Munich
Straddling the River Isar in
the south of Germany, 1,000-year-old Munich is the country's third
largest city and its economic heart. Surveys show that it is also
Germany's most popular city and that, given the choice, over half of the
German population would choose to live in the Bavarian capital. This is
probably due to the fact that Munchners, despite their reputation for
working hard, love the outdoors and make their Freizeit (free
time) a priority. A typical weekend for many involves heading to
the nearby Alps for hiking or skiing, or to one of the Bavarian lakes
such as Ammersee or Starnbergersee, for swimming or sailing. After work
and at weekends, the city's vast park, the Englischer Garten, fills up
with people walking, cycling, rollerblading, playing soccer and even
surfing the river that flow through the park.
Parts of the old city walls
and gates, such as the Isartor, are still standing, and within them lies
the geographical and social heart of Munich, the Altstadt (Old Town). The
focus is Marienplatz, a large square dominated by the 19th-century
neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (New City Hall), where the brightly colored
figures of the famous Glockenspiel move and chime three times a day. The
elegant streets around the square, such as Maximilianstrasse and
Theatinerstrasse, are full of designer stores, and south of here is the
Viktualienmarkt, an open-air food market that has been held for
centuries. No mention of Munich would be complete without reference to
the Italian Renaissance "onion" domes of the twin towers of the city's
cathedral, the Frauenkirche, which are the symbol of Munich.
The Business of Beer
Munich has the headquarters of
Siemens, automotive giants BMW, and many insurance companies, as well as
publishing and film production companies. However, the city is probably
best-known internationally for the production, consumption, and
celebration of beer. Munich's six main breweries play a significant
economic role and the drink itself is an integral part of the culture,
with beer halls and beer gardens all over the city. One of the largest of
these, by the Chinese pagoda in the Englischer Garten, can seat 7,000
people.
The annual draw for many is
the world's largest beer festival, the Oktoberfest, which begins on the
third Saturday in September when the city's mayor opens the first barrel.
This festival, which lasts just over two weeks, attracts 7 million
visitors who, between them, consume over 1 million gallons (more than 6
million liters) of beer, 400,000 sausages, and 600,000 chickens.
Munchners dress up in traditional costume and, alongside the tourist,
enjoy the huge funfair.
The history of Munich
In the 10th century, monks
established a settlement on the banks of the River Isar, which became
known as Munichen, before Henry the Lion took control of Bavaria in
around 1158. A century later, Munich became the main residence of the
Wittelsbach dynasty, which was to dominate Munich's history through its
rule of Bavaria which lasted for 800 years. The dynasty commissioned many
buildings which still stand today, such as the Residenz and the summer
residence of the kings, Schloss Nymphenburg.
The November Revolution of
1919 led the last Wittelsbach ruler, Ludwig III and his family, to flee
the city in the middle of the night, with Ludwig abdicating a few days
later. Political unrest continued through the early 20th century, and in
1923, a young Adolf Hitler attempted to instigate a socialist revolution,
but his revolt failed. After suffering heavy bomb damage during World War
II, the city was rebuilt and continued to prosper, becoming the economic
heart of Germany. Munich became the focus of sporting attention in 1972
when it hosted the Olympic Games, and again in 2006 with the World Cup.
