Munich, Germany

Munich is a young town! Its founding is attributed to the Guelph Duke, Henry of the Lions, who gained the title Duke of Bavaria in 1156. Now a town of approximately 1.4 million inhabitants, the site was at this time only a small settlement characterized by a Benedictine monastery. A few kilometers away, the Salt Road wound past. This was a route along which the salt traders transported their goods. Their "white gold" was carried to Augsburg and further inland from the salt mines in Bad Reichenhall and Hallein. However, to follow such a route necessitated crossing the river Isar. The only possibility was a bridge, which was subject to tolling and lay in the territory of the Bishop of Freising. In order to reap the benefits of this toll system, Duke Henry demanded in 1158 that the old bridge near Oberföhring (today a part of the city of Munich) be destroyed and that a new bridge over the Isar be built on the site of the present Ludwigsbrücke. In the same year Emperor Frederick Barbarossa officially opened this new trade passage. The market and traditional currency of Freising was then transferred to the area: Munichen that was later to be Munich was born! The town Apud Munichen derived its name from the then existing monastery: Bei den Mönchen (meaning literally "amongst the monks"). At the site of this monastery today Munich's oldest parish church the Alte Peter is to be found. The salt road became the central axis on which the new town boundaries were to be based. It follows the course of the valley from the Isar Gate to Marienplatz.

On Duke Henry's refusal to lead the army for the Emperor he was placed under an imperial ban and subsequently lost his entire estate in 1180. Munich was placed in the hands of the Wittelbacher family. It is said that this family forged the city's history for the following 700 years (until 1918) and finally provided the region with rulers.

In 1214 Munich was for the first time described as a "town",—within the still small town walls (erected circa 1175) there lived at that time approximately 2,000 people. In 1239, the future town symbol first appeared: das Münchener Kindl (the child of Munich). This in fact depicted a young monk and later formed the basis of the Munich coat of arms. The town colors, gold and black, were conceived a century later. From 1324-1350 the so-called decorations of state, the insignia of power, were held at Munich and then the town was permitted to adopt the colors of the Empire.

In 1255, Munich became the official town of residence of the Duchy of Bavaria-Munich and the Alter Hof had to be expanded in order to accommodate this. A further town wall became necessary (built circa 1255-1290). Finally in 1271, the blossoming town was divided into two parishes, those of St Peter and St Maria.

Fires destroyed a large part of the town in both 1310 and 1327 and neither was it spared the wrath of epidemics (between 1349 and 1495 the people of Munich suffered twelve outbreaks of the black plague). As was the case in many other towns, the Jewish population was blamed for this misfortune. The first terrible anti-Semitic hate campaign followed. The string of fires meanwhile did not reach an end until well into the 15th Century.

Munich nevertheless succeeded in becoming a great center of trade and culture. The trade routes (not only trading in salt, but also fabric and wine) defined Munich life by prompting the opening of a daily market on the Schrannenplatz (today the Marienplatz) as well as the salt market, held at the Kreuzplatz (today the Promenadeplatz). After 1468, Jörg von Halsenbach built the Frauenkirche (the Ladies' church) which—as a result of the architecture resembling two Swiss-French ladies' bonnets—became a symbol of Munich.

In 1505, Munich was named the capital city of Bavaria. Under the orchestration of Duke Albrecht V, the new official residence was built. His descendants were to continue this construction into the 19th Century and King Ludwig the First finished of the palace, which was modeled after the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Italy.

From 1563 onwards, Munich developed into a hotbed of anti-reformation agitation. The Jesuits moved into Munich and the Michaeliskirche was built. The town stood next to Augsburg and Prague as a cultural center of the region. In 1623, Bavaria became an electorate. The town was occupied in 1632 by Swedish soldiers during the Thirty years war. As a mark of gratitude for the ensuing liberation the Mariensäule (pillar of Mary) was built.

In the 18th-century electoral Prince Karl Albrecht commissioned the artist of Rococo. The Amalienburg in Nymphenburg subsequently emerged in 1734.

In 1806, Napoleon declared Bavaria part of the Empire and as part of this train of thought dubbed Munich the main town of imperial residence. When crowned Prince Ludwig married in 1810, the first Oktoberfest was held. The town expanded out of its previous boundaries and Maxvorstadt arose.

The 19th Century brought Munich much that shaped its unique character: In 1826 it became a university town and in 1857 the first Weisswürst (white sausage, a Bavarian specialty) were eaten and the Neue Rathaus was built. The population increased rapidly: in 1945 there were circa 100,000 inhabitants. This had grown to almost half a million by 1900. Munich was as a result the third largest town in Germany.

In the confusion that followed the First World War the Munich Räterepublik (Soviet Republic) was exclaimed in 1919. Shortly after, the first meeting of the Nazi party took place. In 1923 Hitler ordered the march on the Feldherrnhalle. Between 1935-45 Munich stood as the main town of the Nazi movement.

On the April 30, 1945 American troops marched into a town that had been nearly 70% destroyed. As part of the reconstruction program, a special effort was made to preserve the historical areas, whilst the building a new and modern Munich began. The visitors to the Olympic games in 1972 were welcomed by newly built underground transport and ring roads. In the following year Munich had become one of the most desirable cities in Germany. It still serves as a center of the publishing industry and home of many big international corporations. Furthermore, it counts as a very welcoming and safe town and thanks to its large tourist and leisure facilities has been referred to as the "most northern town in Italy".

