TRAVEL MUNICH
(Day tours of Neuschwanstein Castle-Linderof Castle-Oberammergau-Lake Chiemsee-Herrenchiemsee Palace)
(Day tours of Neuschwanstein Castle-Linderof Castle-Oberammergau-Lake Chiemsee-Herrenchiemsee Palace)
GENERAL INFORMATION-Munich is the capital of state Bavaria and it is the biggest state in Germany. It is located on the River Isar and is the third largest city in Germany (after Berlin, Hamburg). It was the host of 1972 Summer Olympic. People of this place are called Munichers. In 1175 Munich was officially granted the city status .In 1506 Munich became the capital of Bavaria after the unification of Bavaria. Munich lies at 520 meters above sea level .It is the headquarter of-Siemens AG (electronics), BMW (car), MAN AG (truck manufacture, engineering), Allianz (Insurance).It is the largest publishing city in Europe. Together with Frankfurt it is the most important business city in Germany and it remains one of Europe's most important centres of arts, science, learning and sports.
HISTORY- Almost in 1175 Munich was officially granted city status and received fortification. In 1180, with the trial of Henry the Lion, Otto I Wittelsbach became Duke of Bavaria and Munich was handed over to the Bishop of Freising. The Wittelsbach dynasty would rule Bavaria until 1918. In 1255, when the Duchy of Bavaria was split in two, Munich became the ducal residence of Upper Bavaria. In the late 15th century Munich underwent a revival of gothic arts, the Old Town Hall was enlarged, and Munich's largest gothic church, the Frauenkirche Cathedral, was constructed in only twenty years, starting in 1468.When Bavaria was reunited in 1506, Munich became its capital. During the Thirty Years' War Munich became electoral residence, but in 1632 the city was occupied by King Gustav II Adolph of Sweden. In 1806, the city became the capital of the newly established Kingdom of Bavaria, with the state's parliament and the new archdiocese of Munich and Freising being located in the city. The most famous of the Bavarian kings was Ludwig II who is often referred to as the Fairy Tales King and sometimes as Mad King Ludwig. He commissioned the construction of two extravagant palaces and a castle, the most famous being Neuschwanstein and was a generous patron of opera composer Richard Wagner. Ludwig was deposed on grounds of mental incapacity without any medical examination and died shortly thereafter under mysterious circumstances in Lake Starnberg. Munich became a hotbed of extremist politics, from among which Adolf Hitler and the National Socialists rose to prominence. On 8 Nov 1923 Hitler and his supporters, who were then concentrated in Munich, launched the so called "Beer Hall Putsch" from the Bürgerbräukeller, in an attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic and seize power. The revolt failed. The city once again became a Nazi stronghold when the National Socialists took power in Germany in 1933. After US occupation in 1945, Munich was completely rebuilt following a meticulous plan which preserved its pre-war street grid. In 1957 Munich's population passed the 1 million mark. Munich was the site of the 1972 Summer Olympics, during
GEOGRAPHY- Munich lies on the elevated plains of Upper Bavaria, about 50 km north of the northern edge of the Alps, at an altitude of about 520 m. The local rivers are the Isar and the Würm. Munich is situated in the Northern Alpine Foreland.
3-AREA-310.43km2
4-POPULATION- 13,57,000 and Metro-52,00,000
5-CO-ORDINATES- 480 08' 00" N,110 34' 00" E
6-TIME ZONE- UTC +1, UTC+2
7-TEMPERATURE-
4-POPULATION- 13,57,000 and Metro-52,00,000
5-CO-ORDINATES- 480 08' 00" N,110 34' 00" E
6-TIME ZONE- UTC +1, UTC+2
7-TEMPERATURE-
In0 C JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
MAX 1 3 8 13 18 21 24 23 19 14 6 2
MIN -5 -4 0.4 3 7 10 12 12 9 4 0.2 -3
MAX 1 3 8 13 18 21 24 23 19 14 6 2
MIN -5 -4 0.4 3 7 10 12 12 9 4 0.2 -3
AIRPORT- Munich International Airport(MUC) is the second busiest airport in Germany and ranks seventh in Europe .It is the hub for Lufthansa and Star Alliance .It is located 30 kilometres north-east of Munich, close to the city Freising(north of Munich). In 2011 was named best airport in Europe of 2011 .There are two terminals .Terminal 1 where German carrier Air Berlin are based .It is further have modules A, B, C, D, E, F. The Train Level is on level-2 and level 5 is used by passengers .Terminal 2 is for Lufthansa and Star Alliance partners. It has multiple levels. Arrival area and some check in counters are on level 3 and all other counters and check points are on level 4 with duty shops .Munich Airport Centre (MAC) is a recreation and service centre at the airport and located between terminal 1 and 2.There is a shopping mall, ,medical centre. Near to the MAC is Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich .The Munich Airport is directly connected with the central Munich (Hauptbahnhof) by S-Bahn on the S1(from west side of Munich) and S2(from east side of Munich) line .The airport station is below MAC central area. The ticket is €10.40 for a single journey ticket and €20.40 for a partner ticket (valid up to five people can travel on this one ticket after 9.00am and valid up to 6am the following day-validation Not Required).Trains run every 5-20 minutes interval and takes about 40 minutes to reach Munich central Station. Munich Bus station is opposite to the Munich Airport centre(MAC) and close to T1 and T2.They run every 20 minutes from 5.10am to 7.50pm and run between airport station to central station Munich .Single journey ticket is for 10.50 Euro and time is 40 minutes .There is a 800 square meter visitor terrace on Level 07 on Terminal 2.Visitor access the terrace is via the Skywalk, a glass tunnel rises from Level 05.It open from 8.00am to 10.00pm.The taxi stand are outside T1 on arrival and departure Level 4.The Taxi fare is Euro 2.9 and every further kms is Euro1.6 and up to 5kms.And after it is Euro1.4 and then Euro 1.2.
MUNICH ATTRACTIONS & SIGHTS-
001-MARINEPLATZ (Mary’s Square)- This Platz is in the heart of city. In the Middle ages the square was used as a market place and as the place for games and festivals. It was renamed Marienplatz (St. Mary's Square) as a way to ask Virgin Mary to protect the town from a cholera epidemic. This is the largest square and it has a golden statue of Mary in the middle. There are three gates on the square named-Isartor on east, Sendlinger Tor on south, Karlstor on west .This square leads to Stachus, a grand square having a building named Jusiszplatz (Palace of Justice) .There are Mariensaule (Column Of Saint Marry) , Neues Tathaus (New Town Hall) , Fishbrunnen (Fish Fountain) and Old Town Hall .The square is connected by the pedestrian zone between Karlsplatz and Marienplatz , is a crowded area with numerous shops and restaurants. The Marienplatz is with the S-Bahn and U-Bahn station, an important transportation hub, is located below the square.
002-MARIENSAULE (Column of SaintMarry) -The large column at the centre of the Marienplatz is known as the column of St. Mary. It was erected in 1638 to celebrate the end of the Swedish occupation during the thirty years war .The statue is topped by gilded statue of Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon as the Queen of Heaven. At each corner of column of pedestal there are four putti’s depicted fighting a different beast ,they symbolizes the city’s overcoming of war by the lion, pestilence by cockatrice, hunger by dragon and heresy by the serpent.
003-NEUES TATHAUS (New Town Hall)-It is located at Marienplatz by the mid-19th century, Munich was growing in leaps and bounds. The city council determined that more space was needed to house government offices so they embarked on a plan for a new town hall. A site at the Marienplatz was chosen. Construction on the new town hall began in 1867 with the eastern portion of the building, built from brick. It was completed in 1874. Fifteen years later, an extension of the building was built on the rear on the building. Finally, the western half of the building was added, featuring the most recognizable part of the Neues Rathaus, the 79-meter tall tower. All construction was completed by 1909.The town hall is constructed in the Flemish Gothic style. Its façade is more than 90m in length and the ornate stone ornamentation that graces the exterior is stunning. There are wonderful stained glass windows, beautiful vaulted ceilings, intricately carved wood workings and a labyrinth-patterned floor in the inner courtyard. The crowning glory of the Neues Rathaus is its world-famous "glockenspiel", the fourth largest clock in Europe. Each day at 11 am, noon, and 5 pm, the nearly life-size figures of the clock give a performance for the crowds who gather on the Marienplatz to watch. Visitors can view two presentations –It chimes and a re-enactment of the 1568 wedding of Duke William V and Renate of Lorraine, complete with a jousting match or a rendition of a dance called the Schäfferltanz, first performed to mark the end of the plague in 1517.It consists of 43 bells and life-size figures. The top half tells the story of the marriage of the local Duke Wilhelm V and Renata of Lorraine .The bottom half and the second story is a dance. At night, visitors will see a night watchman blowing his horn and the guardian angel of Munich bestowing a blessing on the city. The whole show lasts somewhere between 12 and 15 minutes long depending on which tune it plays that day. At the very end of the show, a very small golden bird at the top of the Glockenspiel chirps three times, marking the end of the spectacle.
