Altstadt - Old Town, Munich

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This is the center of Munich, with the city's best-known places to go. Surrounded by a ring of streets, it contains the city's most famous churches, beer halls, the Rathaus (City Hall), and museums. It's a perfect place to just stroll about.

The heart of old Munich is the Marienplatz. Here is the Rathaus, with its famed Glockenspiel. This intricate mechanical marvel has a remarkable hourly display that is not to be missed.

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The Church of the Holy Ghost is behind Peterskirche. It was also devastated in WWII and its tower is as ex[ected a reconstruction too. We did not have time to inspect its treasures because we did not want to miss the Glockenspiel with animated figures performance at the Neue Rathaus nearby.

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This roughly triangular space is bounded by curving streets and lies one block South of of "Alter Peter". The adjacent street is named "Rindermarkt". There are tall trees, a pool and statuary of a group of cattle and sitting on an adjacent wall what we take to be a farmer. The style of the statuary is modern like those in the nearby Viktualienmarkt. This must be an example of Munchener whimsy, but we do not know the details. We hope someone can enlighten us.

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Even in winter, Munich is a beautiful city. The streets are still crowded with shoppers and snow is not much of a hindrance. It is one other thing that "Müncheners" take in stride. From this storm, there were 16 inches over two days. Lots of cars were snowed in but that just meant a little inconvenience and using the public transportation system for a few days. Other than that, the city operated as normal.

Although I don't have any photographs, many of the sidewalk cafes and coffee houses serve coffee, tea, or"gluwein" (hot mulled wine) in spite of the snow. If the sun is shining, beer gardens will have a small number of tables cleared for customers.

These photographs are a few that I took while walking around after the snow had stopped falling.

Photo 1 Near Marienplatz in the "pedestrian only zone."
Photo 2 A small fruit stand west of Marienplatz.
Photo 3 From a gate in Sendlingertor into the Altstadt.
Photo 4 The "Neues Rathaus" (New City Hall).
Photo 5 "Stachus" ("Karlsplatz") the day before the storm.

There is a very big part of Munich's Old town that is just for pedestrians,you won't find any cars there.If you are in Marientplatz and the Cathedral area,you will see walking some of the best and most interesting places that Munich has to offer,including the area called THE RESIDENZ ,where you can see lot on good museums.Always is a pleasure walking in an old town and don't have to worry about the cars!.

The old town square should be the starting point of your visit. I will give you the tour that I have given four other people. Take the underground train to Marienplatz and pop out anywhere you please. From where ever you come out, you should be able to see the old town square. The most eye catching is the New City Hall (which looks old). During the summer the Glockenspiel should perform at 11am and 5pm, but ask any of the shop people in the square and they will be able to tell you. Keep in mind the little performace that the clock gives you was created about 150 years ago. The story is that it was a wedding between two very important young people of the city of Munich during the Medival Times and what you see is a friendly battle between two knights. The checkered white and blue on one knight is Balvaria's colors (Balvaria is the state that Munich is the capitol of). After watching this head to Peterskirche. All that info will be on another tip.

In the summer 2005 in Munich the installation of figures of lions proceeded. They have filled all the city centre. Tourists with pleasure were photographed near to lions.
I too have made it!

The local Bavarian architecture is wonderful to look at and a nice walk around the city in the back streets is worth a day all by itself.

Munich's Altstadt (old town)...the city center, full of old churches, theaters, gardens, palaces and of course, lots of shopping and restaurants...

visit the old city center, the area between the Siegestor in the north and the Sendligner Tor in the South