München means monks. The city began as a village for monks in 1158,
founded by Saxon duke Henry the Lion who had a temporary job as ruler of
Bavaria. Only a century ago, Munich was the capital of an independent Bavaria,
complete with palaces, cathedrals, parks and wide avenues. Today's Munich has
almost 1.5 million residents, a thriving city center, and historic and artistic
districts. Its size is large but visitors will find the city pedestrian-friendly and easy
to navigate. Although Munich's wealth of sights and activities justify a two- to
three-day stay, the most important sights can be seen in a day, depending on how
much shopping and/or drinking you do. I've listed the most popular and worthy
ones below.
Munich's medieval city center is ideal for the walking traveler. The Altstadt has a pedestrian
street running through it from Karlstor on the west side (near the train
station) to Isartor on the east side of the ring. You can walk the pedestrian
mall in about 15 minutes. Streets ring the Altstadt (old town) where the
old city walls once stood. Boundaries are marked by gates: Sendlinger Tor, Isartor, Karlstor, and
Odeonsplatz. The circular Altstadt is only about one square kilometer, but this
small area has enough shops, theaters, museums, historical sites, and beer
gardens to attract 300,000 visitors a day.
The pedestrian mall stretches east from Karlstor along Neuhauserstrasse and
then Kaufingerstrasse until it reaches Marienplatz. This half-mile mall is lined
with shops, so expect a lot of tourist congestion here. While the mall's stone
pavement and fountains are cheery and inviting, the shops will be familiar
international chains. As you get closer to Marienplatz, the stores get more
expensive.
The heart of the old town is Marienplatz, the colorful square stuffed with
overflowing flower boxes and dominated by the Neues Rathaus (New City Hall). Street musicians and artists perform for the
crowds waiting to see the Rathaus Glockenspiel, on display daily at 11:00 am every day and also
at noon and 5 pm during tourist season. Although the Glockenspiel is not very old, dating
from 1903, its 32 wooden figures reenact historic events. On the
lower half, you can see a Coopers Dance, first performed at the end of the
plague some centuries before. The top half of the Glockenspiel shows the wedding
of Wilhelm V and bride in 1568. In case you're wondering, there is also an
Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) near St. Peter's on the east side of Marienplatz.
It's a beautiful building with spires and towers.
In the center of the square is the 1590 Mariensäule (Mary's column), topped with a
statue of the Virgin Mary. The bottom depicts the usual northern European mania
for Plague, Hunger, War and Heresy. The statue is an important landmark for
Munich, since Mary is the city's patron saint.
On hot days, the Fischbrunnen (fish fountain) is a refreshing sight right
next to the Mariensäule. Local lore has residents washing their purses on Ash
Wednesday because this method keeps them from ever going empty. For the
skeptical traveler who would rather wash something down his or her throat, the
famous Hofbräuhaus is just a
short walk away. Modestly calling itself "the most famous beerhall in the
world," the Hofbräuhaus does not hesitate to draw on its reputation.
Tourists flock to this brewery like ants to a picnic. You won't find many locals
here but the traditional Bavarian meals are reasonably priced.
In the Altstadt are several renowned churches and cathedrals. Stop in to see
the magnificent vaulted ceilings of the late Gothic Cathedral Church of our Lady
on Frauenplatz 1. There is a terrific view of the city from this church, as
there is from St. Peter's Church. This is Munich's oldest church, so the locals
call it "Alter Peter." On its site is where the monks in 1158 began
building the core of today's Munich. The Baroque interior of St. Michael's
church is also worth a look during your visit.
There are two annual events that make Munich famous. First, there's Oktoberfest.
This annual beery festival attracts six million visitors who drink almost as
many liters of good Munich brew. Taking place from the last week of September
through the first week in October, the Oktoberfest fairgrounds are alive with
music, folk performers, and lively participants. Second, the Christmas
Market on Marienplatz takes place every day in December until Christmas
Eve.