004-FISHBRUNNEN (Fish Fountain)- Near the Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) at Marienplatz, there is a small Fish Fountain built in 1864 and was destroyed in WWII and it was rebuilt in 1954.
005-OLD TOWN HALL (Altes Rathaus)-The original Old Town Hall or Altes Rathaus at Marienplatz, was completely destroyed by fire in 1460. Between 1470 and 1480, the old town hall was rebuilt in Gothic style.
006-FRAUENKIRCHE (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady)-It is located east of Marienplatz and is the most visited landmark which features on most of Munich's postcards and considered a symbol of the Bavarian capital city. The foundation stone of the cathedral was laid by Duke Sigismund in 1468. The building replaced an earlier church from the thirteenth century. The large Gothic building was constructed in a record time of just 20 years. The church was built in red brick. The triple-nave cathedral is 109 meter long and 40 meter wide. The two towers reach a height of 99 meter. The monumental building towers are visible widely over the city of Munich. Because of the law that no new building is allowed to obstruct the view of the cathedral. The design of the octagonal domes - which would later be copied by many churches in Bavaria - was inspired by the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem .Most eye-catching were the so-called 'benno' arches that spanned the central nave. In the 19th century, after the church was promoted to the status of cathedral, all the Baroque elements were removed since at the time Gothic was considered as the only pure church style. The organ is a new one, it was built in 1994 as part of the interior restoration that took place from 1989 until 1994.One of the most notable monuments in the church is the tomb of Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria. The black marble sarcophagus is surrounded by statues of four kneeling knights. The cathedral's crypt contains the tombs of members of the Wittelsbach family, a powerful dynasty which ruled over Bavaria for centuries.
007-PETERSKIRCHE (St. Peter’s Church)- St. Peter's Church is the oldest in the city of Munich. Built in 1180, the church is a favourite tourist attraction. Built on the same site where 8th century monks had established a monastery, Peterskirche was designed in the Romanesque style. The monks had called this area Peterbergl, or Peter's Hill, so a similar name was given to the church. The same monks also gave the city its current name, as München is derived from Mönch, the German word for monk. At the end of World War II, the church was almost completely destroyed. Its reconstruction began shortly after the end of the war, and was finally completed in the year 2000. At the second chapel on the left, there is the remains of St. Mundita with precious stones. Jewels adorn its rotted teeth and two false eyes stare out at visitors. The church also has a wonderfully tall steeple which one can climb to reach a viewing platform. It's a great place to snap photos of Munich on a clear day. There are color-coded circles at the lower platform to show the weather condition. These will let you know whether or not it's worth it to climb the 306 steps to the 56 meter high platform. For example, a white circle means visibility is at its best and you may be able to see all the way to the Alps.
008- ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH- St. Michael's Church was built in two stages. The first encompassed the years 1583-1588. The church was designed to be one of the largest and finest Jesuit Churches in the world. This first phase involved a large barrel-vaulted roof which was second only to the one at St. Peter's in Rome .Shortly thereafter; construction began on the second phase of this colossal church, lasting until its completion in 1597. A number of bronze statues grace the beautiful façade of the church, including a large statue of Michael the Archangel situated between the two main doors. Nearly four dozen individuals are buried at Michaelskirche including Duke Wilhelm V himself. Many additional members of the royal Wittelsbach family are entombed here as well, including "Mad" King Ludwig II, Emperor Maximilian I, and King Otto of Bavaria. Sculptorist Giovanni da Bologna is also buried here as is Eugène de Beauharnais, son of Josephine de Beauharnais (wife of Napoleon) and her first husband.
009 –THEATINERKIRCHE (St. Cajetan Church)-The Elector Ferdinand and his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy ordered the construction of a church and monastery for the Italian Order of the Theatines of Munich to celebrate the birth of their long-awaited heir in 1662, Prince Max Emanuel. Construction of the Theatinerkirche (St. Cajetan Church) started in 1663 and completed in 1690.The church's magnificent 71-meter-high (233 foot) dome and two 70m high towers are magnificent. The two small towers catch the eye with their curled shapes and together with the towers of the Frauenkirche and the Peterskirche, they define much of the Munich skyline. The yellow colour of the church adds to its very Mediterranean feel and the design in general is said to have had much influence on the Southern German baroque style of architecture .The inside of the church is made almost entirely of white stucco, giving it a very bright appearance and setting it apart from most other Munich churches. A number of members of the Wittelsbach family are buried inside Theatinekirche. A small chapel contains the remains of King Maximilian II and his wife while the crypt holds the prince for whom the church was built as well as his mother and father, several other electors of Bavaria and their families such as Charles VII the Holy Roman Emperor. The exiled king Otto of Greece is also buried here.
010-NYMPHENBURG PALACE- It was built by Bavaria Electors Ferdinand Maria .This Schloss Nympenburg was the summer palace started in 1664 and completed in 1675. For a long time, the palace was the favourite summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria. King Max I Joseph died there in 1825 and his great-grandson King Ludwig II was born there in 1845. Today it continues to be a home and chancery for the head of the house of Wittelsbach, currently Franz, Duke of Bavaria. The palace, together with its park, is now one of the most famous sights of Munich. The baroque facades comprise an overall width of about 700 meters. Visitors can see rooms which are decorated in their original Baroque Style .The Stone Hall in the Central Pavilion with frescoes is very impressive. The central ceiling fresco is Helios in his chariot, accompanied by other gods. North of the Stone Hall, there is the wood-panelled antechamber, the audience chamber decorated with Brussels tapestries and the former bedroom with the so-called Little Beauty Gallery with ladies .The stable of the palace houses the ancient carriages and sleighs and a museum. It also houses porcelain on the first floor. It has a nice French Style garden of 490 acres .There is a 900 m long canal in the centre of the garden and at the end of the canal there is a cascade adorned with sculptures .At the other end of the palace a 2.0 kms long canal was made. Two lakes are situated on both sides of the canal. The fountains in front of the palace and in the garden parterre continue to be operated by the water powered Pumping Stations built between 1803 and 1808. The fountains are still operated by these pumping stations. The canals of Nymphenburg are part of the northern Munich channel system, a system of waterways that connected also to the complex of Schleissheim Palace
011-RESIDENCE PALACE-The Munich Residenz (Münchner Residenz,) Munich Residence is the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs from 1385 to 1918, in the centre of the city of Munich, Germany. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is today open to visitors for its architecture, room decorations, and displays from the former royal collections. It is situated at Max-Josep- Platz. Built in 1385 and the first tenant at the Residenz Palace was Duke Stephan III, who reigned from 1375 to 1392. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards. Nearby is National Theatre
012-NATIONAL THEATRE MUNICH (Opera House)-The National Theatre Munich (Nationaltheater München) is an opera house in Max-Joseph-Platz in Munich, Germany. It is the home of the Bavarian State Opera and the Bavarian State Ballet .The first theatre was commissioned in 1810 by King Maximilian I of Bavaria because the nearby Cuvilliés Theatre had too little space. Present Theatre (1963) recreates original neo-classical design, though on a slightly larger, 2,100-seat scale. The magnificent royal box is the centre of the 2100-seater.
013-HOFGARTEN- The Hofgarten (Garden Court) is a garden in the centre of Munich and located between the Residenz and the English Garden, on the east side of the Odeonsplatz. The creation of the Hofgarten, which originally lay outside the moat that surrounded the Residenz Palace, began in 1613 and was completed in 1617, in Italian style Renaissance garden during the reign of Duke Maximilian I. The garden has a formally laid out around two central footpaths that intersect at the Temple of Diana at centre of the garden which is the focal point of the garden. The pavilion was built in 1615.There are eight arches on the pavilion and from each arch radiates a footpath that serves to divide the garden into eight individual sections .On top of the pavilion, there is a bronze statue entitled "Tellus Bavarica". The statue symbolizes the treasures of the Bavarian land - grain, game, water, and salt. The statue is of Diana, goddess of the hunt. The nearest U-Bahn is Odeonsplatz .The other buildings surrounding the garden are i-Bavarian State Chancellery-At the eastern end of the Hofgarten stands the Bayerische Staatskanzlei or Bavarian State Chancellery. The building was finally completed in 1992. The central part of the building is the 32 meter (105 feet) high domed section of the former Army museum. A modern glass wing was built at each side of this central section, creating a 194m (637feet) long complex. ii-Festsaalbau-At the southern end the Hofgarten is enclosed by the Festsaalbau (Banqueting Hall wing), Part of the Residenz complex. The monumental building was built between 1832 and 1842. Adjacent to the Festsaalbau is another wing of the Residenz Palace, formerly home to the Museum of Egyptian Art.
iii- Gallery-To the north the Hofgarten is bounded by an arcaded art gallery, originally the precursor of today's Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek. The gallery is now home to both an Art Gallery and the German Theatre Museum.
iv-Hofgartentor- The Basargebäude borders the western end of the Hofgarten. The adjacent Hofgartentor, gives access to the Odeonsplatz.
iii- Gallery-To the north the Hofgarten is bounded by an arcaded art gallery, originally the precursor of today's Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek. The gallery is now home to both an Art Gallery and the German Theatre Museum.
iv-Hofgartentor- The Basargebäude borders the western end of the Hofgarten. The adjacent Hofgartentor, gives access to the Odeonsplatz.
