Visitor's guide Bavaria/Munich
Symposium venue and date
Accomodation
Travel and transport |
| MUNICH - your host city |
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Munich, due to its geographical position and history is a particulary attractive
city for the Symposium and the showcase of the best life can offer. Less than a days travel from anywhere in the world, visitors soon fall in love with the attractions, experiences and atmosphere of Munich. It is a cosmopolitan, stylish city, situated in the south of Bavaria, surrounded by beautiful lakes, close to the impressive Alpes and with a reputation for being friendly, clean and vibrant. Attractions include the beautiful old city with its historical buildings, world class art galleries, museums, theatres, the majestic building of Munich Opera, the well-known park "English Garden", the typical bavarian Biergarten in summer and the charming Christmas markets in winter with entertainment, shopping and culture. Whilst enjoying the flavours, delights and enchanting nature of Munich and its landscape you will soon discover the city's passion for good food and the famous bavarian beer, with restaurants representing the cultures of the world combined with typical bavarian dishes, all kinds of bavarian beer and german wines. As the Congress Venue is located in the heart of Munich's attractions and facilities, it is an excellent opportunity to bring your family to enjoy the city with you. |
| Climate |
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The weather in December is usually winter-like cold with night frost. The temperatures
will be -3 degress at night and maximum 8 degress during the day. A warm jacket or
winter coat, warm shoes and a scarf are recommended. |
| Currency |
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The currency of Germany is the Euro (EUR). |
| Credit Cards |
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All major credit cards are widely accepted. |
| Time Zone |
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Central European Time (GMT plus 1 hour). Germany applies daylight savings time
from March until the end of October. |
| Electricity |
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220 Volts |
| Drinking Water |
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Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Germany. |
| Health Care |
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Vaccinations are not required for entry into Germany. An individual travel and
health insurance is recommended. |
| Entry Formalities |
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Visitors must hold a valid passport. Visas may be required for certain countries.
Please check with your local travel agent or the local authorities. |
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Recommended Places to Visit During your Stay in Munich Frauenkirche |
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The Frauenkirche is located in the centre of the
city. It is the landmark of Munich and officially called the "Dom und
Stadtpfarrkirche Unserer Lieben Frau". With its twin towers topped by
cupolas measuring 99 and 100 metres respectively (the northern tower being
the higher one), the monumental Baroque brick building is a symbol of the
city that can be seen from far afield. In 1468, the foundation stone was
laid under the direction of the master-builder Jörg Halsbach; by the year
of his death in 1488, the Frauenkirche had been completed up to the top
cornice of the Gothic towers - just the tips of both towers were still
missing. The church was consecrated in 1494 and in 1524 the cupolas or
"caps" were added in the place of the Gothic spires. Following the
destruction of the church during the Second World War, it was restored in
1953. In the late Gothic interior consisting of a nave and two aisles -
all of equal height - the fine stained-glass windows (20 m high) and rich
carvings could be saved. It is worth looking at the carvings by Ignaz
Günther on the outer portals. Behind the choir some steps lead down into
the vault, where the Wittelsbach princes and the archbishops of
Munich-Freising are buried. |
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| Peterskirche |
| The official name of Peterskirche is St. Peter's
Church and it is the oldest parish church in Munich. Its origins date back
to the 11th century. The 96 metre high tower, popularly know as "Old
Peter", was given its characteristic tall spire in 1607 after being struck
by lightning. It is worth climbing the tower to enjoy the best view of the
city. |
| Marienplatz with St. Mary's Column, the Old and the New City Hall |
| Ever since the city was founded, the Schrannenplatz, as this square was first
called, served as a marketplace for wares of all kinds (mainly salt), but it was
also used as a site for tournaments and executions. At the end of the 1960s, this
urban nucleus of the city became the main intersection of Munich's underground and
rapid transit railway systems. With its prominent architectural sights, Marienplatz
is one of the most beautiful squares in the world. On the east side of Marienplatz
at the junction with "Tal" is the "Altes Rathaus" (Old City Hall) built between 1470
and 1474 by the city master-builder Jörg Ganghofer. The huge Gothic hall with its
wood-panelled barrel vaulting is now used as a festival hall for special functions.
