Great Cities of Europe

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<F16>Munich</F> <F14><L7>Basic Information</F> Documents Required: United States and EC citizens require only a valid passport for visits not exceeding three months. American Consulate: 5 Koniginstrasse; 89/ 28-880. Currency: The German currency unit is the Deutschmark (DM). Banks: Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9 A.M.-noon and 1:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M., with late hours on Thursday until 6 P.M. Customs: There are no limits on the import or export of currency, or the export of goods. Climate: The average daytime temperature in July is 70 degrees, but it can rise to 90 degrees for several days at a time. In January its sinks to an average of 30 degrees during the day. Beware of the Fohn, a warm dry wind which blows from the Alps in the spring. Many blame it for headaches and lethargy. Tipping: Service charges are almost always included in restaurants, although the sum is rounded uP to the nearest DM. Taxi drivers expect 10 percent. Tourist Information: The Munich Tourist Office is located in Central Station (at the south exit) on Bayerstrasse; 89/239-1256. Airports: Munich's Franz Josef Strauss Airport is 18 miles northeast of the city center. Trains and buses depart every 20 minutes for central destinations in Munich. Getting Around: Munich's center is only one square mile, and is best traversed on foot. By bus, U-bahn, S-bahn and Strassenbahn (street cars): The public transportation system is well-integrated: fares are uniform and tickets interchangeable. Save money by buying Mehrfahrtenkarte, or groups of tickets. By taxi: Cabs are cream-colored and can be hailed in the street. If you order one by phone, you'll pay for the driver to get to your pick-up point. By bicycle: The city is criss-crossed by bike paths (they can be brought on the S-bahns). Rent bikes at main-line stations around the city, and at Lothar Borucki, 7 Hans-Sachsstrasse; 89/ 266-506. Postal and Telephone Services: Post offices are normally open Monday through Friday 8 A.M.-6 P.M. and Saturday 8 A.M.-noon. To call Munich from the United States, dial 011, then 49 for Germany, 89 for Munich, and the local number. Public Holidays: New Year's Day, Epiphany (January 6), Shrove Tuesday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Corpus Christi (late May or early June), Assumption (August 15), Unification Day (October 3), All Saints' Day (November 1), Day of National Repentance (third Wednesday in November), December 24, 25, and 26. Electric Current: Plugs are standard European, with two round pins that carry 220V. <F14>Time Line</F> Beginnings of the City 100 b.c. Bavaria is inhabited by the Celts, but is threatened by Romans and Teutons. 500 a.d. Germanic tribes push back the Romans, ending four centuries of Roman influence. Middle Ages 1158 Munich is founded by Henry the Lion. 1200 Bavaria is divided among the Wittelsbach family, who rule Munich and much of Bavaria until the end of World War I. 1506 Duke Albert IV the Wise establishes Munich as the capital of Bavaria. 1618 The Thirty Years' War begins. Duke Maximillian I fights with the Habsburgs and gains much territory. Growth of the City 1779 Frederick the Great of Prussia resists Austria's attempt to take Bavarian territory. 1805 Napoleon marches through Munich. Austria and France agree on the Treaty of Pressburg, which declares Bavaria a kingdom. 1808 Bavaria adopts a constitution which embodies French Revolutionary ideals of equality. Serfdom is abolished. 1820 King Ludwig I aggressively builds to make Munich one of the most beautiful cities in the world. 1864 King Ludwig II, grandson of Ludwig I, assumes the throne. Later known as the "Dream King" and "Mad Ludwig," he commissioned the construction of three castles near Munich. World Wars 1918 End of World War I. King Ludwig III, is deposed and Kurt Eisner becomes the first president of the socialist Bavarian republic. 1919 Bavaria becomes part of the Weimar Republic. 1923 Nazi party attempts to seize power during the Beer Garden Putsch. 1933 Hitler comes to power. Bavaria remains a Nazi stronghold until Germany surrenders on May 7, 1945. 