014-ENGLISHCHER GARTEN- Munich's Englischer Garten (English Garden) is Europe's largest city park with an area of 910acres. The park's main attractions include two beer gardens, a Chinese Pagoda, a Japanese tea house and a Greek-style temple, the Monopteros. The Englischer Garten was created in the late 1700s when Archduke and Elector Carl Theodor took it upon himself to transform the city. His wishes was to develop a "military garden", to provide soldiers with information on agriculture and also give them a place to enjoy outdoor recreation .The military gardens opened in 1789 and soon thereafter, Carl Theodor established Munich's first public park to the east of the gardens. The park was named Theodore's Park and was later changed to the English Garden. It opened in 1792. The park is larger than New York's Central Park (843acres) and is divided into 2 sections: the Hirschau, the northern section, is 3 kilometres long, and the southern portion measures 2 kilometres. The southern section of the park tends to be busier while the Hirschau (northern section) is more peaceful. There are the two Beer Gardens located in each section of the park. Chinesischer Turm Built as an answer to the Great Pagoda in London's Royal Botanical Gardens, the Chinesischer Turm is a 25-meter-high structure similar to the beautiful pagodas in the gardens of the Chinese Emperors. The tower, built at the end of the 18th century, was bombed during World War II and rebuilt to its original design. It houses Munich's second largest beer garden. The Kleinhesseloher Lake is also located in the English Garden. Yet another beer garden is located beside the lake. There's also a Japanese teahouse, built in 1972 to celebrate the summer Olympics. Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies are held here regularly. One will find the Monopteros, a small Greek-style temple in the garden, built in 1836, and an ornate children's carousel. People go nude as sunbathers in the Englischer Garten. The area between the Japanese tea garden and Greek temple, nicknamed the Beautiful Meadow, has been a favourite spot for sunbathing since the 1960s.
015-VIKTUALIENMARKT (food market)-The small central market at Marienplatz was once the centre of activity in Munich. However, as the city continued to grow in the early 19th century, the need arose for a larger market where residents could purchase the food items they needed for daily life. King Maximilian decided that the market should be moved a few meters to the southeast, so this market was established in 1807. Originally, the new market was called Marktplatz and later Viktualienmarkt. Victual is the Latin word for food. By 1823, the market already required enlargement and throughout the next several decades, more and more halls were added when the need arose. Separate pavilions were included for fish markets, fowl and other meats, flowers, produce, and bakery items. Fountains and other new elements were added to spruce up the area. The modern Viktualienmarkt is now a favourite with gourmets. The popular and lively market boasts 140 shops and stalls that offer flowers and plants, vegetables, exotic fruit, venison and poultry, eggs, butter, honey, fish, meat and sausages .The market has grown considerably in size since it was built in 1807, now occupying 22,000 square meters.
016-ODEONSPLATZ- Odeonplatz is a beautiful square, originally it was a court garden and is now bordered by Feldherrnhalle, Theatinekiche and Hofgaten .From the square Ludwigstrasse leads to a large arch Siegestor. At the end of the 18th century, when the fortifications around Munich were torn down, this area was just outside the city walls. It was dominated by the Schwabinger Tor, a large 14th century gate. In 1816 Ludwig I ordered to build a great square that would on one hand become the starting point of a large monumental road leading to the districts outside the city and on the other hand the square would act as a triumphal gateway to the city. The square is named after the Odeon, a large Concert Hall which was built between 1826 and 1828. In 1862 an equestrian statue of Ludwig I was added at the mouth of the street between the Odeon and the Palais Leuchtenberg. The Odeonsplatz has traditionally been an important site of parades and public events, including funeral processions (most recently for Franz Josef Strauss in 1988), victory parades (most recently for the Bavarian troops who took part in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871), which proceeded down the Ludwigstraße to the Feldherrnhalle, with the VIP rostrum usually being located at the statue of Ludwig I. The annual parade to the Oktoberfest still follows this route. Together with the Marienplatz, the Odeonsplatz remains an important site for both civic events and demonstrations.
017-KARLSPLATZ- It is popularly known as STACHUS and is a large square centre of Munich. Walking through the Karlstor bring’s to Neuhauser Strasse and Kaufinger Strasse towards Marienplatz .It is one of the busiest traffic junctions and partly pedestrianized .There is a large fountain at its centre .During winter time it became ice skating rink. At this square is the Justizpalast or Palace of Justice.
018-LUDWIGSTRASSE- It is one of the royal avenues of Munich and grandest boulevard with its public buildings and it also serves in parades and other processions. It begins from Odeosplatz and runs south to north .On this road are-Ludwig-Maximilaans-Universitat, St. Ludwig Church and Bravian Library (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek) and other buildings.
019-MAXIMILIANSTRASE- It is one of the four royal avenues. It starts at-Max-Joseph-Platz, where the Residenz and National Theatre are situated and runs from west to east .On the road there are several state buildings- as Building of the district government of Upper House,Museum of Ethnology (Völkerkundemuseum) and Wilhelmsgymnasium and few other buildings. After crossing the river Isar, the avenue circles the Maximilianeum .The Maxmoument in the middle of the eastern part of the avenue is dedicated to King Maximilian II of Bavaria. The western part is known for designer shops, boutique and stores.
020-MAXIMILIANEUM-It is palatial building in Munich and it houses the State Parliament (Bavarian Landtag) since 1949. The principal was King Maximilian II of Bavaria, who started the project in 1857. The building is situated on the bank of river Isar before the Maximilian Bridge and marks the eastern end of the Maximilianstrasse, one of Munich's royal avenues which is framed by neo-Gothic palaces influenced by the English Perpendicular style. Several modern wings were added in 1958, 1964, and 1992 and again in 2012.
021-MUNICH GATES- During the Middle Ages, Altstadt, Munich's historic centre, was protected by a city wall that featured four large towers as well as five smaller ones. The fortification was built between 1285 and 1347. During the 18th century the population of Munich started to grow steadily and the fortification hindered further expansion of the city. Thus Karl Theodor, Elector of Bavaria, decided in 1791 to tear down the wall encircling the city .Munich's original four outer gates that gave entrance to the city during the Middle Ages, only three remain are the Karlstor, Isartor and Sendlinger Tor. i-Karls tor- The Karls tor was originally known as the Neuhauser Tor but was renamed in 1797 after Karl Theodor. The Elector created a new square near the Karlstor, officially known as Karlsplatz but still often referred to as Stachus. The gate was integrated into the plans for the new square by adding wings to each side of the gate, creating a semi-circular square. The Karlstor originally had three towers, but the tallest, central tower was destroyed in 1857 when the gunpowder that was stored in the tower exploded. ii-Isar tor- The Isar tor is located just west of Marienplatz, at the end of what is known as the 'Tal' (valley). The street leading through the gate, Im Tal, was named as such because the road from the Old Town Hall towards the Isar tor went downhill. The central tower was built in 1337 and gave entrance to the Isar, the river flowing through Munich. The smaller, octagonal towers were only built later, in the early 15th century. The facade of the Isar tor is decorated with murals depicting the triumphal procession of Louis the Bavarian (Ludwig IV) after this victory over the Austrians at the battle of Ampfing in 1322. The Isar tor today houses a humorous museum which is dedicated to the comedian and actor Karl Valentin. A café for visitors has been integrated. The Isar tor platz is served by the S Bahn station which is named Isar tor after the gate as well as 2 tram lines. iii-Sendlinger tor-The oldest of the three remaining gates of Munich's outer city walls is the Sendlinger Tor. Gate was presumably built in 1318 and was the gateway for the trade route to Italy. The tall central tower was demolished in 1808 and in 1906 the three arches that connected the two outer towers were replaced by a single, large arch, enabling cars to pass through the gate. At the same time two smaller gates were created in the hexagonal towers for the pedestrians. The Sendlinger Tor (located at Sendlinger Str 49) lies at the southern end of Sendlingerstrasse, the north-south highway through Munich's old town. Thus separates the Sendlinger Tor of the old city from the Isar suburb. The Sendlinger Tor is at an altitude of 525 metres (1,722 ft) above sea level.
022-SCHWABINGER TOR (CITY DISTRICT)-The Schwabinger Tor is a modern city district, the new centre and the prelude to Munich is downtown. A 3.5-acre site east of Leopold Street and north of the Johann-Fichte-road is to be built in sections in 2017 with nine buildings that cover a total of 89,000 square feet of floor space plus 70,000 square feet on two underground levels.
023-FELDHERRNHALLE (Field Marshal's Hall) - Feldherrnhalle is the most prominent structure on the Odeonsplatz or Field Marshal's Hall. Together with the Theatinerkirche, this building gives the Odeonplatz the appearance of an Italian Square. The Feldherrnhalle consists of a covered hall with three arches. A staircase at the central arch leads to the entrance which is flanked by two Bayern Lions.
