German Cities Munich

Although many German cities are popular tourist destinations, Munich features many different attractions that draw foreign vacationers who seek an authentic German experience. Located in Upper Bavaria, Munich spans an area of 119.9 square miles (310.43 sq. km.) and has a population of over 1.3 million, which makes it the third largest city in the Federal Republic. Munich is also the capital of the state of Bavaria. The city’s motto is currently, “Munich Loves You,” or, MA?nchen mag Dich in German. This replaced the city’s old motto, “The World City with Heart,” or, Weltstadt mit Herz, in 2006. The city’s name is a derived from an Old Germanic word meaning Monks, which gives the city the symbol of the monk on its coat of arms. Like many other German cities, its coat of arms features black and gold, the colors of the Holy Roman Empire.

As with many other German cities, the year in which Munich was founded can be approximated by the first historical reference to the city in official texts. Munich was founded sometime shortly before 1158. The city was founded near a settlement of Benedictine monks, and was named for them. Munich officially became a city in 1175, and was fortified in 1180. During the Middle Ages, Munich became the center of salt trade in the Holy Roman Empire, which made its citizens very wealthy. Later, when Bavaria was reunited as a nation-state in 1506, Munich became its official capital. It also served as the center of the Catholic counter-reformation in Germany. During the twentieth century, Munich became the birthplace of the Nazi movement, which swept Germany in the mid-1920s. The first concentration camp, Dachau, was established just a few miles northwest of the city limits. Much of Munich was destroyed during the Second World War due to Allied air raids.

Of all the German cities, foreign tourists visit Munich for a number of reasons. First off, the buildings of Munich were built in a variety of architectural styles, from the New Town Hall, which is a towering Gothic structure, to the Frauenkirche, a cathedral designed in a bizarre hodge-podge of Gothic and Renaissance styles. Another interesting sight in Munich is the Maximilianeum, an expansive neo-Gothic building that houses the Bavarian state parliament.

Munich also features a number of tourist spots that make it unique among German cities, such as the Allianz Arena, which opened in 2005, and Olympiapark, an expansive venue for cultural, social, and religious events. Munich also features the Deautches Museum, which is located on an island in the Isar River. Munich’s culture involves many diverse elements, such as the performances of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, staged musicals. One of the most popular events in Munich is Oktoberfest, which occurs every September through October, and has been held every year since 1810. Oktoberfest is the largest fair in the world today, featuring beerdrinking, traditional German dress, and celebration in the streets. It is a popular event in Bavaria, but is also celebrated in other areas of Germany, as well as worldwide.