The focal point of Marienplatz is St. Mary's Column, which Elector Maximilian I had
erected in 1638 in gratitude for Munich being spared by the Swedes during the Thirty
Years' War. On a crescent moon base, the marble column bears a gilded statue of the
Virgin Mary and Christ Child. The four armoured "putti" around the base are vanquishing
the "curses of mankind": |
| the snake fighting against plague the lion against hunger the dragon against war and the basilisk against ungodliness. |
| The entire north side of Marienplatz is taken up by the "Neues Rathaus"
(New City Hall) constructed between 1867 and 1908 in Neo-Gothic style by Georg
Hauberisser; at the top of the eighty metre high tower stands the one metre tall
"Münchner Kindl" or Munich infant. A special attraction is the Glockenspiel in the
central tower oriel, which plays its chimes every day at 11 o'clock. The brightly
painted copper figures move to the sound of the bells; first of all there
is a medieval tournament on the upper level, which is followed by coopers
dancing in the lower section. The Coopers' Dance serves as a reminder of
the years of plague from 1515 to 1517. The tower of the New City Hall also
offers a very good view over the city of Munich. |
| Asam Church |
| In the row of houses on Sendlinger Strasse about
500 metres to the south-west of Marienplatz is the finest example of
Bavarian Rococo architecture, namely the votive church built by the
brothers Egid Quirin and Cosmas Damian Asam in honour of Saint Nepomuk.
The real name of Asam Church is St. John of Nepomuk. Architecture,
sculpture and painting combine to make the magnificently decorated church
unparalleled throughout the world. Supported on columns above the gallery
running around the entire interior can be seen what is probably a unique
representation of the "Holy Trinity". |
| St. Michael's Church |
| St. Michael's Church is one of the finest
Renaissance churches in Germany. It is famous for its mighty barrel vault
ceiling with a span of twenty metres (second in size only to St. Peter's
in Rome). The niches in the three-tiered façade contain statues of the
Wittelsbachs; between the two portals of red marble stands a bronze
sculpture modelled by Hubert Gerhard portraying Saint Michael vanquishing
the Devil. The church was built between 1583 and 1588. Shortly after its
completion, the tower collapsed and has never been replaced. St. Michael's
Church is located 500 metres to the west of Marienplatz in Neuhauser
Strasse. |
| National Theatre |
| The National Theatre is located 500 metres to the
north of Marienplatz. The outer and interior architecture of the building
that was completely destroyed in 1944 have been reconstructed in the
original classical style. In this impressive setting, every performance of
the Bavarian State Opera becomes a festive event. The special highlight of
the season is the annual Opera Festival in July/August. Our concierge will
be glad to book tickets for you. |
| The Residence and Residence Treasury |
| 200 metres to the north of the National Theatre on
Max Joseph Square you will find the Residence or "Neuveste" (new castle)
built in 1385. Among the sights worth visiting are the "Kaiserhof" or
Emperor's Court, whose façades are painted to look like arcades, the
"Apothecary Court" named after the court apothecary that was housed in the
east wing and the elongated Chapel's Court. The octagonal "Fountain Court"
with the Wittelsbach Fountain standing in the centre is an outstanding
example of architectural excellence. The Residence Treasury contains one
of the world's most important collections of valuables spanning the period
from the Carolingian era to the 19th century. |
| Alte Pinakothek |
| This building was constructed by Klenze from
1826 to 1836 and restored in 1957 after sustaining severe war damage. It
houses an immense collection of European paintings dating from the 14th to
the 18th centuries. The Pinakothek is considered to be one of the most
important art galleries in the world. It is located at Barer Strasse 27
and is open daily except Mondays from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. |
| Neue Pinakothek |
| The Neue Pinakothek (an austerely modern building)
displays a collection of nineteenth century art styles ranging from
expressionism to symbolism and Art Nouveau. It is open to the public daily
except Mondays from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. at Barer Strasse 29. |
| Valentin-"Musäum" |
| About 800 metres to the east of Marienplatz at the
Isartor (the oldest standing city gate dating from the period of Ludwig
the Bavarian and built in 1314) you will find a collection of curiosities
with humorous documents, eccentric objects and pictures by the Munich
original, Karl Valentin. Anyone with a "sense for nonsense" will be able
to find here a "Nest Full of Unlaid Eggs", an original painting by
Valentin of the chimney-sweep by night, a fur-trimmed winter toothpick and
many other undreamt-of exhibits. Admission: 199 pfennigs; 90 year-olds
accompanied by their parents: free. |
| Deutsches Museum |
| One and a half kilometres east of Marienplatz on
an island in the middle of the two arms of the River Isar, at the point
where Henry the Lion had his first bridge built across the Isar, stands
the largest technical museum in the world - the Deutsches Museum. Munich
owes its construction to the initiative of the engineer Oskar von Miller,
youngest son of the founder Ferdinand von Miller, who cast many of
Munich's famous monuments. The tour of the museum covers 40,000 square
meters, is 16 kilometres long and includes some 20,000 items. Take the
time to have a good look at the plan of the museum in the entrance hall,
so that you can choose exactly where you want to go. We recommend a visit
to the mining department with its full-scale replica of a 19th century
mining pit, the shipping department, the aviation hall with the gliders of
Otto Lilienthal, the electronics department with the attendant reading a
newspaper in the Faraday Cage as well as the hall devoted to space travel.
