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| Stadt Munchen, Bavaria, Germany |
Munich is the largest city, the capital and economic centre of the Federal State of Bavaria. It is located on the River Isar in the heart of Europe, approximately 50 kilometres north of the Bavarian Alps just beyond which stands the Austrian border. Home to 2.6 million residents, the urban area of Munich is a large and sprawling, cosmopolitan metropolis, a major cultural centre and a world renowned festival city. Home to many historic attractions, museums and art galleries, great shopping and a vibrant nightlife, Munich is an exciting and interesting tourist destination. Munich stands at the centre of the Munich Metropolitan Region.
Munich can trace its history from the 12th century when a settlement of Benedictine monks stood on the banks of the River Isar. This location lay on the old ‘Salt Route’ and prompted the building of a toll bridge over the river thereby increasing the importance of this settlement. Late in the 12th century Munich became a fortified centre and was granted city status, shortly after which it came under the rule of the Wittlesbach dynasty when Duke Otto I was granted the Duchy of Bavaria for his efforts on behalf of the Holy Roman Emperor. The Wittlesbach family ruled Bavaria from this time until 1918 and in the 13th century Munich became the Dukes’ residence and thereby an important city.
Walking around the historic Old Town centre is the best way to enjoy Munich. The old city revolves around the Marienplatz in which, in the south-east corner, can be found the 14th century Bavarian Gothic Old Town Hall and the nearby tower known as the Talburg Gate, a remnant of the first city walls which today houses the Toy Museum. On the north side of the square can be found the 19th century New Town Hall which has been built in the Gothic Revival style. The 85 metre tower offers great views over the Old Town and the city, and of particular interest the tower is home to the Rathaus Glockenspiel, a popular tourist attraction. Just to the south of the Old Town Hall stands the 14th century St Peter’s Church which is fondly referred to as Old Peter. This church is Munich’s oldest Parish church and is located in Peterplatz. Its 92 metre tower can be climbed and offers good views of the Old Town!! The church stands on the Petersbergl, a raised area of the Old Town upon which a church has stood from as early as the 8th century!! From the Marienplatz it is possible to see the domed towers of the 15th century Frauenkirche, which is Munich’s major landmark and clearly identifiable by its two 99 metres towers which dominate the skyline. The Frauenkirche or the Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady is the largest church in Munich. This brick-built Late Gothic Church owes its visual impact on the fact of its great size and lack of ornamentation. The Marienplatz also contains Mary’s Column, which was erected to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation.
Just a short walk north-east of the Marienplatz can be found the Alter Hof or Ludwigsburg, the first Munich residence of the Wittelsbach family, having been built by Duke Ludwig II during the 13th century. Later, as this building became too small, the Dukes of Bavaria built a new fortified residence in the north-eastern corner of the Old Town, which lies just north of the Alter Hof. This later building is known as the Residenz or Royal Residence. It is an extensive complex, which has been constructed around seven courts and became the home of the Wittelsbach family until 1918, and is today one of Europe’s most prestigious palaces. Within the building is the Residenz Museum and the Schatzkammer or Treasure Chamber, and adjacent to the Residenz can be found the Hofgarten or Court Garden of the Residenz, which is one of the finest Renaissance gardens north of the Alps!! Standing just west of the Residenz is the Theatinerkirche, or Theatine Church of St Cajetan which is considered to be one of Munich’s finest churches and is known for its beautifully decorated interior. If you are walking around the eastern side of the Old Town take a few minutes and find the Hofbrauhaus which stands just behind the Alte Hof. The Hofbrauhaus is considered to be one of Munich’s most popular tourist attractions and was once the Royal Brewery of Bavaria and today is owned by the state and of course serves its own beer!!
This brief description of historic Munich gives you some idea of the large number of interesting attractions within the city. In addition to those already mentioned there are many more attractions ranging from historic buildings, parks and gardens, including several museums and galleries which should not be missed. These include the 18th century Assamkirche, Munich’s loveliest Rococo church, the huge and popular 17th century Nymphenburg Palace which was the summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria, the Chinese Tower and the beautiful English Gardens which are more than 200 years old and stretch from the city centre to the northeastern city limits and the busy, bustling and colourful Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s original farmer’s market, which gives you an insight to everyday living in this cultured city. Museums not to be missed include the Deutsches Museum which is one of the world’s leading scientific and technical museums and contains a collection ranging from sailboats to windmills, space probes to industrial robots - the Alte Pinakothek which is one of the oldest, and finest art galleries in the world and displays a collection of over 800 European masterpieces of the 14th to 18th centuries – the Neue Pinakothek which focuses on European art of the 18th and 19th centuries and is one of the most important art museums of the world - the Pinakothek der Moderne which incorporates the four museums of modern and contemporary art, graphic art, architecture and industrial design, it is one of the largest museums of 20th and 21st century art in the world!! For something a little different take a trip to ZAM, a group of very unusual museums!!
Of course Munich is the capital of beer with seven breweries, and for many Munich means Oktoberfest!! This major festival attracts over 6 million visitors each year and is held at the Theresienwiese. This official festival site is located south-west of the city centre and the Oktoberfest operates here over a traditional period of 16 days up to and including the first Sunday in October.
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| Accommodation | Activities | Tours |  |
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Westin Grand Munich
Munich
 |  Join us on a sensory voyage of discovery. Welcome to The Westin Grand Munich.
