Blog

Monday, July 25, 2022: Munich

Rathous-Glockenspiel

Our final day of touring is in Munich, the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria, with a population of over 1,500,000 inhabitants.  Munich’s 12th-century roots manage to co-exist within a growing industry sector, merging cutting-edge technology with Bavarian tradition.  Chic Munich is known for its Baroque theater, royal palace, Glockenspiel, and 700 years of beer-brewing tradition—attracting over 6 million people a year to the world’s largest Octoberfest.

A bit of history

Munich traces its origins to the Benedictine monastery at nearby Tegernsee, which was probably founded in 750 AD.  In 1157 Henry the Lion, duke of Bavaria, granted the monks the right to establish a market on the “salt road” between mighty Salzburg and Augsburg.  In 1225, it became the primary residence of the ruling Wittelsbach family, a dynasty of dukes and then kings who ruled Bavaria for eight centuries.  Many of the rulers were avid builders who attracted artistic and musical talent to the city, which mostly flourished under their rule until the 1918 abolition of the monarchy.  When Hitler came to power shortly thereafter, Munich became the “Capital of the Movement,” with buildings reflecting Nazi views. The city suffered terrible bombardments during the war.  After the end of postwar American occupation in 1949, there was a great increase in population and economic power during the years of Wirtschaftswunder, or “economic miracle”.  The city hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Our farewell Bavarian dinner will be held in a local beer garden, as we celebrate all we have learned and shared in Germany!

 Where we’re staying ~ Flemings Hotel München-Schwabing

Auf Wiedersehen, my friends!