Photography - Ivan Andrejic
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Simply Munich A modern, cosmopolitan city with a big heart and a long heritage, as suave as it is easygoing, buzzing and yet tranquil. Munich is Germany’s lifestyle capital. You don’t have to be rich and beautiful to feel right at home in Munich, but it doesn’t hurt. Besides, these characteristics aren’t confined to strict dictionary definitions. Rich is he who has the time to leisurely amble through the splendid city centre, stopping here and there just to soak up the atmosphere. And beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all. That said, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful squares in Germany has to be Marienplatz square – it is the heart of Munich and is home to the Old and New Town Halls. The town hall glockenspiel is as much part of Munich’s identity as the Hofbräuhaus beer hall or the iconic Church of Our Lady, whose green dome-crested towers can be seen for miles around. Browsing the stalls of the Viktualienmarkt is a feast for all the senses. There’s simply everything on offer at the city’s famous food market – from traditional Bavarian specialities to exotic delicacies. But take note, bargaining and haggling have no place in the Munich lifestyle – so don’t be tempted to try, least of all on the luxury shopping boulevards such as Ludwigstrasse, Maximilianstrasse, Kaufinger Strasse or the Tal. Everything on sale in these streets has a high price to match its high quality, from the latest fashions to wonderful antiques. For a far more affordable, not to mention more relaxed, shopping experience, head to Munich’s pub and club quarter, which is no longer confined to the trendy Schwabing district, but also extends around Glockenbachviertel, Gärtnerplatz square and Müllerstrasse.
Marienplatz There’s always something going on in this world-famous square – whether it’s the Christmas market, the city’s anniversary celebrations, the Glockenspiel, championship celebrations for FC Bayern or public gatherings for a variety of occasions. Icon zur Trennung von Inhalten Marienplatz (square) has been at the centre of the city since Munich was founded by Henry the Lion in 1158. It was the point at which all of the new city’s most important streets met. These days, you can sit in the shadows of the Neues and Altes Rathaus (New and Old Town Halls) and enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee, watching the hustle and bustle around you. It is also the ideal place to start a tour of the shops in the pedestrian zone or Viktualienmarkt. If you want to act like a true native of Munich, arrange to meet up at the Fischbrunnen (fountain) in front of the main entrance to the Neues Rathaus. At the centre of Marienplatz, you will find the Mariensäule (column). On top of the column, a golden statue of the Virgin Mary, the Patrona Bavariae, watches over the city and the state of Bavaria. The Mariensäule is the centre of Munich, which is why it is used as a starting point for signposts from other locations to the city.
Feldherrnhalle Anyone familiar with the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence may not believe their eyes when they get their first glimpse of the Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshalls’ Hall) on Odeonsplatz square – the grand building with its three rounded archways looks almost identical to its Italian role model. Icon zur Trennung von Inhalten Of course, the Feldherrnhalle is a little younger than the original copy in Florence: It was built between 1841 and 1844 by the architect Friedrich von Gärtner on behalf of King Ludwig I, who – as well as being a passionate admirer of Ancient Greece – was also a big fan of Italian art. While he was still Crown Price, the monarch took countless trips to Italy and even owned his own villa in Rome. The Feldherrnhalle plays an important role in Munich’s history: King Ludwig I had the structure built as a tribute to the glory of the Bavarian army. The two bronze statues in the side arcades were cast from melted canons: they depict the Count of Tilly, a victorious general in the Catholic League during the Thirty Years’ War, and General von Wrede, who commanded Bavarian troops in the battle against Napoleon’s army.
Englischer Garten An oasis of green right in the middle of Munich: the Englischer Garten is equivalent to the size of around 640 football pitches, making it the largest inner city park in the world. Icon zur Trennung von Inhalten If you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the city, you can wander around its woods, meadows, streams and lakes, which stretch from Odeonsplatz (square) far into the northern part of the city – breathe in the fresh air and blow the cobwebs away. To experience the Munich lifestyle at its finest, visit one of the park’s four beer gardens – Aumeister, the Chinesischer Turm (the Chinese Tower), Hirschau or Seehaus. Elector Karl Theodor first commissioned the park as a municipal garden for the people of the city over 225 years ago. It was originally known as Theodors Park, though this name was soon replaced by Englischer Garten on account of its style which eschewed the geometric design of a French Baroque garden in favour of the natural style of an English country park.
