is during the Christmas sales or at the end of summer, when stores get rid of summer collections.

The most elegant boutiques are located on Briennerstrasse, Maximilianstrasse (which also has a rich selection of art galleries), Maffeistrasse and Theatinestrasse. Here are the top designers from all over Europe: Jil Sander, Joop, Bogner, Max Dietl, Rudolph Moshammer. In search of interesting souvenirs and antiques, it is worth taking a stroll along Ottostrasse. Well, vintage second-hand and costumes from bygone eras are on Westenriederstrasse.

Christmas market at Marienplatz

The Christkindlmarkt, or Christmas market, which takes place every year from late November to late December, is perhaps the most important event for the city's residents (after Oktoberfest, of course). During the month, on the main square of Munich, the counters are bursting with handmade toys, Christmas tree decorations and all kinds of goodies, sweets, snacks, gingerbread and smoked meats, flavored with a hefty portion of mulled wine.

What to try

The cuisine of Munich is a reason not only for a separate article, but for a separate website. Dozens of breweries that have been operating since the 13th-15th centuries, the traditional salted pretzel (about 1 EUR per piece), aromatic pork knee (about 15 EUR) with the age-old stewed cabbage and potatoes, and finally, sausages... What kind of sausages and sausages are there in Munich (from 6 EUR for 2 pieces)! However, keep in mind, in order to be considered a real Bavarian, under no circumstances eat the famous white sausages after noon - locals eat this dish exclusively for breakfast. Another important nuance - a basket or stand of pretzels on every table does not mean that they are free. Most likely, a meticulous German waiter will count each “salty gingerbread” eaten and add it to the bill (approximately +0.5-1 EUR per pretzel).

What is worth knowing for sure: they love to eat here, and they eat a lot, so the size of the portions is sometimes amazing.

Every autumn (late September - early October) the Theresienwiese meadow hosts the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, which has been going on for almost 200 years, for which they even brew a special kind of beer - Wiesn.

Cafes and restaurants in Munich

You can try all of the above miracles in abundance in the city center, no matter which restaurant you choose, it will be guaranteed to be delicious everywhere. There are two must-see places: the restaurant-beer hall under the town hall and the Hofbrauhaus. The first one is hard to miss, as it is located on the main square of Marienplatz directly under the town hall building, inviting tourists into its chambers from any side of the building, no matter where you go around. In the second, which is located two minutes east of Marienplatz, Hitler himself once treated himself to beer, and indeed this is one of the most famous and truly delicious establishments in the whole city.

In addition, in the capital of Bavaria there are as many as 8 restaurants that have received Michelin stars, the average bill in them will be 120-140 EUR per person. In a standard pub you can have a wonderful dinner for 30-50 EUR; a glass of beer here will cost 3-4 EUR. Cheaper - in Asian restaurants or buying takeaway food (up to 6-10 EUR for a hefty hamburger or a good couple of sausages).

In general, in Munich it is difficult to distinguish a beer hall from a restaurant: the portions are large everywhere (no, even very large), freshly brewed beer is served everywhere, the price tag is about the same. There are all sorts of cafe-bakeries that stand apart, where it is so nice to have breakfast with fresh pastries.

The best photos of Munich

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Guides in Munich

Entertainment and attractions in Munich

Tourists are guaranteed at least a couple of hours of an exciting walk around Marienplatz, since almost every corner of this square is occupied by a souvenir shop or a cozy beer garden, which invite you to sit down in the open air with a mug of an amber drink.

The religious architecture of Munich should also be given its due. In particular, the amazing Baroque Cathedral of St. Michael, where the remains of Ludwig II are buried, attracts attention. You can take an elevator to one of its towers for an amazing panorama of old Munich. Another beautiful panorama opens from the observation deck of the Peterskirche, the oldest church in the city with a lantern-shaped dome. Finally, the highest cathedral of the Frauenkirche, that is, the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin, built in the 14th and 15th centuries, is also worth a visit.