024-SIEGESTOR (Victory Gate)- Built in the mid-19th century, Munich's Siegestor (Victory Gate) has come to serve as a symbol for peace. It was commissioned by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, the Siegestor was constructed between 1843 and 1852. It is situated at the terminus of the Ludwigstrasse, the landmark was built to commemorate the bravery of the Bavarian army and its success in the Napoleonic War of liberation. At the other end of the Ludwigstrasse, is the Odeonsplatz, sits a similar monument, the Feldherrnhalle, which honours the leaders of the Bavarian army. This victory gate consists of three arches - a large one in the centre and a smaller one on each side. The arch is decorated with winged statues - symbolizing victory - and bas-reliefs depicting battle scenes. Atop the arches sits a statue of Bavaria with a lion quadriga. The arch's biggest claim to fame has been the poignant inscription which was added to the structure when it was rebuilt after the war. The quote, by Wilhelm Hausenstein, reads "Dem Sieg geweiht, vom Krieg zerstört, zum Frieden mahnend", which, in English, means "Dedicated to victory, destroyed by war, reminding of peace".
025-FRIEDENSENGEL (Angel of Peace)-The Friedensengel (Angel of Peace) is a monument built at the end of the 19th century to celebrate 25 years of Peace after the Franco-Prussian ended in a victory for the German troops in 1871.The monument is with a fountain in front of a large terrace graced with a tall column and crowned with a gilded angelic statue. The monument was built in 1896 at a site on the Isar riverbank just north of the Maximilianeum. The focal point of the monument is the 25 meter (82ft) tall Corinthian column topped by a gilded bronze statue of the Angel of Peace. The figure is modelled is the statue of Nike - Goddess of Victory - that once crowned a column in front of the Temple of Zeus at Ancient Olympia. The platform show figures representing War, Piece, Victory and Culture. Portraits of the German Emperors Frederick I, William I and William III as well as those of Otto von Bismarck and generals of the German army that defeated the French during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 are depicted on the walls. A double staircase leads to a fountain at the foot of the monument. The staircase contains three niches, the central one of which houses a sculpted grotto. The fountain is decorated with statues of putti sitting on water spouting sea creatures.
026- RUHMESHALLE (Hall of Fame)-Ruhmeshalle was built in the mid-19th century, and it was erected in order to honour famous Bavarians who have left their mark on the fields of politics, science, and the arts. King Ludwig I of Bavaria, who reigned from 1843 to 1853, decided it would be appropriate to erect a grand building inside which could place busts of celebrated Bavarians who had made a name for themselves both nationally and internationally. Ludwig choose a site above the Theresienwiese (site of the famous Oktoberfest) for the location of the hall. It is built in an open U-shape, boasting three wings and fronted by 48 Ionic order columns. So visitors can now enjoy viewing some more modern Bavarian notables when they enter the Ruhmeshalle .The large bronze statue that sits in front of the Ruhmeshalle represents the state of Bavaria and is simply referred to by locals as "Bavaria". This statue of a female figure, Bavaria's "secular patron saint", was also commissioned by Ludwig I. It stands 18.52 meters (60 feet) high and weighs about 87.40 tones (96.20 tons). It is intended to be an allegoric personification of Bavaria's strength and glory and is Germanic Romantic in style. The statue is very big and visitors can ascend 66 steps to the top of Bavaria's head where they'll enjoy an excellent view of Munich.
027-DEUTSCHES MUSEUM (Deutsches Museum von Meisterwerken der Naturwissenschaft und Technik) -It is also known as German Museum of Masterpieces of Science & Technology and is the world largest museum for the Technology and Science with 28,000 exhibits from 50 fields . Located in the centre of town on an island in the Isar River, the museum opened with much celebration in 1925.This amazing attraction is the largest technological museum of its kind and is renowned for its incredible historic artefacts, which mark important steps in the field of science and technology. Exhibits at the Deutsches Museum are many and varied and cover topics such as aerospace, astronomy, agriculture, computers, chemistry, electricity, marine navigation, mining, music, railways, and telecommunication .Visitors can view the first Siemens dynamo Junkers F13 in the Deutsches Museum Munich Junkers F13 engine in the Electrical Power exhibit, and musical instruments of all varieties, from ancient brass instruments to modern synthesizers and enjoy woodcuts and copper engravings that date back to Gutenberg and his early printing press. This museum even owns the bench that saw the first splitting of an atom in 1938, originally housed in the laboratory of Hahn and Strassman .The air and space portion of the museum is humongous and enjoyed by all ages. Paper press electricity demonstrations that produce "real" lightning. The museum also has a large number of transportation exhibits. One have the opportunity to see the very first automobile ever produced, an 1886 Benz. Besides cars the museum also has a collection of boats and trains as well as a large department devoted to aircrafts and aerospace. There are also a large number of engines on display such as water turbines and turbojet engines.
028-BAVARIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum)- aThe Bavarian National Museum (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum) in Munich is one of the most important museums of decorative arts. The museum was founded by King Maximilian II of Bavaria in 1855. It houses a large collection of European artefacts from the late antiquity until early 20th century with particular strengths in the medieval through early modern periods. The main building of the Bavarian National Museum includes on its three floors exhibition rooms with in total about 13,000 square meters. The core of the collection dates from the art collection of the Wittelsbach family. The museum is especially noted for its collections of carved ivory, goldsmith works, textiles, glass painting, tapestries and shrines. The displayed sculptures were created by noted sculptors. The museum is famous for its collections of courtly culture, musical instruments, furniture, oil paintings, sketches, clocks, stoneware, majolica, miniatures, porcelain and faience, and it’s fascinating statues. It has probably the world's best collection of the Nymphenburg porcelain figures .The Kasten der Heiligen Kunigunde (jewellery box of Holy Cunegonde), is a unique masterpiece made in the year 1000.The Bavarian National Museum has the most important collection of the Bavarian rococo sculpture.
029-JEWISH MUSEUM -It is situated in immediate proximity to Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt. The ground floor lobby of the freestanding cube is glazed on all four sides and has been conceived as display window. The architecture reflects the intention of the building .The concept is to show the wide variety of Jewish history, art and culture up to the present day – with consideration of the Holocaust but without making it the sole focus. The permanent exhibition “Voices_Places_Times” is located on the lower level and depicts the diverse aspects of Jewish identity in a vivid manner. Compelling exhibits present the Munich's Jewish history. Seven installations provide optical and acoustic insight into Jewish life and give visitors the opportunity of a first-hand experience.
030-KUNSTAREAL (Art Area) -Munich's Kunstareal (literally Art area) is a museum quarter cantered on the Königsplatz, a stately square lined with monumental neoclassical buildings. It is home to some of Munich's most famous museums. The area was created in the early 19th century, when Maximilian I Joseph, Elector of Bavaria, decided to create a royal route to the Nymphenburg Palace. The elector envisioned a centre of the arts along the route, as a counterweight to the Ludwigstrasse, which was considered a centre of science. It consists of (1) - "Pinakotheken" three galleries (i-Alte Pinakothek, ii-Neue Pinakothek and iii-Pinakothek der Moderne),(2)- the Glyptothek,(3)- the Staatliche Antikensammlung (both museums are specialized in Greek and Roman art),(4)- the Lenbachhaus, (5)-the Museum Brandhorst (a private collection of modern art) and several galleries. (6)- The Staatliche Sammlung für Ägyptische Kunst (the state collection of Egypt art) was moved to the Kunstareal in 2013. The history of the museums in this area of Munich began in 1816 with the erection of the Glyptothek at Königsplatz and was completed with the new building for the Egyptian Museum (2012) and the extension of the Lenbachhaus (2013).
i-Glypyothek- The first museum building, the Glyptothek, opened here in 1830. It was to house Ludwig's collection of Roman and Greek sculptures. The portico is Ionic, and the outer walls contain niches, in which 18 original Roman and Greek sculptures stand, six on each wall. The thirteen rectangular, square or round rooms are arranged around a courtyard, the vestibule in the central building dominates the halls of height. In front of the vestibule is the portico of twelve Ionic columns. The museum was originally built completely out of marble. However, during World War II the museum was bombed, and later reconstructed. The walls from the interior are composed of red brick and painted with a light plaster. The interior has domed vaulting. The Glyptothek contains sculptures dating from the archaic age (ca. 650 BC) to the Roman era (ca. 550 AD). Other notable sculptures, mosaics and reliefs can also be found here. The most famous sculpture representing the Hellenistic period is the Barberini Faun (220 BC). Among the famous Roman copies of Greek sculptures are the Boy with the Goose (ca 250 BC) and the Drunken Woman (attributed to Myron of Thebes; ca 200 BC). The Glyptothek keeps a large collection of Roman busts, among the most famous ones are the busts of the Emperors Augustus (ca 40 AD), Nero (65 AD), Septimius Severus (200 AD) and his wife Julia Domna (195 AD).
