Munich is a city rich in history and tradition. Most of its significant and cultural sites are located in a central core which makes it easy to walk. Munich, the former capital of Bavaria, is ideally located as a home base from which to tour southern Germany. Although most of Germany’s cities were severely damaged during the Second World War, and Munich was no exception, it has been rebuilt to reflect its old-world Bavarian roots. It is essentially German.
- The Residenz
The Residenz is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach family, who were rulers of Bavaria for centuries. The complex contains a number of buildings including lovely gardens and the royal treasury. It is located in the center of Munich and easy to reach during a walking tour of the historic core. The palace has been beautifully restored after a large portion of the buildings were destroyed during the Second World War. Be sure to read the placards in many of the rooms as they will detail the ceiling and wall murals that have been lost forever. It is also interesting to note that many of the portraits in the halls had been hastily sliced out of their frames for safe keeping prior to the bombing. The cuts are a vivid reminder that Germany’s history and culture suffered as much as others did.
- Marienplatz
Located in the centre of the city, the beautiful city hall and its surrounding square are a popular tourist destination. Spend time watching the international sea of humanity stroll by while you wait for the cuckoo clock to toll on the hour.
- Viktualien-Markt
Just a short walk from the city centre, this market contains a beer garden surrounded by stalls offering seasonal fruits and vegetables and locally prepared meats, cheeses, breads and wines. It is a perfect place to shop for a picnic. You can eat your picnic at the public tables in the beer garden as long as you buy a beer. Not a bad deal at all. This is also a great place to browse for handcrafted souvenirs.
- Alte/Neue Pinakothek
We are art buffs so these two galleries, facing each other across a landscaped square just north of the city centre, are an art lovers dream. The Alte Pinakothek houses the old masters, including an impressive collection of Rubens. Across the ways is the Neue Pinakothek which includes modern, Avant garde and impressionists. There are two beautiful Monet’s (whom I am especially fond of) and one of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers displayed with pride. Even at a slower pace these two galleries can be viewed in a morning.
- King Ludwig’s Castles
A trip to Bavaria is incomplete without a visit to King Ludwig’s fairy tale castle, Neuschwanstein. It is a well-known fact that Disney based Cinderella’s castle this Bavarian castle. Barely completed before the death of the mad king it has been a tourist destination since the late 1800’s. Located outside of Munich, there are bus tours to this destination daily. This was a highlight of our trip. The bus takes you through beautiful German countryside on your way to the site. There is about a mile walk from where the bus drops you off to the castle, and it is up hill all the way. There are some options for horse and buggy but they are expensive, busy and irregular so depending on your time you may want to take the trek.
Honourable mention goes to the Augustiner Keller. One of the oldest breweries in Munich, it now houses a 5,000 seat outdoor beer garden as well as a lovely restaurant. We chose to return a number of times during our stay in Munich as it offered a great atmosphere, deliciously cold beer and wonderful local cuisine. Be sure to check it out.