Sightseeing OverviewMarienplatz, where the main
pedestrianized streets converge, is the undisputed
center of the city. Weinstrasse, which becomes Theatinerstrasse, runs north from Marienplatz to
Odeonsplatz, while Kaufinger Strasse/NeuhauserstrasseStrasse, which becomes Neuhauserstrasse, runs west to
Karlsplatz - known locally as Stachus.
Many of the city's main attractions are in the immediate vicinity, so sightseeing can easily be done on foot or by hopping on and off
trams. Worth seeing are the 16th-century
Michaelskirche, with its imposing
barrel-vaulted interior, and the
Asamkirche, considered a masterpiece of south German Rococo architecture.
The
oldest part of the city is the area to the east of Marienplatz, including the
Alter Hof (the original royal residence) and the world-famous
Hofbräuhaus. The
Residenz complex lies to the north.
The wide boulevard and grand palatial architecture of
Ludwigstrasse and
Leopoldstrasse stretches north of Odeonsplatz to the Siegestor. These
grand building schemes were commissioned by Ludwig I, as were those around Königsplatz, in the part of the city known as
Maxvorstadt - home to some of Munich's most important
museums and
galleries.
From the Siegestor, Leopoldstrasse forms the central artery of the popular district of
Schwabing. The
former artists' quarter is now considered the most
fashionable part of the city, with numerous
cafés, bars, restaurants and
nightlife venues.
To the east of Leopoldstrasse, side roads lead off to the
Englischer Garten, a quiet retreat from the busy city.
Tourist InformationMunich Tourist Office
Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhofplatz 2
Tel: (089) 2339 6555.
Website:
www.muenchen-tourist.de Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1830 (Nov-Mar), 0930-2000 (Apr-Oct), Sun 1000-1800 (all year).
A second tourist information office is located in the
Neues Rathaus, on Marienplatz. Both offices provide a hotel reservation service.
PassesThe
Munich CityTourCard (available from selected hotels and from ticket machines at rail, S-Bahn, tram and U-Bahn stations) entitles the holder to free travel by
MVV transport in the designated area and to the castles at Schleissheim, as well as up to 50% reduction on admission fees to 35 attractions. Cards are available for 1 or 3 days, for both central Munich and the entire area. Cards for up to five people, and group cards are also available.
Key Attractions:Around Marienplatz
Marienplatz has been at the heart of Munich since the city’s foundation in 1158. The area is now a major hub for the urban transport network. For centuries, it was known as the
Schrannenmarkt (the place where farmers and merchants came to buy and sell their goods) but was renamed in 1854, after the statue of the Virgin Mary in the center. The north side of Marienplatz is entirely dominated by the neo-gothic
Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), built in the 19th century. Miniature statues of Bavarian rulers and other characters adorn the hall’s façade, while the 85m (279ft) tower houses a
glockenspiel consisting of 43 bells. The bells are accompanied by mechanical marionettes that perform scenes from Munich’s history. Visitors can ascend the tower by lift.Nearby, other buildings of note include the 15th-century
Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), which houses a delightful toy museum, and the
Frauenkirche -
Munich’s cathedral. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, on the site of the Romanesque Marienkirche, the austere cathedral houses the tomb of Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, and the legendary ‘Devil’s Footprint’ intriguingly embedded in the church floor.
Neues Rathaus
Marienplatz 8
Tel: (089) 23300.
Admission charge.
Altes Rathaus Toy MuseumMarienplatz
Tel: (089) 294 001.
Admission charge.
Frauenkirche
Frauenplatz 1
Tel: (089) 290 0820.
Admission free (charge for tower).
Münchener Residenz (Munich Residence)
The
Munich Residence dates from 1385, when it originated as a small castle. Successive members of the Wittelsbach dynasty expanded the original 14th-century castle to create a complex of palaces around seven courtyards. The elaborate rooms contain antiques, sculptures, paintings and tapestries amassed by the Wittelsbachs between the 16th and 19th centuries - some rooms can only be visited during the morning or afternoon. Other royal treasures are on show in the
Schatzkammer (Treasury). The entire Residenz complex, including the rococo
Cuvilliés-Theater, was rebuilt and restored after being reduced to rubble during WWII.
Residenzstrasse 1
Tel: (089) 290 671.
Website:
www.residenz-muenchen.de Admission charge.
The Three Pinakotheks
The
Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinacotheca), constructed in the 19th century for King Ludwig I, is home to one of the world’s oldest and most important collections of paintings by European Old Masters, including Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt and Rubens.
The
Neue Pinakothek (New Pinacotheca), located opposite in a modern building, was conceived by Ludwig I, as a showcase for contemporary art. The museum houses European painting and sculpture from the second half of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. German painting of the 19th century forms the core of the collection. The entrance price includes an audio-guide, which is available in English.
The third
Pinakothek der Moderne (Pinacotheca of Modern Art) is a collection of contemporary art, architecture and design, taken from disparate collections throughout the city to complement the works housed in the first two galleries. The
Glyptothek (ancient Greek art) and the
Antikensammlung (antiquities collection) are located nearby at Königsplatz.
Alte Pinakothek
Barer Strasse 27
Tel: (089) 2380 5216.
Website:
www.pinakothek.de/alte-pinakothek Admission charge.
Neue Pinakothek
Barer Strasse 29
Tel: (089) 2380 5195.
Website:
www.pinakothek.de/neue-pinakothek Admission charge.
Pinakothek der Moderne
Barer Strasse 40
Tel: (089) 2380 5360.
Website:
www.pinakothek.de/pinakothek-der-moderne Admission charge.
