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Straddling the banks of the river Isar north of the Alps, Munich is the seat of the Bavarian administrative region of Upper Bavaria, while being the most densely populated municipality in Germany with 4,500 people per km 2. Munich is the second-largest city in the Bavarian dialect area, after the Austrian capital of Vienna.
- 520 m (1,710 ft)
- Urban district
Mar 22, 2024 · Whether you're visiting for Oktoberfest or just planning to explore the city's famous sites like Marienplatz, these are the best things to do in Munich, Germany.
- Christie Dietz
Find out what to do, see and eat in Munich, the capital of Bavaria and Germany. Explore the city's districts, culture, nature, festivals and more with tips, guides and packages.
- Overview
- History
- The contemporary city
Munich is located in southern Germany and serves as the capital city of Bavaria state. It lies about 30 miles (50 km) north of the edge of the Alps and along the Isar River, which flows through the middle of the city.
What is Munich called in Germany?
Munich is called München in Germany, which means "Home of the Monks" and refers to its origins at the Benedictine monastery at Tegernsee, which was probably founded in 750 CE.
What are the major museums and art galleries of Munich?
Munich has long been a centre for the arts and has outstanding museums and art galleries. The Glyptothek, the Alte Pinakothek, and the Neue (New) Pinakothek are some examples. The former arsenal of the town at Jakobsplatz is now the municipal museum. In addition to these are the Residence Museum and the Deutsches Museum.
What famous festival is celebrated in Munich?
Munich, or München (“Home of the Monks”), traces its origins to the Benedictine monastery at Tegernsee, which was probably founded in 750 ce. In 1157 Henry the Lion, duke of Bavaria, granted the monks the right to establish a market where the road from Salzburg met the Isar River. A bridge was built across the Isar the following year, and the marketplace was fortified.
In 1255 Munich became the home of the Wittelsbach family, which had succeeded to the duchy of Bavaria in 1180. For more than 700 years the Wittelsbachs would be closely connected with the town’s destiny. In the early 14th century the first of the Wittelsbach line of Holy Roman emperors, Louis IV (Louis the Bavarian), expanded the town to the size at which it remained up to the end of the 18th century. Under the Bavarian elector Maximilian I (1597–1651), a powerful and effective ruler, Munich increased in wealth and size and prospered until the Thirty Years’ War. It was occupied by the Swedes under Gustav II Adolf (Gustavus Adolphus) in 1632, and in 1634 a plague epidemic resulted in the death of about one-third of its population.
The third Wittelsbach who left his mark on the community was Louis I, king of Bavaria from 1825 to 1848. Louis planned and created modern Munich, and his architects established the city’s characteristic appearance in the public buildings they designed. The 19th century was Munich’s greatest period of growth and development. Protestants became citizens for the first time in what had been until then a purely Roman Catholic town. The city’s population of 100,000 in 1854 grew to 500,000 by 1900. Munich’s cultural importance in Europe was enhanced when Louis II, by his championing of the composer Richard Wagner, revived its fame as a city of music and the stage.
The rule of the Wittelsbach dynasty finally ended with the self-imposed exile of Louis III in November 1918, and, in the aftermath of World War I, Munich became a hotbed of right-wing political ferment. It was in Munich that Adolf Hitler joined the Nazi Party and became its leader. The beer cellar where he held meetings that led to the Beer Hall Putsch (“rising”) against the Bavarian authorities in November 1923 can still be seen. In World War II Munich suffered heavily from Allied bombing raids, which destroyed more than 40 percent of its buildings.
In the past Munich suffered economically because of its distance from seaports and from the coal mines of the Ruhr region. But this situation improved when fuels other than coal came into general use. Munich shifted from heavy to light industry, to the manufacture, for example, of precision instruments, optical and electrical appliances, and aerospace and other high-technology products, as well as to the production of food, cosmetics, and clothing. The city has several of the largest breweries in Germany and is famous for its beer and its annual Oktoberfest celebration. Munich is a major tourist destination and a convention centre. Book publishing and printing and television production are also important. The city is a centre of the banking and financial industry, and it has one of the largest wholesale markets in Europe for fruit, vegetables, and animal produce.
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Munich is connected by rail to all the main cities of Germany and Austria, and it is a major hub for the German and European high-speed passenger rail system. Autobahnen (expressways) from Stuttgart, Nürnberg, and Salzburg converge on the city. Franz Josef Strauss Airport, located 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Munich, opened in 1992. A modern subway has been built in the city.
The old town, clustered around the ancient crossroads of the marketplace in the Marienplatz, has increasingly become a business centre and has lost much of its ancient character. Among the old buildings that still stand are three of the seven town gates—Karls, Sendlinger, and Isar, all dating from the 14th century. Other medieval buildings include Munich’s cathedral, the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady; built 1468–88), whose massive cupola-capped towers are conspicuous landmarks; and the Old Town Hall (1470–80) in the Marienplatz. Nearby is Peterskirche (1169), Munich’s oldest church, which was completely destroyed in World War II but subsequently rebuilt in its original form. The former arsenal of the town at Jakobsplatz is now the municipal museum.
The oldest of the Wittelsbach residences, the Old Court, has retained its medieval appearance. The present Residence dates from the 16th century, but the style of every period up to the 19th century was tried out on it with superb effect; the building was destroyed in World War II but has been reconstructed. Another survival from this early period is Michaelskirche (1583–97), which is considered to be the most important Renaissance church in Germany and one of the most beautiful in central Europe.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Explore Munich’s old town. A logical place to start a tour of the old town, or the whole city, is central square and popular meeting place Marienplatz.
- Get dressed up for a night at the opera. Home to one of the largest opera stages in the world, the neoclassical National Theater is the main venue for the Bavarian State Opera, the Bavarian State Ballet and the Bavarian State Orchestra.
- Go for a stroll in Englischer Garten, Munich’s largest park. Sweeping through Munich, Englischer Garten is one of the world’s largest urban parks. Providing shade and swimming opportunities in summer, snowy slopes for sledding in winter and beautiful colors in the autumn, this expansive space is a much-loved oasis in the middle of the city.
- Sample hearty Bavarian cuisine in Munich’s beer halls. For some great local grub, head to one of Munich’s many beer halls or Wirtshäuser (taverns). Arrive hungry and dig into pork knuckles, roast chicken, dumplings and large Brotzeit platters laden with cheese, cured meats and pickles.
Discover the most beautiful and famous attractions in Munich, from the Frauenkirche and Marienplatz to the Olympiapark and BMW Welt. Explore the city's culture, sports, leisure and history with guided tours, discounts and tips.
Jan 5, 2020 · Discover the top tourist attractions, highlights, and insider tips for your trip to Bavaria's capital. Explore the Marienplatz, the Residence Palace, the Frauenkirche, the Alte Pinakothek, the BMW World and more.