Another “trick” of Munich is museums and parks. It is difficult to imagine the capital of Bavaria without lush green canopies, wild forest areas or formal gardens laid out around the entire center. The best of them are the royal Hofgarten or the shady English Garden, where families with children like to spend time, having picnics, lazily passing a plate to each other, or simply enjoying a fine day by one of its ponds.

Castles of Munich

Within the city there are two noteworthy “schlosses” - Nymphenburg and Blutenburg. Nymphenburg Palace is the Bavarian Versailles. Behind the palace is a French park: canals, statues, paths, bridges, benches. There is also the Amalienburg wing - a wonder of the world: at the top there is an observation deck, inside there is an entrance hall, a bedroom, a kitchen and a living room - all mirrored. A few steps from the main palace is the entrance to the Botanical Garden, one of the best gardens in Germany. Blutenburg is not so good architecturally, but it does not go without the attention of tourists, because its walls preserve the story of forbidden love between the heir of the Duke of Bavaria and the daughter of a simple barber. And, of course, we cannot fail to mention Neuschwanstein, which needs no introduction, located a couple of hours by train from Munich.

Dachau concentration camp

A special, without exaggeration, terrible page in the history of all of Europe. Fortunately, little remains from the Dachau concentration camp (1943-1945): a couple of crematoria and an administrative building. Everything is filled with panels hanging from the ceiling, on which are photographs and texts, dryly stating facts - from holiday leave to experiments on people. Keep in mind, the exhibition is quite impressive and many people will faint by the end of the tour.

Despite the blasphemous assumption that in Munich “it’s not just beer” - this is really true. Local museum collections can compete in the number of masterpieces with some not so dusty European capital.

Museums of Munich

Despite the blasphemous assumption that in Munich “it’s not just beer” - this is really true. Local museum collections can compete in the number of masterpieces with some not so dusty European capital. For example, in the Königsplatz area, in a relatively small space, there are as many as three pinakotheks, a glyptothek (a collection of antique vessels and statues, mostly in copies) and a Crystal Museum.

The Alte Pinakothek has a gorgeous collection: Bruegel, Durer, Cranach, Rubens. In the Neue Pinakothek - 19th century: Cezanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh. The Pinakothek of Modern Art is interesting with rotating exhibitions, as well as works by Joseph Beuys. Finally, we advise aesthetes and lovers to take a look at the Lenbach House - a villa with an exhibition of “The Blue Rider” in general and Kandinsky in particular. (The branch is at the nearest Konigsplatz metro station, directly underground). As well as the City Museum on St. Jacobsplatz and the Film Museum, where good and rare films are shown. The exhibits of the Residence Museum are a grandiose collection of the Elector's luxury. Not far from the museum are the Hofgarten and Odeonsplatz park, the State Library and the University.

On Sundays, treasures from all three Munich Pinakotheks are available for a nominal fee of 1 EUR. The same thing happens with the cost of entrance tickets to the Glyptothek, the Ancient Collection and the Bavarian National Museum. Here it is, socialism in the flesh - art to the masses!

5 things to do in Munich

1. Of course, you can try all these varieties - light, wheat, dark, unfiltered and otherwise unfiltered - in one of the old beer houses in the city.
2. Climb to the observation deck of St. Michael's Cathedral on a clear day to see the Alps.
3. Give a jolt to your body, weakened by beer, in the Lenbach House, looking at the paintings of Kandinsky, Klee and other geniuses of the Blue Rider group.
4. Feel the Munich rhythm of life by lying for an hour on the emerald lawn of the English Garden.
5. Visit the same “sausage pan”, “gas cap” or “soup bowl” that houses the most amazing cars of the 21st century - of course, we are talking about a first-class BMW museum.

