Munich - a city with something for everyone
Monday, 26th October 2009
Munich is probably best known for its famous Beer Festival, but, of course, there’s far more to it than that…
The first time I went to Munich, I had chosen the destination primarily as a party venue. It was my 21st birthday, which happily coincided with Bayern Munchen winning the Bundesliga (the German football league)! Needless to say, it made for a very lively night in the bars of Leopoldstrasse and on this occasion I well and truly got to see Munich’s nightlife at its vibrant best…
If I’m honest, there was little in the way of cultural appreciation during that particular trip. Probably best in a way that I waited until I had developed a more ‘mature’ view to history and culture before visiting the city again given that it has so much to offer in this regard.That’s not to say there was no beer tasting this time round of course – it would be rude to go to Munich and not enjoy a Stein or two of Weissbier - but it was at least coupled with a bit of sightseeing!
Munich is a really fascinating city in historical terms. It is full of buildings with stories to tell, including both the new and the old Town Hall in Marienplatz, the Isar Gate, the Hofbräuhaus, and, of course, the Olympic Tower and Stadium. When it comes to modern history in particular, it was Munich that formed the backdrop to some of the most momentous, although shocking, events of the 20th century - obviously, the terrorist events of the 1972 Olympics are a clear case in point, but also, the many activities that went on during Munich’s time as unofficial capital of the Nazi movement.
As the capital of Bavaria, Munich has always been associated culturally with typical bayerish customs and foods, and there’s no denying that these can be found in abundance here. As the most visited tourist destination in Germany, it could be suggested that the existence of these in what is now an extremely modern and affluent city is only for the visitors, but somehow I don’t think so….Bavaria is a region that is very proud of its identity and traditions, and happy to show them off.
Munich itself is very easy to get around, either on foot or on the excellent U-bahn system. A few days wil be long enough to explore the sights and sounds of the city, but if you find yourself with time to spare it’s well worth heading out to the surrounding area. Bavaria is a beautiful part of Germany, with picture-perfect countryside that includes hills, valleys and lakes. One of the most stunning sights that you can see outside of Munich, though, is the famous Neuschwanstein castle. Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and standing an impressive 2000m above the valley floor, it’s rumoured to be the inspration behind the famous Disney castle.
Munich really is a city that has something for everyone, whether it’s food, drink, culture, history or nightlife that’s your priority, and no matter what your reason for going, it will definitely not disappoint!
Tags: olympics, evening course, munich, history, language course, course, germany, festival, culture, food, german
Posted by Laura Harrison 2009-10 under Experience Cultures,
Permalink
