Frauenkirche, Munich

The Dom su Unserer Lieben Frau (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady), or Frauenkirche as it is commonly known, is a church in Munich that also serves as a cathedral.

Construction began in 1468, but due to financial difficulties, Pope Sixtus IV granted an Indulgence. The church was completed in 1488 and consecrated in 1494. Of the two towers, the tallest is the North Tower, standing at 98.57m, with the South Tower only 0.12m smaller. There is a law prohibiting any building being taller than 99m, which is why you won't see any skyscrapers in the city centre, giving Munich the feel of a small town.

The church suffered severe damage during WWII and had to be restored. One feature which survived was the Teufelstritt (Devil's Footstep), which is believed to be where the Devil himself once stood.  There are a few legends regarding the footstep, one is that the Devil made a deal with a builder so that the church would have no windows. The builder tricked the Devil by building columns to obscure the view of the windows. However, once the building was consecrated, the Devil could not enter and could only stand in the Foyer stamping his foot. He is supposed to have manifested his evil spirit in the wind, which rages furiously around the church.

Buried in the church are the tombs of many Archbishops, Dukes and even King Ludwig III and Louis IV, the Holy Roman Emperor.

My Travel Map So Far...

So far I've visited 5 countries since starting this blog (including my native England). Money has been tight, so haven't been able to do as much travelling as I'd have liked to. I visited Belfast recently, so will post about that soon. Only spent a day there so would like to go again as it is a beautiful place. Right now I'm trying to get all my Glasgow posts up as I have neglected the blog a bit recently!

Still a whole lot of white to paint red!

Toy Museum, Munich.

The Spielzeugmuseum (as it is known in German) is a huge museum of toys dating back to the 1800's. It has 4 floors packed with displayed dolls, aeroplanes and other toys from all over America and Europe. You can have a wander round for a couple of hours for just a €3 fee.  

Max-Joseph-Platz, Munich.

Max-Joseph-Platz is a large square in central Munich, named after King Maximilian Joseph, King of Bavaria from 1806-1825. It is home to a statue of the King himself, erected in 1835, the National Theatre Munich, The Residenztheatre and the Munich Residenz, a former Royal palace of Bavarian monarchs, which is open for public viewing.

Englischer Garten, Munich.

Englischer Garten is a 910 acre public park in Munich, much bigger than Central Park in New York, that is styled on an 18th-19th century style popular in Britain at the time. It was opened in 1792 and now contains a Japanese tea house, a nude sunbathing area, streams, an artificial lake, beer gardens and the Chinesischer Turm, as well as gardens and other architecture. This makes it a perfect place to relax in the sun, go for a jog  or have a beer or two!!

Heiliggeistkirche, Munich

Heiliggeistkirche is a Gothic hall church which originally belonged to the Hospice of the Holy Ghost in the 14th century but was remodelled in 1724-1730. After the hospice buildings were demolished in 1885, Franz Lšwel added three bays at the west end of the church and gave it a neo-Baroche facade.

The church, like many buildings in Munich, suffered severe damage during WWII and was restored afterwards.

BMW headquarters, Munich.

Built by 1972 and standing at 331ft, the BMW warehouse is one of the most notable landmarks in Munich. The main tower consists of four vertical towers separated in the centre. The four towers are suspended from the main tower, not actually touching the ground. There is also a museum across the road which you can visit.

 Located near the Olympic Village (for the 1972 Munich Olympics), it is easy to get to via underground train and holds tours (in German and English) which last up to two hours, allowing you to see firsthand how BMWs are built (it may be worth booking your tour in advance ). If you don't get time to go, you can get an amazing view from the Olympic Tower in the Olympic village, which is only a short walk away.

Hofgarten, Munich.

The Hofgarten in Munich was built from 1613-1617 by Maximilian I as an Italian style renaissance garden. After being destroyed in WWII, it was rebuilt with a more modern twist. On the east of the garden is the Bavarian Staatskanzlei (State chancellery - above), whilst a pavilion (Below) for the Goddess Diana (a Goddess associated with animals and woodland), built in 1615, can be found in the centre with a path leading from each of its 8 arches. In the north east of the garden is a granite memorial to White Rose group, a group of people who staged non-violent campaigns against Hitler's regime and were executed as a result.

My travel map, so far... (2012)

As it is approaching the end of the year, I've posted my travel map for this year. So far, I have travelled to 3 countries:
England (Liverpool, London, Windsor, Isle of Wight)
Germany (Munich, Dachau)
Netherlands (Amsterdam)

Hopefully more to come next year!!

Neues Rathaus, Marienplatz, Munich, Germany

Neus Rathaus (New Town Hall), located in the Marienplatz in Munich City Centre, hosts the Munich city government. Built in the early 1900's, after about 41 years of construction, it now hosts offices and a restaurant, as well as gargoyles and other fine architectural details.

Munich, Germany

When visiting Munich, my German friend said to me 'I want you to see Munich as a large village, not as a small city', and he was right. Munich, although being Germany's third largest city, it lacks the skyscrapers and city feel that you would expect. Instead, Munich offers a more cosy yet medieval atmosphere with its gothic churches and weekly markets. To reflect this, it has been nicknamed 'Toy town' by the English, because of its safety and quality of life, and 'Millionendorf' by the Germans, meaning 'village of a million people'.

 I found the people of Munich to be friendly and outgoing, and also noted the large amount that spoke English, making it easier to get by there. As well as the people, I also found the scenery itself to be rather charming; whether it was stroll through the Olympic Park, or a wander around the city, there were plenty of landmarks to catch your eye. It also worth noting that, although it may not look so, Munich is a very modern city with host of museums, restaurants, shops and bars, as well as many other things to see and do.

 Due to its location, it is quite possible to go skiing in the Alps, or even hiking along the many mountains near by. The Bavarian capital is also quite close to Dachau, home of the infamous concentration camp, and hohenschwangau, a small Bavarian village which boasts Neuschwanstein Castle (Cinderella's Castle), as well as many, many tourists!!

 Munich is definitely a place to visit if you want a quaint village atmosphere with all the perks of a city, world class museums as well as the chance to do some hiking, and grand Gothic architecture wiv a slight Bavarian twist.

Chinesischer Turm, Englischer Garten, Munich.

Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) is a 5 storey, 25m high tower in Englischer Garten, Munich, built in 1790. It was built to resemble The Pagoda, a similar tower in London. It was burnt down in 1944 after heavy bombing, but rebuilt in 1952. It is a must see if you venture into the Englischer Garten. Here, you can sample typical Bavarian cuisine and, of course, beer!!

Mariensäule

Mariensäule in the centre of Marienplatz, erected to celebrate the end of the Swedish invasion. The Virgin Mary sits at the top.