ii- Alte Pinakotheks (Old Picture Galleries) -The Alte Pinakothek was opened in 1836.The most famous museums in the Kunstareal with its world class collection of paintings from the 15th to 18th century. King Ludwig I of Bavaria (1825–1848) ordered Leo to build a new building for the gallery for the Wittelsbach collection in 1826. The Alte Pinakothek became the largest museum in the world and structurally and conceptually well advanced through the use of skylights and the convenient accommodation of northern lights for the cabinets. Even the neo-renaissance exterior of the Pinakothek clearly stands out from the castle-like museum type usual in the early 19th Century. It is closely associated with the function and structure of the building as a museum. Very modern in its day, the building became exemplary for museum buildings in Germany and all of Europe after its inauguration in 1836, and thus became a model for new galleries in Rome, St Petersburg, Brussels and Kassel. With the secularization many paintings from churches and former monasteries entered into state hands. King Ludwig I of Bavaria collected especially early German and early Dutch paintings but also masterpieces of the Italian renaissance. The museum galleries were designed to display Rubens's "Last Judgment" (1617), one of the largest canvasses ever painted. Other painting are- Leonardo da Vinci's "Virgin and Child (Madonna of the Carnation)", Raphael, Madonna Tempi, 1508, François Boucher, Reclining girl (Marie-Louise O'Murphy, 1737-1818), Giotto di Bondone, Christ on the Cross Between Mary and John, c. 1300 , "Kreuzigung Christi" (English: "Crucifixion of Christ") by Lucas Cranach the Elder etc.( In the modern world the “Pinacoteca” is often used as a name for a public art gallery, mostly in Italy.) iii- Neue Pinakothek- 19th Century art can be found in the nearby Neue Pinakothek, including famous works by Romanticists and Impressionists. More modern artwork is displayed in the Pinakothek der Moderne, which opened in 2002 with an expansive collection of 21st century art.
iv-Lenbachhaus -The Galerie im Lenbachhaus displays 19th and 20th century paintings in a grand Italianate residence near Königsplatz. The gallery contains a variety of works by Munich painters and contemporary artists, in styles such as The Blue Rider and New Objectivity.
i-Glypyothek- The first museum building, the Glyptothek, opened here in 1830. It was to house Ludwig's collection of Roman and Greek sculptures. The portico is Ionic, and the outer walls contain niches, in which 18 original Roman and Greek sculptures stand, six on each wall. The thirteen rectangular, square or round rooms are arranged around a courtyard, the vestibule in the central building dominates the halls of height. In front of the vestibule is the portico of twelve Ionic columns. The museum was originally built completely out of marble. However, during World War II the museum was bombed, and later reconstructed. The walls from the interior are composed of red brick and painted with a light plaster. The interior has domed vaulting. The Glyptothek contains sculptures dating from the archaic age (ca. 650 BC) to the Roman era (ca. 550 AD). Other notable sculptures, mosaics and reliefs can also be found here. The most famous sculpture representing the Hellenistic period is the Barberini Faun (220 BC). Among the famous Roman copies of Greek sculptures are the Boy with the Goose (ca 250 BC) and the Drunken Woman (attributed to Myron of Thebes; ca 200 BC). The Glyptothek keeps a large collection of Roman busts, among the most famous ones are the busts of the Emperors Augustus (ca 40 AD), Nero (65 AD), Septimius Severus (200 AD) and his wife Julia Domna (195 AD).
ii- Alte Pinakotheks (Old Picture Galleries) -The Alte Pinakothek was opened in 1836.The most famous museums in the Kunstareal with its world class collection of paintings from the 15th to 18th century. King Ludwig I of Bavaria (1825–1848) ordered Leo to build a new building for the gallery for the Wittelsbach collection in 1826. The Alte Pinakothek became the largest museum in the world and structurally and conceptually well advanced through the use of skylights and the convenient accommodation of northern lights for the cabinets. Even the neo-renaissance exterior of the Pinakothek clearly stands out from the castle-like museum type usual in the early 19th Century. It is closely associated with the function and structure of the building as a museum. Very modern in its day, the building became exemplary for museum buildings in Germany and all of Europe after its inauguration in 1836, and thus became a model for new galleries in Rome, St Petersburg, Brussels and Kassel. With the secularization many paintings from churches and former monasteries entered into state hands. King Ludwig I of Bavaria collected especially early German and early Dutch paintings but also masterpieces of the Italian renaissance. The museum galleries were designed to display Rubens's "Last Judgment" (1617), one of the largest canvasses ever painted. Other painting are- Leonardo da Vinci's "Virgin and Child (Madonna of the Carnation)", Raphael, Madonna Tempi, 1508, François Boucher, Reclining girl (Marie-Louise O'Murphy, 1737-1818), Giotto di Bondone, Christ on the Cross Between Mary and John, c. 1300 , "Kreuzigung Christi" (English: "Crucifixion of Christ") by Lucas Cranach the Elder etc.( In the modern world the “Pinacoteca” is often used as a name for a public art gallery, mostly in Italy.) iii- Neue Pinakothek- 19th Century art can be found in the nearby Neue Pinakothek, including famous works by Romanticists and Impressionists. More modern artwork is displayed in the Pinakothek der Moderne, which opened in 2002 with an expansive collection of 21st century art.
iv-Lenbachhaus -The Galerie im Lenbachhaus displays 19th and 20th century paintings in a grand Italianate residence near Königsplatz. The gallery contains a variety of works by Munich painters and contemporary artists, in styles such as The Blue Rider and New Objectivity.
031-BMW MUSEUM- BMW is the acronym for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or in English, Bavarian Motor Works. The main attraction for the hundreds of thousands of visitors that visit BMW is the four-cylinder BMW tower and the bowl-shaped museum next to it. The museum showcases the technical development of cars and motorcycles and also has some exhibits about the history of the company. Many old cars and motorcycles are on display along a spiral ramp that curls along the inside of the bowl shaped building. Some of the cars here include a Dixi car from 1928, the funny-looking Isetta and sports cars such as the BMW 328, known for its victory in the historic Mille Miglia race in Italy. There are also more recent models on display such as the BMW 850.
i-BMW Tower (BMW Headquarters) -It is the main office building officially called the BMW- like a four-cylinder engine. The aluminium-clad tower was completed in 1972, just before the Olympics took place in the Olympia Park, right next to the building. The Tower was built between 1968 and 1972. The 101-metre (331 feet) building is located near the Olympic Village and is often cited as one of the most notable examples of architecture in Munich. The main tower consists of four vertical cylinders standing next to and across from each other. Each cylinder is divided horizontally in its centre by a mould in the facade. Notably, these cylinders do not stand on the ground; they are suspended on a central support tower. The tower has a diameter of 52.30 and it has 22 occupied floors, two of which are basements and 18 serve as office space.
ii-BMW Welt - In 2008 BMW opened another attraction across the street, set in a spectacular modern structure: BMW Welt (BMW World). It is designed to present the current products of BMW, be a distribution centre for BMW cars, and offer an event forum and a conference centre. In the multifunctional complex new owners can pick up their car and visitors can see exhibitions of cars and technological developments in the Markenwelt (World of Brands).The building, which is connected to the BMW Museum via a pedestrian bridge, is also home to a number of restaurants and BMW-themed stores.
i-BMW Tower (BMW Headquarters) -It is the main office building officially called the BMW- like a four-cylinder engine. The aluminium-clad tower was completed in 1972, just before the Olympics took place in the Olympia Park, right next to the building. The Tower was built between 1968 and 1972. The 101-metre (331 feet) building is located near the Olympic Village and is often cited as one of the most notable examples of architecture in Munich. The main tower consists of four vertical cylinders standing next to and across from each other. Each cylinder is divided horizontally in its centre by a mould in the facade. Notably, these cylinders do not stand on the ground; they are suspended on a central support tower. The tower has a diameter of 52.30 and it has 22 occupied floors, two of which are basements and 18 serve as office space.
ii-BMW Welt - In 2008 BMW opened another attraction across the street, set in a spectacular modern structure: BMW Welt (BMW World). It is designed to present the current products of BMW, be a distribution centre for BMW cars, and offer an event forum and a conference centre. In the multifunctional complex new owners can pick up their car and visitors can see exhibitions of cars and technological developments in the Markenwelt (World of Brands).The building, which is connected to the BMW Museum via a pedestrian bridge, is also home to a number of restaurants and BMW-themed stores.
032-OLYMPIC STADIUM & PARK- In 1972 Summer Olympic were held in Munich. The Olympic Area is a 3.0 km2 large Olympic Park has now blended in with the city and is easily reachable via the U-bahn (underground).The Olympic area includes Olympic Stadium, Olympic Hall, Olympic Tower, Olympic Swimming Hall, Olympic Event Hall, Olympic Village and Olympic Park. Situated close to the city centre, it was built on a terrain used by the Bayern army until 1925 when it became part of the Munich Airport. After the Second World War in 1945, the rubble cleared from the city was moved here, forming the basis of the hilly landscape of the Olympiapark. The site also contains an ice rink, an indoor pool, a residential district and student residences and of course the Olympic Stadium, which was the home of the main local soccer team, FC Bayern München until they moved to the futuristic Allianz arena in 2006. The Olympic stadium can seat 80,000 people and the Olympic Hall 14,000. The Olympic site became world-known mainly because of the futuristic tent-like roof construction. It covers the Olympic Stadium, Olympiahall and the swimming pool. The roof covering the main stadium consists of a PVC-coated polyester fabric. It is a 3.0Km2 area. For a good overview of the Olympic site, one can either walk to the top of the 60 meters high hill in the Olympiapark, the Olympiaberg or one can go and take the elevator to the 189 and 192 meter-high platforms on the Olympiaturm, a 290-meter high Television Tower and goes to 189-192 m and there is also a revolving restaurant in the tower. If one find it too windy on the platform, then have a view on the city of Munich from the revolving restaurant in the tower. The park is located in the modern skyline near BMW and the "Uptown" skyscraper of O2.It is situated near the city centre and can be reached by U-Bahn.
