Explorations of the third largest city in Germany!
Munich (München), Germany, was my last stop on my month-long tour of Central Europe. It had to be largely rebuilt after WWII (a reoccurring theme on this trip). While Munich is definitely a very busy, modern city, it still has a bit of charm in its town center. Historic churches, palaces, etc. have been rebuilt since the war. The city rebuilt fast but stuck to its old street grid and feel as much as possible, unlike Berlin.
It was a holiday week when I was in Munich. Shrove Tuesday is a big Bavaria holiday week. The city was bustling and crowded. I spent a couple days exploring the town center, with a side trip to Schloss Nymphenburg. Munich will be in three parts, because the palaces in Munich are amazing and deserve their own posts.
This post is going to contain a mixture of photos from both days. Mostly because the city center was packed on the first day and dead the next morning, leading to less crowded photos.
Jana Irving After our visit to Schloss Nymphenburg, we headed to the city center, which is guarded by the imposing Karlstor.
Jana Irving Bürgersaalkirche (Civic Hall Church?). I just like the color for some reason.
Jana Irving St. Michael München, a Renaissance-style church, on a gloomy morning.
Jana Irving The contrast between the gold and white is striking.
Jana Irving This fancy tomb belonged to Napoleon’s stepson, Eugene de Beauharnais. I had no idea when I took this photo. I didn’t figure it out until writing this post. I find so many weird things after the fact.
Jana Irving Next door is this mysterious building. I’m not sure what the original use was. Kind of looks like a church.
Jana Irving I love that they rebuilt while keeping the old character of the city.
Jana Irving Frauenkirche, is technically the city’s catholic cathedral but everyone just calls it Frauenkirche.
Jana Irving This 15th century Gothic cathedral is just a bit different looking.
Jana Irving Very high ceilings in this one.
Jana Irving The ridiculous tomb of Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor (reigned 1314-1347). The tomb wasn’t made until the late 16th century-early 17th century.
Jana Irving Very ornate stained-glass windows.
Jana Irving Munich’s famous Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall).
Jana Irving Nearby on the same plaza, Marienplatz, is Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall).
Jana Irving Right behind that is Heilig Geist (Holy Ghost).
Jana Irving It’s a bit fancy inside.
Jana Irving Viktualienmarkt, a little market area.
Jana Irving I walked through the market on the evening of the first day. Lots of local foods.
Jana Irving Circling around to St. Peter, Munich’s oldest church, consecrated in 1368.
Jana Irving It’s also pretty fancy inside.
Jana Irving A random tower, Löwenturm, in Rindermarkt, the plaza where the Christmas market is held.
Jana Irving Rindermarkt also has older buildings around it that are quite lovely.
Jana Irving Passing back past the Neues Rathaus. Catching a close up of its wonderful mechanical clock.
Jana Irving By the way, there is a dragon on the side of the Neues Rathaus.
Jana Irving Picking up with Day 2’s wanderings with Isartor, one of the old city gates.
Jana Irving Cute little plaza.
Jana Irving Love this!
Jana Irving A very German, fancy building.
Jana Irving The courtyard of the Alter Hof (Old Court), the imperial residence of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV. The building had to be rebuilt after WWII.
Jana Irving Right across a plaza from Munich Residenz, the palace, is the Theatinerkirche (Theatine Church).
Jana Irving To the left of the church is the very Florentine Feldherrnhalle (Field Marshalls’ Hall). It was also the site of Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch.
Jana Irving Back to the church.
Jana Irving Tombs of Maximilian II, King of Bavaria (d. 1864) and his wife, Marie.
Jana Irving The altars all have carved ivy going up the columns.
And this is where I headed into Munich Residenz.
Munich is a very busy place during a holiday week, but it was still fun to wander about the city center. While the city center does have modern style buildings, it is not overbearing. Munich is also full of museums, making it a perfect place to spend a couple of days.
Check out my next update where I explore the ridiculous Schloss Nymphenburg!
or
Start at the beginning of this adventure in Zurich!
