GERMANY: Munich

In German, Munich is called München, which means "Home of the Monks" and refers to its origins as a monastery founded around 750 CE.

A man from Munich is called a “Münchner”, and a woman from Munich is called a “Münchnerin”. 

I am not sure what kids from Munich are called, but the word “Munchkins” comes to my mind.

Munich is famous for its beer, their annual Oktoberfest celebrations and several of the largest breweries in Germany.

We’ll get back to beer and the breweries later.

 

The Royal Family, the Wittelsbach dynasty, lasted for more than 700 years, until 1918. Munich became the home of the Bavarian Monarchs in 1255. The Residence, in central Munich, is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs and is the largest city palace in Germany

The Residence dates from the 16th century, but with additions it contains the architectural style of every period up to the 19th century. The building was destroyed in World War II but has been reconstructed.

The building is now a museum and also contains the Treasury, which has just a few baubles.

Nymphenburg is one of the "summer palaces" built for the Wittelsbachs in the countryside outside Munich.

It was begun in 1664 and was later enlarged in the mid 1700’s.

King Ludwig I's room, "Gallery of Beauties", intrigued me. I am always curious about depictions of women in history.  

The King was fascinated with beauty and art, so he commissioned 36 paintings of beautiful women to hang exclusively in this room. They came from all walks of life, including royalty, women in the court, dancers and a shoemaker's daughter. 

I am sure it was a wonderful compliment to be selected. However, I can't help but wonder (amongst other thoughts) how his wife felt about a room devoted to beautiful paintings of other women.

For everyday people, without money and beauty, Marienplatz, Munich’s city centre, is the gathering place. The New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) was built in 1867–74. For those into architecture, the Neo-Gothic façade makes it looks a lot older than it really is.

People come to watch the Glockenspiel (clock) in the tower. There are 43 bells and the figures dance 3 times a day. It plays 4 different waltzes and they change every month.

The Glockenspiel tells two stories from Munich's history. The top layer is about the marriage of Wilhelm V and Renate von Lothringen in 1568. To celebrate the union there was a knights' tournament held on Marienplatz.

The lower level shows the Schäfflertanz (the dance of the barrel makers). After the plague, the barrel makers are said to have been the first people to come out onto the streets dancing in celebration.

Apparently, at 9pm each evening, the Glockenspiel plays Richard Wagner's “Meistersinger von Nürnberg” and Johannes Brahms’ “Lullaby” to send the Münchner Kindl (children), off to bed. We didn’t witness it, probably because we were already heading to bed. 

In World War II Munich suffered heavily from Allied bombing raids, which destroyed more than 40 percent of its buildings. Some random photos while walking around Munich on grey and cloudy days.

As I wandered Munich I happened to find some people water surfing in the city.

Water was flowing quickly under the bridge and surfers took turns riding the waves.

Back to beer and breweries, as promised. Beer and breweries are prominent in Germany. And Munich is no exception.

A few centuries ago, in 1589, the Bavarian Duke Wilhelm V founded a brewery, Hofbräuhaus, to supply beer to the Wittelsbach's Imperial court.

The nobles and servants of the court enjoyed the beer and soon the brewery couldn't meet the huge demand. So, then a second brewery was built about 15 years later.

Fast forward over 300 years, and after World War I, Munich became a hotbed of right-wing political turmoil. It was here, in the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, that Adolf Hitler joined the Nazi Party and became its leader. This was the beer cellar where he held meetings that led to the Beer Hall Putsch (“rising”) against the Bavarian authorities in 1923.   

Today it is a peaceful beer hall enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

Locals keep their prized beer steins locked up in the brewery so they are handy for a quick pit stop. 

Another beer story..... Munich has long been a centre for the arts. Music, especially opera, has flourished in the city. The National Theatre building has had some unforeseen challenges over the centuries.

During a performance in 1823 a part of the décor caught fire. It happened during the winter and the water was frozen, which hindered efforts to put out the fire. 

Legend has it that King Maximilian I, his son Crown Prince Ludwig and the builder watched the blaze from the Residenz palace. The story goes that they came up with the idea to put the fire out using, what else, but, BEER from the nearby Hofbräuhaus. Historic records do confirm that the “brewers brought cooled beer to the fire”. 

However, it wasn’t enough and the theatre ultimately burned to the ground. It was quickly rebuilt, but during the Second World War, an overnight bombing raid completely destroyed the opera house, again. Construction of a new National Theater began in 1958 recreating the original design. It is now home to one of the world’s largest stages for opera.

Fire or no fire, John is happy to support the local beer economy.