1948 Bavaria becomes a Land (state) of the German Federal Republic. Today 1972 Munich hosts the Olympic Games against the tragic backdrop of the murder of Israeli athLetes. 1989 Reunification of Germany. </L7> <F14><L6>Hotels</F> Habis $$$ 6a Maria-Theresiastrasse 89/ 470-5071 Full of character and charm. Schlichter $$$ 74 Tal 89/ 22-79-41 Luxurious, and just off Marienplatz. Blauer Bock $$ 9 Sebastianplatz 89/ 23-17-80 Centrally located. Jedermann $$ 95 Bayerstrasse 89/ 53-36-17 On Munich's outskirts, but quiet with an excellent English breakfast. Kaiserplatz $ 12 Kaiserplatz 89/ 34-91-90 Friendly staff and individually designed rooms. Frank $ 24 Schellingstrasse 89/ 28-14-51 Communal atmosphere. <F14>Restaurants</F> Aubergine $$$ 5 Maximiliansplatz 89/ 59-81-71 Regional cuisine. Bogenhauser Hof $$ 85 Ismaningerstrasse 89/ 98-55-86 High quality Bavarian fare. Paulaner-Brauhaus $$ 5 Kapuzinerplatz 89/ 53-03-31 Informal, and one of the few places open on Sunday night. Augustiner-Grossgaststatten $$ 16 Neuhauser Strasse 89/ 55-199-257 Traditional Bavarian inn with a beer garden. Ratskeller $ 8 Marienplatz 89/ 22-03-13 Built in the restored town hall, a spot favored by locals. Fraunhofer $ 9 Fraunhoferstrasse 89/ 26-64-60 Vegetarian. </L6> <F14><L1>Sites</F> Kloster Andechs During the Middle Ages, pilgrims came to the mountain-top church in search of holy relics. Today, it is famous for its monastic brewery. Just southwest of the city. Altes Rathaus 15 Marienplatz The Old Town Hall, reconstructed in its original 15th-century Gothic design, occupies the eastern corner of Marienplatz. Frauen Kirche Frauenplatz Munich's most famous cathedral. Marienplatz The city's main square and home of the Glockenspiel. Tierpark Hellabrun (zoo) 6 Siebenbrunnerstrasse Over 8,000 animals in semi-natural habitats. Schloss Nymphenburg The largest Baroque palace in Germany, on 500 acres of gardens. Residenz 3 Marx-Josephplatz Once Munich's royal palace, it was made into a museum after the abdication of the last Bavarian king, Ludwig III, in 1918. </L1> <F14><L2>Museums and Culture</F> Museums Alte Pinakothek 27 Barerstrasse All European schools from the Middle Ages through the 19th century, including works by Raphael, Durer, Botticelli, Manet, and Van Gogh. Festivals Oktoberfest Beginning in late September and lasting for sixteen days, Oktoberfest is a period of revelry: arts, crafts, music, jesters, and extraordinary consumption of beer. Performing Arts Gasteig 5 Rosenheimerstrasse 89/ 593-427 A sprawling cultural complex, home to Munich's Philharmonic Orchestra and theater companies. </L2> <F14><L5>Shopping</F> Munich has a huge central shopping area stretching from the central train station to Marienplatz and north towards Odeonplatz. For upscale stores, try Maximilianstrasse, Residenzstrasse, and Theatinerstrasse. Antiques Search Westenriederstrasse for shops. Palais Bernheimer 4-8 Ottostrasse Simple pewter to old master paintings. Department Stores Hertie Karlsplatz Occupies an entire city block. K & L Ruppert Kaufingerstrasse The latest in fashion. Food Markets Viktualienmarkt south of Marienplatz Stands sell everything from fresh sausage to flowers. </L5> <F14><L3>Children</F> Bavaria Filmstadt 7 Bavariafilmplatz 89/ 649-067 Europe's largest film studios. The tour spotlights special effects and the art of filmmaking. Deutsches MuSeum 1 Museumsinsel 89/ 21-791 Science and technology museum with hands-on exhibits. Englischer Garten A perfect spot for picnicking and relaxation. Expect to come across topless sunbathers. Marionettentheater 29a Blumenstrasse 89/ 26-57-12 Puppet shows have been performed here for more than a century. Circus Krone 43 Marsstrasse 89/ 55-81-66 An annual event from December 25 -March 31. Night Spots Baader Cafe 47 Baaderstrasse 89/ 201-0638 A festive pre-club cafe. Cafe Kreuzkamm 4 Maffeistrasse Come for dessert. Altes Hackerhaus 75 Sendlinger Strasse Top beer garden. Waldwirtschaft Grosshesselohe 3 George Kalb Strasse 89/ 79-50-88 On the bank of the Isar River; jazz on weekends. Babalu 19 Leopoldstrasse Disco for the young and