Deutsches Museum (German Museum)
The vast
Deutsches Museum presents a dauntingly comprehensive survey of science and technology, from prehistoric tools to space age inventions. Permanent interactive exhibitions are organized around various themes, including Aerospace, Computers, Mining, Technical Toys and Telecommunications. Next door, the
Forum der Technik (Technology Forum) houses a planetarium and an IMAX theater.
Flugwerft Schleissheim (Schleissheim Aerodrome), located at Germany’s oldest aerodrome, is a branch of the museum that focuses on aviation history.
Museumsinsel 1
Tel: (089) 21791.
Website:
www.deutsches-museum.de Admission charge.
Flugwerft Schleissheim
Effnerstrasse 18, Oberschleissheim
Tel: (089) 315 7140.
Website:
www.deutsches-museum.de Admission charge.
Allianz Arena
Opened in 2005 prior to the German hosting of the 2006 World Cup football tournament in which it featured as a leading match venue, the spectacular 69,000 capacity
Allianz Arena replaced the Olympic Stadium as home for Munich’s two leading clubs, Bayern Munich and 1860 Munich. Located in the Fröttmaning district, about 15 minutes by S-Bahn from Marienplatz, it offers behind-the-scenes tours on non-match days.
Werner-Heisenberg-Allee
Tel: (01805) 555 101.
Website:
www.allianz-arena.de/en Admission charge.
Englischer Garten (English Garden)
The
English Garden is
the largest urban park in Germany, and is a quiet oasis in the heart of busy Munich. Attractions include the
Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), with its great beer garden (one of the focal points of the
Oktoberfest), the
Japanisches Teehaus (Japanese Teahouse) and the
Monopteros, a Greek-style temple
. The
Kleinhesselhoher See (a lake in the center of the park) and the
Amphitheater offer lots of activities in the summer months. The
Haus der Kunst (home of the State Gallery of Modern Art), which hosts excellent temporary exhibitions, and the
Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Bavarian National Museum) are located on Prinzregentenstrasse, on the southern edge of the park.
Haus der Kunst
Prinzregentenstrasse 1
Tel: (089) 2112 7113.
Website:
www.hausderkunst.de Admission charge.
Bayerisches Nationalmuseum
Prinzregentenstrasse 3
Tel: (089) 211 2401.
Website:
www.bayerisches-nationalmuseum.de Admission charge.
Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum)
From March 2007, a museum dedicated to the long history of Jewish culture in the Bavarian capital is a new place of interest on St-Jakobs-Platz, on the site of a pre-war synagogue. It succeeds a much smaller attraction on Maximilianstrasse, and offers three floors of exhibitions, including a special section explaining general Jewish history and religious topics.
St-Jakobs-Platz 16
Tel: (089) 2339 6096.
Website:
www.juedisches-museum.muenchen.de/en Admission charge.
BMW World
From its opening in the summer of 2007, the new
BMW Welt center, located adjacent to the BMW Building and the Olympic Complex, will ultimately incorporate a new and expanded museum dedicated to the iconic Bavarian motor company and its history. The new museum is scheduled to open towards the end of 2007, however until that time there is a special exhibition located adjacent to the
Olympiaturm (Olympic Tower).
BMW Museum (until late 2007), Am Spiridon-Louis-Ring
Tel: (089) 3822 5652.
Website:
www.bmw-welt.com Admission charge.
Schloss Nymphenburg (Nymphenburg Palace)
Located on the western edge of the city, the
Nymphenburg Palace was built between the 17th and 19th centuries. Highlights within the main palace include the late-rococo
Steinerner Saal (Hall of Stone) and the ‘Gallery of Beauties’ - a collection of portraits of beautiful women commissioned by Ludwig I. The extensive grounds conceal four miniature palaces within their landscaped confines, one of which, the
Amalienburg,
is considered the most attractive rococo palace in Germany. The Nymphenburg complex also includes the
Marstallmuseum, which houses royal coaches and riding equipment, as well as the
Bäuml Collection of Nymphenburg porcelain, with exhibits from 1747 until the 1920s.
Menzinger Strasse
Tel: (089) 179 080.
Website:
www.schloesser.bayern.de Admission charge.
Bavaria Film Studios
The tour of Germany’s ‘Film City’, where around 150 hours of cinema and TV films are produced every year, reveals the tricks of the film industry, including the making of films such us
Das Boot (1981),
Cabaret (1972),
Die Unendliche Geschichte, better known as
The Neverending Story (1984), and
Perfume - The Story of a Murderer (2006), with Dustin Hoffman, as well as many German TV series. English tours are available at 1300 daily.
Bavariafilmplatz 7
Tel: (089) 6499 2000.
Website:
www.filmtour.de Admission charge.
Further Distractions:Westpark
Laid out in 1983, for the International Garden Design Exhibition,
Westpark offers 72 hectares (178 acres) of wilderness in the city. Three separate areas recreate the contrasting natural habitats of mountain, meadowland and dry grassland; human interference with the plants and animals is kept to a minimum. In among the natural attractions, visitors can find beer gardens, cafés and several playgrounds. In summer, a floating stage hosts concerts, theater and open-air cinema events. Open 24 hours a day.
Garmischer Strasse, Sendling-Westpark
Free admission.
Kartoffelmuseum (Potato Museum)
An unusual and off-beat attraction situated to the east of the city center dedicated to everything and anything concerning the potato, including its use in art, marketing and advertising.
Grafinger Strasse 2
Tel: (089) 404 050.
Website:
www.kartoffelmuseum.de Free admission.
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