Sometime in the sixties the citizens of Munich noticed - not completely without satisfaction - that Munich had become the secret
German capital! However, Munich did not loose its contemplative atmosphere, so Munich is often named a "capital with heart",
last but not least because of the oases of the cosiness like the typical beer gardens,
many green areas like Englischer Gartenand the Isar meadows, the
Viktualienmarkt and the famous districts
Schwabing, Haidhausen or Giesing.
Not to forget the Oktoberfest, annually starting in September
which lures the tourists in the Isar metropolis.
Nevertheless Munich has grown to the second largest industrial town in Germany. In spite of the highest rents and property
prices Munich is the most attractive place of residence of the republic!
This development was not foreseeable
at times of Duke Heinrich der Löwe: at that time the duke was angry that only of the Bishop of Freising
was entitled to collect the custom duties of the merchants bringing the salt from Berchtesgarden to the German cities,
since the bishop owned the only bridge over the Isar.
The duke simply built a second bridge near a small cloister settlement, after - how by chance - the bishop's bridge had burnt down.
From now on the merchants had to pay the bridge toll to the duke. He let the salt paths develop to big streets and
established the first warehouses for the salt in the cloister. This was the birth of Munich, and on the crest of Munich
there is still a monk: "The Münchner Kindl".
Today Munich ranks in the same league as cities like Berlin, Rome, Paris or Vienna: Munich is a
university town and a metropolis for art and culture with
old picture gallery (Alte Pinakothek),
new picture gallery (Neue Pinakothek),
Deutsches Museum, Villa Stuck and
Lenbachhaus, which are only some of
the places of interest in Munich.
Countless theatres, a successful film industry (Geiselgasteig and several TV network ccompanies), the
Olympic complex of 1972,
interesting architectural buildings (old and
new town hall, residence), historical churches
(e.g.: Church of Our Lady, Alter Peter,
Theatinerkirche) and of course the typicial
bavarian restaurants with all kinds of culinary tidbits (bavarian veal sausage with sweet mustard,
roast pork, sour lung...).
The picturesque environs with his sea sceneries (e.g.: Ammersee, Starnberger See, Tegernsee) and the Alps -
the Munich mountains like Wendelstein, Brecherspitz and Rotwand - popular destinations for tourists and the citizens
of Munich. And last but not least the famous castles Linderhof, Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee built by King Ludwig II. of Bavaria.
Munich provides inimitable view of the Alps spoils; but also a lonesome walk during a rainy day in the
English Garden with a final visit of the beer garden under the
Chinese tower will learn you to love this city!