033-ALLIANZ AREANA-It is a football stadium in the north of Munich on way to Airport. It is the third biggest stadium in Germany and after the Signal Iduna Park in Dormund and Olympiastadion in Berlin .It is named for a large German financial services provider and the construction of the Allianz Arena began in 2002 on the northern edge of the borough of Schwabing and was completed in April 2005.The arena was built to replace the well-worn Munich Olympic Stadium, constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics .The round arena, which has earned the nickname "the inflatable boat", immediately catches the eye of the passer-by and has become known worldwide for its unusual construction. That's because the façade of the arena is made of 2,874 ETFE-foil air panels that are kept inflated with dry air, making it look like a large white inner tube. ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoro Ethylene) is a polymer/plastic that can withstand a large range of temperatures and is highly resistant to corrosion. The panels appear white from far away but are actually dotted, which is apparent from close up. Incredibly, each and every panel can be independently lit with red, white, or blue lights, so it is the first stadium in the world that has a full changing colour outside. The result is stunning, especially at night. The arena also boasts a roof with retractable roller blinds which may be drawn during a game to block sunlight, if necessary. This unique arena can hold a crowd of nearly 66,000 spectators. There are 22,000 seats on the upper tier, 24,000 in the middle, and about 20,000 on the bottom tier .The stadium has the biggest car parking in Europe with 9800 parking places in four storey parking and has 350 parking spaces for buses. The stadium is located next to the Fröttmaning U-Bahn station. This is on the U6 line of the Munich U-Bahn. From the subway station just south of the arena, visitors approach the stadium through a park that was designed to disentangle and guide them to the entrance. An esplanade rises gradually from ground level at the subway station entrance, practically building the parking garage's cover, to the entrance level of the stadium.
034-HOF BRAUHAUS (Royal Brewery) -The HofBräuhaus is more than four centuries old. The beer hall was first established in 1589 by Duke of Bavaria Wilhelm V in order to satisfy his "thirsty and demanding household". It is the oldest beer halls in Munich. First, the HofBräuhaus brewed only brown ale, but when Wilhelm V's son took over, he preferred wheat beer and that soon became the focus of the brewery, the beer was first served to the general public in 1610. After WWII it was rebuilt in its original style, the hall reopened in 1958 to honour Munich's 800th birthday. The same family - the Gerdas - has managed the hall. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived around the block from the beer hall in the late eighteenth century. In the period just before World War One, Vladimir Lenin lived in Munich and reportedly visited the Hofbräuhaus on a regular basis. In 1919, the Munich Communist government set up headquarters in the beer hall, and in 1920 Adolf Hitler and the National Socialists held their first meeting in the Festsaal (the Festival Room), on the third floor. The Hofbräuhaus was also visited several times by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John F. Kennedy, and the American author Thomas Wolfe, were the well-known visitors. Celebrities such as Louis Armstrong, Mikhail Gorbachev, NASA astronauts, even future presidents such as George H. W. Bush visited the Hofbräuhaus while in Munich. After Munich's world famous Oktoberfest (where the Hofbräu has one of the largest beer tents) the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is the Munich's most outstanding tourist attraction and historical monument. For a true Munich experience of beer one to have to go to the ground floor. Here one can join with 1,000 guests for a stein of the HofBräuhaus' fine brew and a chance to hear tradition German oom-pah music. Upstairs, the smaller Bräustüberl serves light Bavarian cuisine. The historic Festival Hall seats about 900 and features a stage where guests can enjoy Bavarian dance, music, and folklore. In the warmer weather, visitors can drink their brew in the outdoor beer garden. But the biggest treat - besides the beer - is watching the traditionally-dressed servers juggle 10 beer steins at one time.
035-OCTBERFEST- Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival celebrating beer held annually in Munich .Running from late September to the first weekend in October, it is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year. The festival is held in an area named the Theresienwiese which is in 42 hectare (field, or meadow, of Therese), often called Wiesn for short, and located near Munich's centre. Large quantities of Oktoberfest Beer are consumed, with almost 7 million litters served during the 16 day festival in 2007. Visitors may also enjoy a wide variety of traditional food such as Hendl (chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezeln (pretzel), Knödel (potato or bread dumplings), Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut or Rotkohl/Blaukraut (red cabbage) along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a spiced cheese-butter spread) and Weisswurst (a white sausage).Only beer conforming to the Reinheitsgebot, approximately 6% alcohol by volume may be served at Oktoberfest. The beer must also be brewed within the city limits of Munich. Crown Prince Ludwig, later, who becomes King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 17, 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event. The fields were named Theresienwiese ("Theresa's meadow") in honor of the Crown Princess, and have kept that name ever since, although the locals have since abbreviated the name simply to the "Wies'n". To honour the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, a parade took place for the first time in 1810. Since 1850, this has become an annual event and an important component of the Oktoberfest. Eight thousand people—mostly from Bavaria—in traditional costumes walk from Maximilian Street through the centre of Munich to the Oktoberfest grounds named Theresienwiese. The march is led by the Münchner Kindl. Since 1950, there has been a traditional festival opening. A twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at 12:00 by the incumbent Mayor of Munich with the cry "Ozapft is!" ("It's tapped" in the Austro-Bavarian dialect) opens the Oktoberfest. The Mayor then gives the first beer to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria. Traditional visitors wear during the Oktoberfest Bavarian hats (Tirolerhüte), which contain a tuft of goat hair. In Germany, goat hair is highly valued and prized, making it one of the most expensive objects for sale. The more tufts of goat hair on your hat, the wealthier you are considered to be. This tradition ended with the appearance of cheap goat hair imitations on the market. Since the 1970s, local German gay organizations have organized "Gay Days" at Oktoberfest, which by the 21st century always began in the Bräurosl tent on the first Sunday.
There are currently fourteen large tents and twenty small tents at the Oktoberfest. The tents themselves are non-permanent structures which are constructed for and only used during the festival. The event has some impressive statistics: 14 giant tents with a total seating capacity of 1, 00,000 serve 5.5 million litres of potent ‘March beer’, more than 6, 00,000 fried chickens and 84 heads of cattle. The annual commercial value of the whole thing is estimated at a minimum of 0.7 billion Euro. Tuesdays from noon till 6pm are ‘Family Days’. It is an advice getting there early (like 11.00 am) and finding a good spot. Be warned as, Oktoberfest beer is at around 8% strong and you might be advised to drink some with Radlers (shandy) too. The description of the few tents is -
There are currently fourteen large tents and twenty small tents at the Oktoberfest. The tents themselves are non-permanent structures which are constructed for and only used during the festival. The event has some impressive statistics: 14 giant tents with a total seating capacity of 1, 00,000 serve 5.5 million litres of potent ‘March beer’, more than 6, 00,000 fried chickens and 84 heads of cattle. The annual commercial value of the whole thing is estimated at a minimum of 0.7 billion Euro. Tuesdays from noon till 6pm are ‘Family Days’. It is an advice getting there early (like 11.00 am) and finding a good spot. Be warned as, Oktoberfest beer is at around 8% strong and you might be advised to drink some with Radlers (shandy) too. The description of the few tents is -
MUNICH OUTSTATION DAY TOURS –
TOUR-1 – Visit of Neuschwanstein Castle-Linderof Castle-Oberammergau. - The duration of group tour by coach is about 10.30hours duration from Munich and the travelling time to the Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich is two hours. Oberammergau is 120 kms from Munich. During the tour following places/buildings will be visited-
001-NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE-CastleNeuschwanstein Castle (English: New Swanstone Castle) is a King Ludwig's II magnificent and most famous Romanesque Revival Castle and Germany's number one tourist spot is a real fairy-tale fantasy on a hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria and above the Alpsee Lake. Construction went on between 1869 and 1886, but during this period only about a third of the building was actually completed. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat. Ludwig paid for the palace out of his personal fortune and by means of extensive borrowing, not by Bavarian public funds .The palace was intended as a personal refuge for the reclusive king, but it was opened to the paying public immediately after his death in 1886. More than 1.3 million people visit annually. The palace has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle and later .When the young king came to power in 1864, the construction of a new palace in place of the two ruined castles became the first in his series of palace building projects. Ludwig called the new palace New Hohenschwangau Castle, only after his death was it renamed Neuschwanstein. The palace can be regarded as typical for 19th-century architecture. The shapes of Romanesque (simple geometric figures such as cuboids and semi-circular arches), Gothic (upward-pointing lines, slim towers, delicate embellishments) and Byzantine architecture and art (the Throne Hall décor) were mingled in an eclectic fashion and supplemented with 19th-century technical achievements. The palace was erected as a conventional brick construction and later encased in various types of rock. The white limestone used for the fronts came from a nearby quarry. The sandstone bricks for the portals and bay windows came from Schlaitdorf in Württemberg. Marble from Untersberg near Salzburg was used for the windows, the arch ribs, the columns and the capitals. The Throne Hall was a later addition .Despite its size, Neuschwanstein did not have space for the royal court, but contained only the king's private lodging and servants' rooms. The court buildings served decorative, rather than residential purposes. The palace was intended to serve Ludwig II as a kind of inhabitable theatrical setting. In the end, Ludwig II only lived in the palace for a total of 172 days. Neuschwanstein Castle consists of several individual structures which were erected over a length of 150 meters on the top of a cliff ridge. The elongate building is furnished with numerous towers, ornamental turrets, gables, balconies, pinnacles and sculptures. Following Romanesque style. It was designed as the romantic ideal of a knight's castle. The palace complex is entered through the symmetrical Gatehouse flanked by two stair towers. The passage through the Gatehouse, crowned with the royal Bavarian coat of arms, leads directly into the courtyard. The courtyard has two levels, the lower one being defined to the east by the Gatehouse and to the north by the foundations of the so-called Rectangular Tower and by the gallery building. The southern end of the courtyard is open, imparting a view of the surrounding mountain scenery. Had it been completed, the palace would have had more than 200 interior rooms, including premises for guests and servants, as well as for service and logistics. Ultimately, no more than about 15 rooms and halls were finished. In its lower stories the Palace accommodates administrative and servants' rooms and the rooms of today's palace administration. The king's staterooms are situated in the upper stories. The interior structure accommodates the lodgings in the third floor, above them the Hall of the Singers. The upper floors of the west-facing posterior structure are filled almost completely by the Throne Hall 20 x 12 meters. The largest room of the palace by area is the Hall of the Singers, followed by the Throne Hall. The 27x10-metre, Hall of the Singers is located in the eastern, court-side wing of the Palas, in the fourth floor above the king's lodgings. It is designed as an amalgamation of two rooms of the Wartburg. The Hall of the Singers and the Ballroom. It was one of the king's favourite projects for his palace. The Throne Hall is situated in the west wing of the Palace. With its height of 13 meters, it occupies the third and fourth floors. The throne dais is surrounded by paintings of Jesus, the Twelve Apostles and six canonized kings.