Munich for children

Parents, take a breath! Munich is an ideal city for tourists with children. In addition to all kinds of playgrounds, equipped like our “Soviet” childhood never dreamed of, parks and lakes for pleasant walks, there are even special family beer gardens open here - with children’s play areas and a multilingual crowd in diapers.

Where to go with children: to Tierpark Hellabrunn to pet goats, feed pelicans, look at falcons and hawks, ride a camel and generally get unforgettable memories at the city zoo. SeaLife München in the Olympic Park is basically the same thing, but underwater (except you won’t ride a shark). Fans of dinosaurs should head straight to the Paleontological Museum; Parents should be patient; half a day here is not the limit for die-hard fans of extinct lizards.

Garmisch or neighboring Austria.

Munich is a city of 1.5 million people and the capital of Bavaria, the largest region in the southeast. Tours to Munich are popular among travelers due to the huge number of historical monuments, picturesque nature and the status of the “beer capital” of the world - the famous Oktoberfest festival takes place here. The city lives by the motto “Munich loves you”, and this is felt in everything. Bavarians are smiling, friendly, and the city has an atmosphere of endless celebration.

How to get there

To visit Munich you need a Schengen visa.

A direct flight to Munich from takes 3 hours 15 minutes, from Munich - 2 hours 55 minutes. Landing takes place at Munich International Airport "Franz Josef Strauss" 32 kilometers from the city. From the airport you can get to the center of Munich by S-Bahn (lines S1 and S8). Flixbus and Lufthansa Express buses also go to the center.

Round-trip flights to Munich

Prices for tickets per person departing from Berlin are shown.

Hotels

In Munich, both budget and wealthy tourists will find a hotel that is affordable. There are both hotels of famous world chains and inexpensive hostels. Almost all hotels and apartments offer free Wi-Fi. If you're going to Munich for Oktoberfest or New Year's, it's worth booking your accommodation several months in advance.

The most expensive hotels in Munich are located closer to the center. Hotels on Munich's busiest street, Schillerstrasse, are usually chosen by young people and active tourists. At night it is quite noisy due to the numerous bars and beer restaurants. For the comfort of home and a good night's sleep, it is better to go to hotels in residential areas.

Attractions

The best place to start exploring Munich is from the center - the main square of the city, Marienplatz. Here is the building of the New Town Hall with the famous Glockenspiel chimes. Several times a day, at the striking of the clock, a puppet show takes place at the town hall. The 85-meter tower of the New Town Hall has an observation deck that offers panoramic views of the old town.

Here, on the square, is St. Peter's Cathedral. According to legend, it was on this spot that the city was born. You need to get into the church at least to climb up to the observation deck and see the mesmerizing panorama of Munich.

Not far from Marienplatz is the main church of Munich - Frauenkirche. These are the same 99-meter towers that are usually depicted on souvenirs and postcards from Munich. The history of the church goes back to the 15th century. According to legend, the Devil himself left his mark inside the church - his imprint can be seen at the entrance. The cathedral was built in the Baroque style and is considered the most beautiful architectural monument in Bavaria.

There are so many museums in Munich that it’s impossible to see them all in a few days. The Deutsche Museum is not to be missed. It is located on Museum Island on the Isar River. These are huge exhibition halls dedicated to technology, science and transport. Here, for example, a real rocket is on display as an exhibit. The planetarium and miniatures section are especially popular.

The Alte Pinakothek is another must-see museum in Munich. Paintings dating from the 14th to 16th centuries are presented here. In Munich's oldest art museum you can see works by Da Vinci, Botticelli and Brandt. Directly opposite the museum is the Neue Pinakothek. Paintings and sculptures by masters of the 19th and early 20th centuries are exhibited here, including Claude Monet and Van Gogh.

When traveling to Munich with children, don't forget to check out the Munich Zoo - the largest in Europe. Here you can feed wild animals from special machines, and also learn the geography of the earth in a playful way.

