Royal welcome

For seven hundred years, Munich was home of the Wittelsbach family – second only to the Habsburgs in German history. First Dukes of Bavaria, then Prince Electors, and finally Kings, they endowed their capital with a magnificent series of churches, castles and palaces. The treasury of the Residenz – their palace in the heart of the city – is testament to the wealth and magnificence of the royal family. The city’s medieval town hall, with its bell-tower complete with revolving figures and jousting knights, is one of the most popular sights in southern Germany.

Art and architecture

Munich also boasts one of Europe’s great art collections. The Pinakothek – Greek for “storehouse of images”, and actually three galleries, the Old, New and Modern – boasts a magnificent display of works by artists as far apart as the Brueghels and Cy Twombly. Not far away, the Deutsches Museum is one of the world’s premier collections of scientific and technological invention. But the greatest art treasure is the city itself, its buildings ranging from the legendary pepper-pot towers of its mediaeval cathedral to the stark white magnificence of the Siemens conference centre. Munich is a work of art, and the best way to appreciate it is simply to walk and look.

Parks and palaces

The Wittelsbachs did not confine their creative endeavours to the city centre. A few tram stops away is the magnificent palace complex of Nymphenburg, the
summer residence and park of the princes and kings of Bavaria. Reflected in the still waters of its own lake and canal, the palace is surrounded by an enormous landscaped garden studded with stately houses: the mirrored elegance of Amalienburg, the amber swimming-pool of Badenburg, the Dutch and Chinese
decorations of Pagodenburg. The palace’s museums house some of Europe’s most extravagant royal coaches and one of its most important collections of porcelain sculpture. For lovers of Baroque style and magnificence, this is a place not to be missed.

Outdoor marvels

Munich is a paradise for those who love the outdoors. The city itself is made with bicycles and pedestrians in mind, and its parks offer a perfect place for every sport from jogging to volleyball. Even surfers can get their thrills under the city’s bridges. Moreover, as the capital of Bavaria, Munich is within easy distance of the beautiful landscapes and palaces of southern Germany. The “fairy-tale” castle of Schloss Neuschwantstein is famous across Europe, and the German Alps offer a range of mountain activities to suit the most adventurous taste.

Warm welcome

Bavaria is also famed for its hospitality, and that means beer: Munich is one of the world’s great brewing centres, and the Hofbrauhaus – the Court Brewery – is arguably the most famous drinking establishment in the world. Munich is crammed with beer gardens – the city’s English Garden has four of them – and staff and musicians in traditional costume ensure that the atmosphere remains warm and good-humoured. No visit to Munich would be complete without at least one beer in a traditional beer cellar. Bavarian hospitality is legendary: try it for yourself.