Discover a place in Munich, in easy-to-reach Arabellapark, a place where you can elevate your senses and renew mind, body, and soul. Leave your everyday cares behind and immerse yourself in a new domain, where we will ful... |
Hilton Munich City
Munich
 |  The Hilton Munich City Hotel is adjacent to the Gasteig Cultural Centre. There is a direct train link from the airport which takes 35 minutes. The city centre is just a ten minute walk from the hotel. This is a good hotel for business or leisure travellers, the staff are friendly yet unobtrusive ... |
Hotel Rivoli
Munich
 |  The Rivoli Hotel is conveniently and centrally located next to the Harras underground and city railway stations. It only takes 7 minutes by underground to treach Marienplatz (city centre). Outdoor parking facilities and a basement garage are at your disposal. The hotel has an Art Deco touch. |
Holiday Inn Munich - City Centre
Munich
|  Enjoy a relaxing stay at the contemporary Holiday Inn Munich City Centre hotel, just 10 minutes' walk from Marienplatz central square.
Only 45 minutes by S-Bahn from Munich Airport to the art-filled spaces of Holiday Inn Munich - City Centre. Revive with a swim in the indoor pool or catch up on emai... |
Hilton Munich Park Hotel
Munich
|  The Hilton Munich Park Hotel is next to the English Garden and just 30 minutes' drive from the airport. The Hotel offers 21 meeting rooms for up to 1020, business centre, Executive Lounge and wireless internet access. Enjoy a steak at the Tivoli Restaurant or sip a beer in the People' Bar. This... |
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Salzburg and Lake District Day Tour from Munich
Tour
Munich |  Leave Munich aside for the day to explore Salzburg and the idyllic Lake District. You'll travel in the comfort of a motor coach, escorted by a professional guide. Enjoy freetime to walk the streets of Salzburg and admire the beautiful views of the Lower Bavarian Alps.
Pass through the Chiemgau befo... |
Munich Bike Tour
Biking
Munich |  Beginning from the Central Train Station, your guide will bike you around the best routes, tell you interesting stories and the perfect spots to stop for a quick drink. Start in Royal Munich where lies the great neo-classical plaza, Konigsplatz (Munich's Acropolis), and a few minutes from there is t... |
Royal Castles of Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Tour
Tour
Munich |  This day tour from Munich is a great way to see these two very different castles and also to enjoy the picturesque Oberammergau. Departing Munich, visit the smallest of three royal castles, Linderhof, which was built by King Ludwig II during the 19th century as a hunting lodge. Built in French Roco... |
Dachau Concentration Camp Tour from Munich
Tour
Munich |  Venture out of Munich by local transport for a comprehensive small group tour through Dachau Concentration Camp and memorial site. An authorized guide will share important information concerning the desperate survivors who'd been tortured and exploited throughout the course of World War II. Today, D... |
Munich Free Walking Tour
Walking
Munich |  The Free Tour starts everyday at 10:45 AM, & 1 PM, on Marienplatz by the large column. For your convenience, they offer a pick up service at 10 am, & 12:30pm in front of Starbucks in Hauptbahnhof and accompany you to the starting point. Be sure to look for the guides wearing red SANDEMANs NEW Europe... |
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European Discovery
12 days |  Let Contiki do the navigating while you explore Western Europe in all its glory, from the serene canals in Amsterdam to the dazzling Eiffel Tower in Paris. This tour breezes through 8 fantastic countries in 12 exhilarating days. Experience local traditions and customs in every country like a gondola... |
European Interlude
15 days |  This brilliant tour is a fusion of some of the best-loved cities in European, including Amsterdam, Vienna, Rome, Florence, Innsbruck, Lucerne and Paris. See Big Ben and shop in London’s Knightsbridge, view Cologne’s gothic cathedral, visit Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg and cruise Venice’s canals. ... |
Prague, Vienna & Budapest
9 days |  The rediscovered jewels of Imperial Europe are the focus of this popular holiday starting and ending in Munich. Since the reunion of Western and Eastern Europe, Prague and Budapest are among the most-visited cities on the ‘Old Continent’. In Prague visit the Jewish Quarter; Charles Bridge; and the B... |
Winter Wanderer
24 days |  It’s the perfect excursion for a winter dream holiday! Winter in Europe is packed with activities to try and places to explore. This tour visits 11 countries, each with its own unique flavour and attractions. Some of the highlights of the tour include driving along the French Riviera, exploring the ... |
Sound of Music
9 days |  Walk along the Imperial Boulevards of Vienna to the Opera House, the Hofburg Palace, Parliament & St.Stephens Cathedral. Take some free time and visit the Schonbrunn, with it delightful fountains and gardens and the favourite place of Maria Theresa von Hapsburg. A scenic drive into Vienna Woods and... |
Highlights of Europe
14 days |  The Highlights of Europe tour is a very good one for the travellers who want to see what Europe has to offer. It has four - two night stays - which makes the tour more relaxing. You will also see the major tourist attractions in each country and it will give you a good idea of which places you wou... |
European Grandeur
27 days |  This is a well planned tour for those who want to see most of the popular places in Europe. Being long they have catered for many two night stays. The tour is very popular with visitors from the Southern Hemisphere who don't get a chance to visit Europe often. The tour also travels the opposite wa... |
Imperial Europe
10 days |  Enjoy the regal air of Munich, Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Salzburg on this majestic tour of Europe. Here, you'll find 1000 year old castles, medieval cities and fantastic gilded statues. Listen closely for the sound of music in Vienna and relax on a serene cruise on the inspiring Danube River.
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European Magic
9 days |  European Magic takes the tried & tested favourite destinations of travellers through Europe & packs them into 1 awesome itinerary - 7 countries in just over a week. The beauty of this tour is seeing so much in a short space of time & knowing that each day is guaranteed to bring something completely ... |
European Inspiration
19 days |  Be inpired with Contiki's European Inspiration tour, travel through the Netherlands by bicycle to the cheese village of Edam. Drive through the northern most regions of Germany to see the 'Checkpoint Charlie' Museum before jumping straight into the Czech Republic and the medieval capital Prague. Dri... |
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