002-LINDERHOF PALACE-Linderhof Palace (German- Schloss Linderhof) is in Germany, in southwest Bavaria near Ettal Abbey in the Graswang valley. King Ludwig II of Bavaria's fairy-tale palace at Linderhof is the only one he lived to see completed and the one in which he stayed more than anywhere else. It is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Linderhof, in comparison to other palaces, has a rather private atmosphere. In fact, there are only four rooms that have a real function. Hall of Mirrors- This room was used by the king as some kind of living room. He enjoyed sitting in the niche, sometimes reading there the whole night. Because Ludwig II used to sleep in the daytime and stay awake in the night, the mirrors created an unimaginable effect for him when they reflected the light of the candles a thousand times. In the Eastern and Western Tapestry Chambers there two tapestry chambers are almost identical and have no specific function. The western one is sometimes called "Music Room" because of the Aeolodion in it. Only the curtains and the coverings on the furniture are real products of the Parisian Gobelin Manufactory. The Audience Chamber is located to the west of the palace and is flanked by the yellow and lilac cabinets. The cabinets were only used as antechambers to the larger rooms. Ludwig II never used this room to hold an audience .The Dining Room is located to the east and is flanked by the pink and blue cabinets. The pink cabinet, unlike the other cabinets, had a real function. The king used it as a robing room. The dining room is famous for its disappearing dumb-waiter called "Tischlein deck dich". This table was installed so that Ludwig could dine alone here. Bedchamber room was not Louis XIV's bedchamber in Versailles but the bedroom of the Rich Rooms in Munich Residence. Linderhof Palace Park is a stunning example of historicist-era landscape gardening. The palace is surrounded by formal gardens that are subdivided into five sections they are decorated with allegoric sculptures of the continents, the seasons and the elements. The northern part is characterized by a cascade of thirty marble steps. The bottom end of the cascade is formed by the Neptune Fountain and at the top there is a Music Pavilion .The centre of the western parterre is formed by basin with the gilt figure of "Fama". In the west there is a pavilion with the bust of Louis XIV. In front of it you see a fountain with the gilt sculpture "Amor with Dolphins". The garden is decorated with four majolica vases .The crowning of the eastern parterre is a wooden pavilion containing the bust of Louis XVI. Twenty-four steps below it there is a fountain basin with a gilt sculpture "Amor shooting an arrow". A sculpture of "Venus and Adonis" is placed between the basin and the palace .The water parterre in front of the palace is dominated by a large basin with the gilt fountain group "Flora and Puttos". The fountain's water jet itself is nearly 25 meters high .The terrace gardens form the southern part of the park and correspond to the cascade in the north. On the landing of the first flight there is the "Naiad Fountain" consisting of three basins and the sculptures of water nymphs. In the middle arch of the niche see the bust of Marie Antoinette of France. These gardens are crowned by a round temple with a statue of Venus .Landscape garden and structure in the park covers an area of about 125 acres and is perfectly integrated in the surrounding natural alpine landscape. There are several buildings of different appearance located in the park. . Every year on 24 August fires are lit in the nearby Oberammergau to celebrate the birthday of Bavaria's favourite king. Also worth checking out are the violin-making museum in Mittenwald and Gasteig arts centre on Lake Ammersee, around 80 kilometres north of Linderhof Palace.
003- OBERAMMERGAU in the municipality of GARMISH-PARTENKIRCHEN-Garmish- Partenkirchen is a mountain resort in Bavaria in southern Germany. Garmish is in the west and Partenkirchen is in the east. The two towns were united in 1935.Today the united town is referred as Garmish. As the Garmish is slightly modern and filled with frescos, cobblestoned streets and Partenkirche offer a glimpse of past time. Aside from the scenic location, what makes this small town so endearing are all the enchanting Upper Bavarian-styled homes, beautifully adorned with painted scenes and window boxes exploding with flowers. The Bavarians have a long history of decorating the exteriors of their houses and businesses with both religious and historic paintings. Almost every building in Garmisch-Partenkirchen has unique murals on the outside walls of the buildings. Some depict an event or animals and other paintings make the buildings look like they have things (windows, statues, etc.) that really are not there. Just walking around the town is a real treat. a-Garmisch town presents itself as a holiday destination for everyone, singles and families. Garmisch is a fascinating little town with about 26,000 inhabitants in the south of Bavaria. One thing makes it famous all over the world. It’s located at the foot of the highest mountain in Germany, the 9.724 ft Zugspitze. This is one of the reasons why every year millions of visitors come to Garmisch. It is also famous because here the Winter Olympics 1936 and the Alpine Ski World Championship 1978 were held. By car, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is reached via the A95 motorway after 120 km journey .There are attractive rail connections within Germany. The transportation from the airport by hired car, taxi, rail or bus can be organized by the tourist-information in Garmisch, Richard-Strauss-Platz 2, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Accomodations in Garmisch are various. You can choose between about 1.000 establishments, from rustic inns, farms, bread & breakfast, holiday apartments up to five stars luxury hotels. You find designer shops and antique shops near traditional handicrafts and souvenir shops. Nightlife is also a hit in Garmisch. Relaxing and chilling in one of the bars or bistros, dancing in trendy clubs or trying one’s luck in the Casino .The Casino offers blackjack, poker, roulette and lots of slot machines. A highlight is a Zugspitze trip on the cog wheel train, the glacier cable car and the Eibsee Cable Car, the ride takes 80 minutes. In summer and winter, trekking round the mountains in Garmisch means experiencing the most beautiful side of nature .The most attractive offer for holiday activity is alpine skiing on the top of Germany’s highest mountain – the Zugspitze. b-Oberammergau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. The town is famous for its production of a Passion Play, its woodcarvers, and the NATO School. Most of the buildings in Oberammergau have beautifully detailed murals on them, mostly of biblically significant tableaux.(http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/11/the-beautiful-alpine-town-of-garmish.html) i-Passion Play-The Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed in 1634 and is the result of a vow made by the inhabitants of the village that if God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague then sweeping the region they would perform a passion play every ten years. The play is now performed in years ending with a zero, as well as in 1934 which was the 300th anniversary and 1984 which was the 350th anniversary. It involves over 2000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and technicians, all residents of the village. About half the inhabitants of Oberammergau took part in the once-a-decade Passion Play in 2010.This means that over 2,000 villagers brought the story of Jesus to life for the audiences that flocked in from around the world. The play started each day at 14.30 and including a three-hour supper interval ended at 22.30. Performances took place between mid-May and early October 2010.