beautiful. </L3> <F14><L4>Excursions</F> Five Lakes 20 miles southwest of Munich The largest of the lakes, the Starnberger See, is where the rich and famous of Munich have their weekend villas. All five have great beaches. Bavarian Alps 40 miles south of Munich Sloping hills and thick forests. Visit the small towns of Oberammergau or Ettal, and the ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Try to climb the Zugspitze, Germany's highest and most famous peak. Dachau 10 miles north of Munich Germany's first concentration camp, built in 1933. The camp remains a horrifying symbol of Hitler's Third Reich. Neuschwanstein Castle 70 miles south of Munich Used as a model for the Disneyland castle, Neuschwanstein (8362/ 8-1051), in the town of Schwangau, was built in the late 19th century for Ludwig II. </L4> <F14><L8>Sunshine Guide to Munich, Germany</F> Seasons: Munich has a four-season year. Spring (mid-April through May) brings frequent spells of warmer weather, and a burgeoning of new growth. Summer (June through August) features long days and full foliage. Autumn (September and October) comes with shortening days and the fall of leaves. Winter (November through mid-April) is the season of cold and snow, with the trees standing with bare branches. Munich's elevation (some 1,700 feet above sea level) makes all the seasons about 5° cooler than similar places at lower elevations. Sunniest Months: July and August are the only two months that get sunshine on more than half of their daylight hours in most years. In general, some 41% of the year's daylight hours will be sunny--from a high of 52% in August, to a low of 19% in December. September will get the most clear days, about one day in four. December, on the other hand, will pass most of its days with no visible sunshine at all. Warmest Months: June through the first few days in September. During these months, afternoons are mild to warm, and rarely hot. Nights are generally cool, and occasionally crisp. The hottest actual temperature of the year will be around 88° (it will feel like only 86°), and will probably occur in July. During this season, only a few nights will be hot enough that you will sleep better with some sort of room-cooling. Usually an open window is more than sufficient. Coolest Months: Early November through the first few days in April. At this time of year, you can expect frosty mornings on more than half of the days--four out of five from early December through February. During this last-mentioned period, you should be ready for afternoon temperatures to remain below freezing on about a third of the days. The coldest temperature of the year will be around - 1°, and will probably occur in January. Snowfalls are common during the winter months. The ground is usually both frozen and snow-covered for much of the winter. During the winter, most of the precipitation occurs as snow--with an occasional dash of freezing rain. It takes from ten to fifteen inches of snow (depending upon how "wet" it is) to melt down to one inch of precipitation. Driest Months: March in late winter, and September and October in the autumn. Some 48% of the year's days will get no measurable precipitation; that is, they will get less than a hundredth of an inch. March will have 55% such days, whereas June will get only 40%. A "dry day" in the table, however, is one with less than a tenth of an inch--a more useful measure. It takes at least that much to wet the ground under the trees. Most of this precipitation comes from the passing frontal systems that characterize all of Europe. Some of the summer rain is due to local thunderstorm systems, while much of the winter precipitation comes from the clouds formed when winds from the north are forced to rise on their approach to the Alpine highlands. Things To Know: Munich gets frequent spells of fohn weather. These are periods of unusually warm and dry winds that descend from the Alps to the south. During the winter months, they frequently clear the skies of much of the cloud cover, and melt any snow that may be lying around. Weather Copyright 1995 by Patrick J. Tyson, Box 492787, Redding CA 96049. All rights reserved. </L8>