Bavarians love to spend time in their city garden. The English Garden became famous throughout the world due to its size. It stretches from the center to the northern outskirts. Even New York's Central Park is larger in area. It’s nice to sit on the lawn here, listen to the birds singing and plunge into the atmosphere of slow-paced Bavarian life.

Oktoberfest

Every year at the end of September - beginning of October, lovers of the foamy drink from all over the planet flock to Munich. Festival-goers drink millions of liters of beer and eat thousands of kilograms of branded sausages, pretzels and pork knuckles. Due to the great popularity of Oktoberfest, autumn is the busiest time in Munich. There are crowds of tourists on the streets, and there are no empty rooms in the hotels.

The scale of the festival is also indicated by the number of things lost by visitors. The organizers keep such funny statistics. For example, in 2018, after the festival, 2,685 lost items were found, including 840 passports, 460 wallets, 350 phones, 300 keys, 140 glasses, 130 jewelry, 90 bags and backpacks, 20 umbrellas and 5 video cameras, as well as several wedding rings.

Kitchen

The Bavarians managed to preserve the culinary traditions of their ancestors. They use the same seasonings in the kitchen as they did hundreds of years ago. That is why you should definitely try national dishes in Munich. Pork knuckles, sausages, pates and cheeses here have an incomparable taste. You can start your gastronomic tour in one of the Munich restaurants with cold appetizers. For example, with obatsda cheese pate. It contains cottage cheese, grated cheese, dill, herbs and, of course, beer. The pate is served with a signature salted pretzel.

Other popular light dishes include Munich weisswurst sausages. They are white in color because they contain no dyes or additives, but only minced veal, lard and parsley. The sausages are prepared very quickly - immersed in boiling water for a few minutes. Weisswurst is served with signature honey mustard. Bavarians don’t really like soups, but if they make them, you can fill up on them for the day ahead, they are so filling and fatty. Traditional eintopf is usually made from whatever is in the Municher's refrigerator. Potatoes, pasta, meat and legumes are placed in a strong beef broth.

If you decide to try the classics of Bavarian cuisine, be sure to order the Schweinhaxe pork knuckle. This is a pork leg that is soaked in a proprietary marinade and baked until crispy. Potato dumplings are prepared as a side dish for the knuckle. And according to ancient tradition, meat is served with a fork stuck into it.

If after this high-calorie feast you can still handle dessert, then order a piece of the signature Munich multi-layer cake. Several layers of sponge cake and meringue are combined with a nut layer and butter cream.

Souvenirs

What else can you bring from the beer capital if not beer and a beer mug? Traditional cups for a foamy drink are sold in volumes of half a liter, as well as a liter, two and even more. The famous pretzel can also become an edible souvenir. This is the same Munich pretzel, which is prepared according to a special recipe from salt dough. Mustard jars and local seasonings are also popular.

The national costumes of the Bavarians are their special pride. Munich people love and wear their traditional outfits even in everyday life. Bringing leather brewer's trousers with suspenders from Munich or a lace blouse with a low neckline for a lady is a special chic. Costumes are expensive, but you can at least take with you the famous Tyrolean hat with a feather for a few euros.

Transport

You can get around the city by metro (U-Bahn), city trains (S-Bahn), buses and trams. Getting anywhere is not a problem - the transport network covers the entire city. Tickets are valid for all types of transport, but differ in the area of ​​validity and duration of the trip. You can purchase a single trip ticket, an all-day ticket, a group ticket, as well as tourist cards. It is better to view all types of tickets on the Munich Transport website - MVV. The ticket must be validated and kept until the end of the trip in order to present it to the controller.

Good to know

• In winter, clocks in Munich are 2 hours behind Moscow, in summer - 1 hour.
• Shops close exactly at 20:00, and on Sunday many establishments are not open at all.
• City Day is celebrated in mid-June. Fairs, concerts, and theatrical performances take place throughout Munich.
• In 2020, Oktoberfest will take place from September 19 to October 4.