ii-Traditional art of Woodcarving- The village is also known as the home of a long tradition of woodcarving; the Bavarian State Woodcarving School is located there. The streets of central Oberammergau are home to dozens of woodcarver shops, with pieces ranging from religious subjects, to toys, to humorous portraits. A usual Oberammergau souvenir is a wooden cruxifix or a wooden Bavarian clocks. iii- "Lüftlmalerei," or frescoes -It is the local Bavarian version of painting which become popular in the eighteenth century. The subject of illusion, artificially, deceiving the eye, was a major object of paintings. Trompe ‘oeil paintings aim to deceive the eye into mistaking a painted image for reality. For example of Luftmalerei is a painted molding around a window look like a part of architecture .The term ‘Luftmalerei’ is derived from the name of the house ,’Zum Luftl’, owned by Franz Seraph Zwink(1748-92) of Obermmaergau , who practiced the painting style .The colors lasts for three generations. iv-NATO School - NATO Weapons Systems School, the alliance's principal training and education facility on the operational level, has been located at Hawkins Barracks/Hötzendorf Kaserne since 1953.
ii-Traditional art of Woodcarving- The village is also known as the home of a long tradition of woodcarving; the Bavarian State Woodcarving School is located there. The streets of central Oberammergau are home to dozens of woodcarver shops, with pieces ranging from religious subjects, to toys, to humorous portraits. A usual Oberammergau souvenir is a wooden cruxifix or a wooden Bavarian clocks. iii- "Lüftlmalerei," or frescoes -It is the local Bavarian version of painting which become popular in the eighteenth century. The subject of illusion, artificially, deceiving the eye, was a major object of paintings. Trompe ‘oeil paintings aim to deceive the eye into mistaking a painted image for reality. For example of Luftmalerei is a painted molding around a window look like a part of architecture .The term ‘Luftmalerei’ is derived from the name of the house ,’Zum Luftl’, owned by Franz Seraph Zwink(1748-92) of Obermmaergau , who practiced the painting style .The colors lasts for three generations. iv-NATO School - NATO Weapons Systems School, the alliance's principal training and education facility on the operational level, has been located at Hawkins Barracks/Hötzendorf Kaserne since 1953.
TOUR-2- Visit of Lake Chiemsee and Royal Palace of Herrenchiemsee - The duration of group tour by coach is about 10.30hours from Munich and the travelling time to the Lake Chiemsee from Munich is one hours and 60kms away on south east direction.
001-LAKE CHIEMSEE(ki mze) -Chiemsee is a freshwater lake of 80km2 and at 518 meters above sea level in Bavaria, Germany, between Rosenheim, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria in the Chiemgau region in the Upper Bavaria and the foot of Bavarian Alps. It is often called the Bavarian Sea. The rivers Tiroler Achen and Prien flow into the lake and the river Alz, out of it. The Chiemsee is divided into the bigger, north section, in the northeast, called Weitsee, and the Inselsee, in the southwest .The region around the Chiemsee is Chiemgau and is a famous recreation area. There are three islands are Herrenchiemsee (biggest island-called gentleman’s island-area is 230hectares with coastal length is 11kms) ,Fraueninsel (lady island) and Krautinsel (herb island-uninhabited) and the smallest island . Herrenchiemsee has a palace built by King Ludwig II in 1878, also called Herrenchiemsee, which was never completed but was meant to be a replica of the Palace of Versailles, in France. Many of the rooms of the castle are open to tourists, tours of the castle and its extensive grounds on the island are conducted throughout the summer. Frauenchiemsee is the smaller of the two major islands on the Chiemsee, and houses a Benedictine nunnery, built in 782AD, as well as a small village. The nuns make liquor called Klosterlikör (cloister liquor) and marzipan (almond paste). The Chiemsee loop line bus circles the lake in the summer on all seven days of the week. The buses run twice daily in Prien and Chieming and go in opposite directions around the lake. They have a bike trailer for 18 or 22 bikes, and thus offer possibilities for combining hiking and cycling tours. On the island of Herrenchiemsee during the summer, horse-drawn carriages between the pier and the Royal Castle as a shuttle service (fare 3 - €, as of 2012). The Chiemsee is a very popular sailing area. Around the lake there are numerous sailing clubs and sailing schools and also the opportunity for introductory courses or just for crewed charter or boat rental. Prien is the largest town on the lake with long-distance train station.
002-HERRENCHIEMSEE PALACE- Herrenchiemsee Palace is a complex of royal buildings on Herrenchiemsee Island in the Chiemsee lake area, this palace was built as a “Bavarian Versailles”. The unfinished New Palace was built between 1878 and 1885.Ludwig only had the opportunity to stay within the Palace for a few days in September 1885. After his death in the following year, all construction work discontinued and the building was opened for the public. The nearly complete North Wing, was demolished in 1907. Unlike the medieval design of Neuschwanstein Castle begun in 1869, the New Palace is, in a sense, a Neo-Baroque monument to Ludwig's admiration of King Louis XIV of France. In the great hall of mirrors of the palace the ceiling is painted with 25 tableaux showing Louis XIV at his best. It was to have been an equivalent to the Palace of Versailles, but only the central portion was built before the king died in 1886, where after construction were discontinued leaving 50 of the 70 rooms of the palace incomplete. It was never meant to be a perfectly exact replica of Versailles and in several places surpasses it. Like Versailles, the Hall of Mirrors has 17 arches, the Hall of Peace and the Hall of War on either side have three windows each. The window niches at Herrenciemsee are wider than those at Versailles, resulting in an overall greater width of the central part of the facade of a few meters. The dining room features an elevator table and a huge chandelier of Meissen porcelain, the largest in the world. The building also benefits from nearly two centuries of technological progress, while the original Versailles Palace did not have a single toilet and the only running water was outside in the fountains. King Ludwig's "copy" has more modern facilities including a central heating system and a large heated bathtub. Also, unlike Versailles, it was built on an island and is now only accessible by a small ferry - thereby Herrenchiemsee always remained slightly in the shadow of Neuschwanstein .The main palace building was shaped in an 'U' with cloisters around the inside. Also, only 16 of the 70 rooms were on the ground floor. Castle Tours:- approx. 30 minutes, beginning 9.00 clock, last tour 17.15 clock, for disabled people, photographing in the premises is prohibited. The sale of tickets is the visitor centre at the boat dock. From there walk to the castle is about 1.2 km (about 15 to 20 minutes’ walk). Admission = 8 € . The tour of the palace starts in the internal link vestibule and goes via the State Staircase on to the first floor .From there it leads via the Northern Staircase back to the ground floor where it ends with a visit in the bathroom and the robing chamber. King Ludwig II - museum on the ground floor / building castle Herrenchiemsee. The museum deals with the life of Ludwig II from birth to early and tragic death shows busts, historical photographs, and other exhibits as original finery and pomp furniture. Opening times: Apr. - mid-October: 9-18 clock, mid-October - March: 10-16.45 clock, open daily. The formal gardens are filled with fountains, a copy of the Versailles Bassin de Latone and statues in both the classical style typical of Versailles and in the typical of romanticism that was favoured by King Ludwig. Visible from the bedroom, was the access avenue of 900 meters length in an easterly direction, at the lakeside end. The two large pool with the surmounted statues of Fama and Fortuna fountain in front of castle with groups of figure.The flower parterre with the Latona Fountain and the "Grand Canal", in front of whose mirror surface an Apollo fountain was to rise up. The round Latona - fountain in the centre of the park, a replica of the model at Versailles. Southern marble fountain with figures of Amphitrite and flora. North marble fountain with figures of Diana and Venus.
003- AUGUSTINIAN MONASTERY/OLD PALACE-The Augustinian Monastery is a former monastery of the 18th Century and is located right next to the boat dock. It was used as a castle. This old castle is the Constitution Museum to visit, there are also private rooms that Ludwig II used during construction of Herrenchiemsee, also an art gallery. Also in this museum photography is prohibited. In Nebengbäuden is a hotel, the terrace of the restaurant offers a view over the lake. The walk from the boat dock at the old castle to new castle (2 km, 20 min) can also be the horse to be covered. Bike and scooter riding and inline skating is prohibited on the island for security reasons.
004-WOMAN CHIEMSEE MONASTERY(At Frauenc hiemsee)- The woman Chiemsee monastery is located on Frauenchiemsee island this monastery was founded in the 8th Century and re-established after the secularization by King Ludwig I, now offers corporate and private seminars. In the 19th Century, the island of "land-seeking" artists from Munich and other cities was discovered, who founded an artists' colony. The island is still a popular subject for painters and other offers visitors a wide range of catering and craft artists. Sight of the island are- The Campanile, the freestanding bell tower of the monastery church with origins in the 12th Century and its classic Bavarian Baroque onion dome from the 1626. A circular walk around the island passes through the artists' colony, whose neat and colourful gardens at the monastery. Length of about 1.5 km, and parts of the shore are privately used, the areas of the monastery can be used by visitors for bathing. The woman island has two piers: the main bridge in the south, it is used in the island tour and the Grand Tour, and on the north side of the north jetty for the shuttle to Gstadt. Frauenchiemsee along with its sister island Herreninsel is one of the main tourist attractions on the Chiemsee, and is famous for the Kloster Liquor spirit, which is produced by the nuns. The school on the island was named Irmengard Gymnasium.