Open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. |
| Hofbräuhaus |
| "Solange da drunt' am Platzl noch steht das
Hofbräuhaus, solang stirbt die Gemütlichkeit in München niemals aus" or
"As long as the Hofbräuhaus still stands in the Platzl, there is no way
Munich will ever lose any of its convivial appeal" to quote the words sung
by visitors coming from all over the world to see and experience the
Hofbräuhaus. This beer tavern is pure and simply the tourist attraction of
Munich. It was founded in 1598 as a brewery to supply the Elector's court
and servants and extended several times in the years that followed. The
"Schwemme" or tap room on the ground floor has an original cheerful
atmosphere with beer being served (only in litre tankards) at wooden
trestle tables and benches to the music of brass bands. For anyone wanting
a rather more refined atmosphere, the upper floors will be just right. |
| Geiselgasteig Bavaria Film Town |
| The Bavaria Film Town, or "Hollywood on the Isar"
as it is known, is located in the huge grounds (360,000 square metres) of
Bavaria Atelier GmbH in Geiselgasteig to the south of Munich. The first
film was made in this traditional movie picture town back in 1919. It is
now one the most modern shooting locations of the film and television
industry. |
| The attractive one-and-a-half hour tour through this dream factory is offered daily from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Tram stop: "Bavaria - Filmplatz", Line 25. |
| Hellabrunn Zoo |
| The famous and highly frequented zoo was opened in
1911 by Gabriel von Seidl and turned into a geographical zoo in 1928. It
is located at Siebenbrunner Strasse 6 in the River Isar Valley. Its
grounds cover some 70 hectares and are open to the public daily from 8.00
a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Access by bus No. 52 from Viktualienmarkt or by
underground railway on the U3 line in the direction of Forstenrieder Allee
to "Thalkirchen" station. |
| Viktualienmarkt |
| The Viktualienmarkt is Munich's largest and oldest
open food market just a few minutes away from Marienplatz (to the
south-east). As you stroll among the food stalls, you will come across 7
fountains with statues commemorating Munich's comedians and folk-singers
Karl Valentin, Liesl Karlstadt, Weiß Ferdl, Roider Jackl, Elise Aulinger,
Helmut Fische and Ida Schumacher - but also many original Munich
characters who are still living (stall servers and marketwomen). |
| Olympia Park (Park, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Tower) |
| The Olympia Park was laid out for the 1972 Summer
Olympics. Just below the top of the 290 metre high Olympic Tower (at a
height of 190 metres) there is a revolving restaurant. The Olympic Stadium
with its famous suspension tent roof and a capacity of 80,000 spectators
can be visited during the day. |
| Royal Castles |
| King Ludwig II built two of his fairy-tale castles
- Neuschwanstein and Linderhof - hidden away in the solitude of the
mountains. An excursion to these popular tourist attractions will reveal
two exceptional buildings. Both attest to the visions of the Bavarian
"Fairy-tale King". Another castle built by King Ludwig is Herrenchiemsee
Castle on the island bearing the same name in Lake Chiemsee. |
| The two summer residences of the Wittelsbach
dynasty are also worth a visit: Nymphenburg Palace was the Wittelsbach
summer residence and houses the famous Gallery of Beauties of Ludwig I.
The Baroque palace with its expansive beautifully laid out park is a
popular attraction for Munich people and tourists alike. The central
building on the north side of the crescent in front of the Palace
(Schlossrondell 8) has housed the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory since
1761. Nymphenburg Palace and Amalienburg are open daily from 9.00 a.m. to
12.30 p.m. and 1.30 to 5.30 p.m. |
| About 15 kilometres north of Munich is
Schleissheim Palace, the former summer residence of the Wittelsbach
family. The Old Palace is a magnificent country seat dating back to the
Elector Maximilian I, and the New Palace represents one of the most
important examples of the German Baroque style of building. Elector
Maximilian Emanuel had it built initially by Zuccalli (1701 to 1704) and
then continued by Effner (1719 to 1727). |
| Germany's leading Baroque artists were
engaged for the interior decorations. The crowning glory is the "Lustheim"
Garden Palace, which houses a valuable collection of Meissen porcelain. |
| Other recreational and leisure activities |
| Other attractions that Munich and its environs
also have to offer: A visit to the traditional beer gardens, seasonal
events like the Oktoberfest, the Opera Festival, Compaq Grand Slam Tennis
Cup, the Christkindlmarkt Christmas market, etc. |
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http://www.muenchen-tourist.de