Munich has a lot of diversity to offer. The old part of Munich, the Altstadt, is extremely elegant and is well worth exploring; however, food options for a small budget are rare. From Karlsplatz to the Isartor, Munich's various culinary facets should be explored, as well as the beautiful architecture dating back centuries.

Karlstor From the Karlsplatz, which the natives call "Stachus", you walk through the Karlstor, which was once part of the city wall that Ludwig the Bavarian built at around 1300. Today, only two towers can be seen, the main tower was demolished following concerns about its structural safety. If you now walk into the Neuhauser Straße, which is the city‘s main pedestrian zone, you will see the church of St. Michael to your left. This 16th-century church was built for the Jesuits. From the outside, it looks big but not particularly impressive, but don't be fooled. Its interior is picturesque and the domed ceiling is second only to St. Peter's in Rome. Should you feel hungry, the exclusive Restaurant Vue Maximilian located inside the Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten has a variety of delicious dishes to offer all cooked with regional and seasonal ripened produce.

Frauenkirche Turn towards the Frauenplatz: this is where the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) stands, which is the city's cathedral. Covering an area greater than the average football pitch and with its distinctive twin towers, Frauenkirche is widely regarded as Munich's most prominent landmark. On entering this late Gothic structure, be sure to look at the floor where you will see a large footprint, said to be that of the devil. From the Frauenkirche, you should now walk towards the heart of the city, the Marienplatz. This square is dominated by the New Town Hall (Neue Rathaus), whose carillon attracts hundreds of tourists every day - 38 figurines dance to the tune of the bells at 11a and 5p. Once you have left the church, carry on walking along the pedestrian zone until you reach the German Hunting and Fishing Museum (Deutsches Jagd und Fischereimuseum, which is housed in what used to be the Augustinian church. Special features here are the skillfully made hunting sledges. For a light Mediterranean meal in surreal ambiance, visit the Garden Restaurant at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof.

St. Peter, Isartor and Viktualienmarkt Karl Valentin was the city's most famous comedian and a museum dedicated to him can be found in the Isartor, which was once Munich's Eastern gate. For those that favor a more cozy atmosphere, there is always the Turmstübl which is part of the Valentin Karlstadt Musäum. End your tour with a coffee, an apple strudel, some sausages or some other typically Bavarian dish in the museum's café which is at the top of the Isartor. One of Munich‘s highlights is located approximately 50 meters (160 feet) next to the Isartor: St. Peter, Munich's oldest parish church. Climb the 302 wooden steps of "Old Peter" (Alter Peter) and admire a view of the city from above. On a clear day, you can see forever, well, to the Alps at least! The surrounding buildings of St. Peter are also a treat. Many gothic buildings haven't been destroyed by World War II. To the South of St. Peter's is the Viktualienmarkt, which is an open-air food market. Stop and have a beer in the beer garden if you feel like it.

Olympiapark The Olympiapark is located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of the Altstadt. Beautifully integrated into the landscape of Oberwiesenfeld, the park was originally built for the 20th Olympic Games 1972. Today, it is a major attraction for locals and tourists alike. Enjoy the breathtaking view across Munich and the Alpine scenery from the 287-meter (950-foot) tall Olympiaturm or watch the most famous rockstars perform at the Olympiahalle. During the summer months the Sommerfest Olympiapark attracts thousands of visitors to enjoy good music and fantastic food. At the Theatron, located near the picturesque Olympiasee (Lake Olympia) you will be able to listen to the latest Rock- and Jazz bands that Munich has to offer.

Englischer Garten The Englischer Garten (English Garden) is Munich's most famous park with numerous options to enjoy some relaxing peace and quiet. One of the architectural highlights of the park is the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower). The tower was built in 1789 and mainly used for music events, and to have a good view of the park from above. The nearby beergarden invites to a hearty supper, the obligatory Maß (a liter of beer) included, of course. Close to the tower lies the Monopteros, resembling a Greek temple, which was built by King Luis I. In the 1960s the Monopteros was the local hangout of the hippie community. Café Monopteros offers coffee and cake for those who prefer something sweet for once. At the south end of the park, you will find the Japanisches Teehaus (Japanese Tea House), which was built because of the Olympic Games 1972. Come for the traditional tea ceremonies, a very relaxing treat.

Guided Tours Verliebt in München (+49 89 64 25 64 86 / http://www.inlovewithmunich.de/) Stattreisen München (+49 89 54 40 42 30 / http://www.stattreisen-muenchen.de/) Weißer Stadtvogel (+49 89 - 29 16 97 65 / http://www.weisser-stadtvogel.de/)

Bus Tours City Tour (www.autobusoberbayern.de/) City Tour (http://www.citysightseeing-muenchen.de/)

Culinary & Art Tours Schlemmerreisen (+49 89 89 40 79 02 / http://www.schlemmer-reisen.de/) Kunst Tour (+49 89 36 10 10 83 / http://www.kunst-tour.de/)

Bike/Rickshaw Sightseeing Spurwechsel München (+49 89-692 46 99 / http://www.spurwechsel-muenchen.de/) Radius Tours & Bike Rental (+49 89 55 02 93 74 / http://www.radiustours.com/) Rikscha Mobil (+49 89 242 16 88 0 / http://www.rikscha-mobil.de/)