Munich - Highlights

We went on a tour of the Alps in five European countries in early summer.  The start off point was Salzburg and the nearest city that we haven't visited was Munich.  That was how we decided to spend four and a half days in Munich - it's a far cry from Berlin (the last German city we visited) but nevertheless worth a couple of posts.

It is very compact with the tourist-packed old town square, Marienplatz, being the centre of everything - we walked through it a couple of times a day going to our various destinations.  The City Hall clock, the Viktualienmarkt and the many churches near here were the major "been there done that" type of tourist attractions.

Munich was a fun city, with its many beer halls, concerts, and street musicians everywhere you look.  We lucked out too as we stumbled on the rehearsal for a live open air concert that evening outside the Opera House.  We were front row centre as the beautiful soprano Ekaterina Siurina rehearsed her arias with the orchestra!  Later, we were able to hustle and got ourselves seats at a restaurant overlooking the crowded plaza where the concert took place in the evening, smug in our knowledge that we already saw her earlier...

In all, Munich provided many photographic opportunities, both architecturally and for street photography.  It was a very enjoyable visit.

Ludwig Beck "Store of the Senses" - shopping paradise in Munich centre

The famous glockenspiel in the New Town Hall in Marienplatz where tourists gather at 11 o'clock to watch the story enacted by the clockwork figures

Sendlinger Tor - the oldest of the four City gates, built in 1318.  Our hotel was just around the corner, as was a subway station, so we walked by it every day.

The Isartor, from the 14th and 15th centuries

Karlstor - city gate from the 18th century

Sendlingerstrasse is one of many car-free streets in the city centre

The incredibly ornate baroque Asamkirche - a private church built in the 18th century by the brothers Asam for the glory of God and their own salvation

In stark contrast, the lovely Frauenkirche with its clean, simple lines

St. Michael's Church - a happy median

The maypole at the Viktualienmarkt, where all kinds of "victuals" and goods are sold

One of the many fruit stalls in the market

Food display in the famous Dallmayr Delicatessen

Coffee urns in the deli

And of course we can't talk about Munich without its beer gardens!  This is the beer garden inside the famous Hofbrauhaus - too loud for me but certainly seems to be everyone else's destination

The courtyard and the exquisite Cuvillés Theatre (part of the Residenz, more in the next post)

 Musicians galore!

The Cellist of Munich...

Rehearsal for live open air concert outside the Opera House

Beautiful singing from soprano Ekaterina Siurina

The crowds at the concert at night

Munich at night