Surfing in Munich One of Munich’s top attractions for sports fans and tourists alike. The Eisbachwelle is the largest, best and most consistent city centre location for river surfing. Icon zur Trennung von Inhalten The waves on the Eisbach river at the entrance to the Englischer Garten (park) attract surfers and onlookers from around the world. The spot is famous throughout the world for being the largest, best and most consistent city centre location for river surfing. People have been surfing here for 40 years. The man-made Eisbach river emerges from underground just a few steps away from the Haus der Kunst (art gallery) on Prinzregentenstrasse in the Lehel district. A stone step at the outlet generates a standing wave about half a metre tall. The surfers’ stunts are a popular snapshot for the large crowds that gather to watch. Thanks to their wetsuits, surfers can ride the waves any time they want and in all weather conditions, even in winter.
Schloss Nymphenburg Schloss Nymphenburg (palace) had already made its name across Europe by the 1700s. As a royal summer residence, it was originally a retreat for the royal court of Munich. Icon zur Trennung von Inhalten Elector Ferdinand Maria had the palace built as a gift for his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy following the birth of their long-awaited son Max Emanuel. Building work started in 1664. The master builders Agostino Barelli and Enrico Zuccalli originally designed Nymphenburg as a baroque palace. Its rococo and neoclassical elements were not added until later on. Nymphenburg is not just home to the Bavarian royal family’s lavish palace; the grounds also include a large park containing unique water features, an extensive selection of sculptures and unusual pavilions.
Schatzkammer The collection of precious items on show at the Schatzkammer (treasury) at Munich’s Residenz palace is one the best examples of its type in the world. Icon zur Trennung von Inhalten As you would expect for a palace once owned by a ruling dynasty, the Wittelsbach family’s Residenz palace houses a whole chamber full of treasures. Crowns and magnificent receptacles made from luxurious materials sit alongside stunning examples of handicrafts and more exotic curiosities. In 1565, Duke Albrecht V. of Bavaria was wise enough to think ahead and ordered that, under no circumstances, should his family’s treasures ever be sold. While the collection was only ever open to a select few in the past, it is now accessible to the wider public.
Cuvilliés-Theater A venue that once hosted Napoleon, the Cuvilliés-Theater (Cuvilliés Theatre) in Munich’s Residenz palace is known as Germany’s finest Rococo theatre. When the French emperor travelled to Munich in 1806 to mark Bavaria’s newly raised status to that of a kingdom, the Cuvilliés Theatre hosted two operas in his honour: “Das unterbrochene Opferfest” by Peter von Winter and Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”. By this point, the theatre was already over half a century old. When a fire broke out in the Residenz palace in 1750, burning the entire royal theatre to the ground, Elector Max III Joseph commissioned the construction of a new opera house. When construction was completed, the theatre, which is now named after its architect François Cuvilliés, was celebrated as a “jewel of rococo design”. The magnificent venue hosted countless elaborate productions of famous operas. Mozart’s opera “Idomeneo” even received its world premiere here in 1781. However, in the early 19th century, it entered a period of decline. At this point, the theatre was no longer reserved exclusively for the royal court but was also open to the citizens of Munich. By then, the theatre’s rococo décor was seen as a relic of times gone by. Under the rule of King Ludwig I, the theatre company stopped performing altogether and all of the theatre’s interior fittings were removed. For a while, the room was used merely as a storage area for the neighbouring Nationaltheater.
Art district Munich became one of Europe’s leading art metropolises as early as during the reign of King Ludwig I. Today, the Kunstareal art district –home to the two Pinakothek art museums and Königsplatz among other attractions, as well as world-famous buildings such as the Residenz palace and the Nationaltheater – ensures that the Bavarian capital remains one of the most significant international cultural locations to this day.
State Museum of Classical Art One of the world’s most important collections of Greek, Roman and Etruscan minor art is on display in the Staatliche Antikensammlungen (State Museum of Classical Art) on Königsplatz square. The museum is home to an outstanding selection of Greek vases with world famous pieces from the 5th and 6th century B.C. Visitors here can also discover small Antique sculptures in bronze and terracotta, intricate gold work and masterpieces in Antique glass-blowing. The majority of the exhibits come from the Wittelsbach family’s collection of antiques. King Ludwig I was especially fond of Antique art and began collecting Greek and Roman artwork while he was still the Crown Prince.
