Munich - Old Town
The Karlstor entrance to Munich's "Old-Town"
Getting Around
Tourist Munich is relatively compact and
easy to walk in good weather. Alternatively, Munich’s
extensive subway (U-Bahn) and light rail (S-Bahn) network make it
easy to navigate the city. You can purchase relatively
economical one or two-day passes for unlimited transportation
around the city. Be sure to validate your ticket at one of the blue
boxes before using the ticket.
Another alternative to consider is the “Hop-On Hop Off” bus offered by
the Gray Line (http://www.sightseeing-munich.com/eng/index.html )
that features a live tour guide (it’s usually the bus driver). The
tour features a Grand Tour (€18 per day) that takes in all the
sights, and an Express Tour (€13 per day) that is focused on
attractions in the city center. Lower fees are offered for children
under 14. As indicated by the name, you can hop-off to see an
attraction of interest and catch the next bus to continue your tour.
Buses depart from the Bahnhof Platz on the east side of the central
train station (Hauptbanhof). Look for the easy to spot line of
double-decker buses.We show the location of the attractions we
describe on a detailed street map of Munich provided by Google.
Clicking the map symbol  , when it appears after the name of an
attraction, will open our Munich Street Map to that location.
The maps are at their most informative when you view them at large
scale (magnified) and use the hybrid button, which shows street names on top of a
satellite image of the area.By the way, the best way to get into the city
from the Munich Flughaven (airport)
is to the S-Bahn to the
Hauptbanhof in the heart of the city. You can catch the
train for the forty-minute ride into the city at the lower level of
the main terminal. You can buy your tickets from automated
machines or from the travel desk, whose attendants are very helpful.
The cost is extremely reasonable (around €9) or you can get an
all-day pass (single tageskarte) for slightly more. Taxis are
€ 70- 90, but a good deal if you are traveling with others. If
you have a large group, arrange a van before your departure.
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Interested in Germany, its people, history, economy and geography? Visit our section:
Germany Country Facts
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Tips
on driving, facts about health care and other Tourist Tips
for traveling in Germany can be found
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Along the Kaufingerstraße
Frontal view of the twin towers at the Frauen-kirche.
The
Tomb of Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, in the Frauen-Kirche
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Munich’s name is derived from a band of
monks that settled this area around thirteen-hundred years ago. The
settlement (“Zu den Munchen") officially became a town in the 12th
century and was ruled by the Wittelsbach’s (electors, dukes and
eventually kings) until 1918, a period of nearly 800 years. Be sure
to tour their palace, the Residenz, which we describe below.
Oktoberfest
is Munich's claim to beer-drinking fame and runs for several weeks
in late September and early October. The celebration is held at
Theresienwiesen 
(southwest of the Hauptbanhof) underneath a tent capable of
accommodating thousands. Beer is sold by the Maß, a one-liter
tankard. The dates for 2008 will be September 20th to October 5th.
In 2009 Oktoberfest will run from September 19th to October 4th.
For detailed information see
this site.
Attractions – Old Town
If you want to walk Munich’s Old Town, consider the path described
below.
The Hauptbahnhof (central train station)
is a meeting point for the
transportation network and a central point in the traveler’s Munich.
Start your tour here or at the next stop east (Karlplatz). Find your
way to the surface at Neuhauser straße and proceed to the east (away
from the Hauptbahnhof) along this pedestrian-only cobblestone
street.
The Old Town begins at the Karlstor
, site of a historic gateway to the “Old” Town . Neuhauserstraße, the
first segment ahead leads directly to Kaufingerstraße. Both streets
are renowned for shopping, although Bavarian food and beer are in
ample supply along these scenic lanes. If you are lucky enough to
visit in summer or fall the buildings will be adorned with some
stunning displays of geraniums.
A couple of block down on your left at Ettstraße you will pass Saint
Michaels-kirche
with one of the more attractive interiors that you will find in Munich’s otherwise plain churches.
Further to the east, take Augustinerstraße to explore the Frauen-kirche
,
Munich’s impressive Cathedral that dates from the 15th century. The
Frauen-kirche is really a bruiser. Its brick walls and bell towers
reach for the sky (over 325 ft.) and their lack of any buttresses or
external supports give the feeling of majesty and a sharp, almost
disorienting ascent as one looks towards the top of this imposing
church. The Frauen-kirche was badly damaged in World War II and the
restoration effort was completed only in the mid-1990s.
Although the church’s signature twin onion-domed, brick towers
(complete with clocks) provide instant identification, they were not
part of the original design. It appears that they were a happy
accident of history, as the town could not afford to build the
original design. The rest of
the Frauen-kirche, however, is as understated as the church’s plain brick
exterior. The interior is stark white and sparsely
decorated. The church houses the crypts of many member of the Wittelsbach family who played an important role in German history
for over 600 years. The crypt is behind and underneath the altar. Louis IV,
who was Holy Roman Emperor, apparently rated better accommodations
than the other Wittelsbachs and is buried in an ornate tomb just
behind the gates and to the right after you enter the
church.
Many visitors to the Frauen-kirche are attracted by the “Devil’s Footprint”
which can be seen “burned” into the floor in front of the first
wrought iron gate that
separates the entry from the church proper. There is a
fuzzy-appearing black footprint (somewhat small) with a distinct
claw at the heel. The “fabled footprint” (shown below) has an
interesting story. It goes like this
The devil did not want yet another church in
Munich. He endeavored to convince the builder to make it
so dark and gloomy inside the edifice that no one would visit. He
checked on the builder’s progress from the entry where the
footprint can now be seen. From that specific point, the church's
columns obscure all windows (at the time, there was a large artwork
that blocked the windows behind the altar) and the Devil thought the
church was so unappealing, that no one would visit. Of course, the
devil had been mislead by his arrogance and the wit of the builder.
When he found out that he had been tricked, he returned and stomped
his foot in anger making the impression in the floor.In addition, he
turned himself into a gale force wind and tried to blow the church
down. Although unsuccessful then, to this day, wind continues to
swirl around the towers of the Frauen-kirche.
If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web
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