Museum of Egyptian Art Explore Munich’s Egyptian Museum, which covers 5,000 years of Ancient Egyptian art and culture. The Ägyptische Museum (State Museum of Egyptian Art) in Munich is the only museum outside of Egypt dedicated exclusively to pieces from Ancient Egypt. Opened in 2013, the museum’s exhibition space is completely underground, so visitors get a sense of what it was like to be in an Egyptian temple or royal tomb. Visitors walk down a wide stretch of steps and enter the museum’s cathedral-like halls, which are flooded with natural light thanks to the sunken atrium. Halls alternate with smaller, more intimate rooms. Cutouts in the walls enable you to catch a glimpse of the outstanding exhibits, like the Statue of Antinous or the large obelisk. Its location in the heart of the Kunstareal (Art District), in between the Pinakotheken galleries and the Antike buildings on Königsplatz, provides the Ägyptische Museum with the space and status it deserves as an integral point in global art history.
Olympic Park The Olympiapark (Olympic Park) in Munich is a shining international example of how to create a successful legacy for Olympic facilities. Olympic organisation committees, most recently teams from Brazil and Tokyo, visit Munich time and again on the hunt for the recipe for success used in 1972. The large park, inspired by the hilly landscape of the Alpine foothills, can be explored on foot or by bike. The 190-metre platform in the Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower) affords spectacular views over the city all the way to the Alpine peaks. If you want a more relaxing way to see the park, take a trip on the miniature railway which runs around the grounds. Depending on how adventurous you are, you may be brave enough to tackle a roof climb across the Olympic Stadium’s canopy top, before rounding off the experience with the zip line over the arena or an abseil down the 40-metre drop into the stadium.
Day trips from Munich Neuschwanstein Castle – Germany’s fairytale castle. Neuschwanstein is known all over the world as a symbol of idealised romantic architecture and for the tragic story of its owner. King Ludwig II built his fairytale castle Neuschwanstein as a retreat from public life. However, the castle was first opened to the public in 1886, a mere seven weeks after his death. These days, around 1.4 million people from across the globe visit the castle in the Allgäu region to enjoy the splendour of the reclusive monarch’s dream world. Ludwig, who was a big fan of Richard Wagner’s musical, mythical world, had Neuschwanstein built in the style of an old knight’s castle. His aim was to create a habitable theatrical scene, with fairytale murals providing the backdrop for him to bring his romantic interpretation of the Middle Ages to life. However, the castle’s ancient appearance is just an illusion: The king was eager to use the latest technology and had the castle fitted with a hot air central heating system, a lift, an electronic call system for the serving staff and automatic toilet flushes.
Mount Zugspitze and Partnach Gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen The Zugspitze is one of the most famous mountain peaks in the Alps. Measuring 2,962m, it is not only Germany’s highest mountain, but also one of the most popular destinations for visitors from all over the world. There is a 360° panoramic view from the top and in good weather, more than 400 peaks in surrounding Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy can be seen. An additional highlight in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the remarkable Partnach Gorge, which is 2.305 ft. in length, with its walls rising up to 263 ft. The Gorge is the point of departure for many walking tours and can be passed by an iron bridge. The gorge offers remarkable views all year round; in winter, bizarre ice sculptures give this natural beauty its unique charm.
Berchtesgaden National Park Breathtaking mountain scenery, picturesque lakes and lush green forests are the hallmarks of Berchtesgaden National Park, one of the oldest conservation areas in the Alps. Situated in southern Bavaria, the park is a true paradise for active holidaymakers and those with a passion for life. With 260 kilometres of footpaths and steep mountain trails on offer, boredom doesn’t stand a chance. After a walk, you might like to cool off in Lake Königssee or order a hearty lunch at a traditional mountain lodge. If you can’t get enough of the rustic charm of the mountain lodges, you can book a hiking tour lasting several days. In Berchtesgaden National Park, it’s not unheard of to see an ibex or a marmot, spot a rare golden eagle circling the skies or discover a dragon’s mouth flower growing at the edge of the trail. The variety of flora and fauna in the region is nothing short of remarkable.