Munich Off The Beaten Path Tips by aliante1981

Ludwig-Maximilian-Universitat

The ýLudwig-Maximilian-Universitatý - or simply ýLMUý is today one of Germanyýs oldest, biggest - and most prestigious - universities. Established in the wealthy medieval city of Ingolstadt in 1472 by Duke Ludwig the Wealthy, it was moved first to Landshut, then finally to Munich in 1826 by King Ludwig I. So, funnily enough, the Munich University did not start its life in Munich! I can not think of any other similar case :)))

Geschwister-Scholl-Platz
U-Bahn 3 or 6: Universitat station

Architect Friedrich von Gartner was the author of the designs for the ýLMUý complex in Munich. In his first plan there were obelisks that were supposed to decorate the rectangular space on either side of Ludwigstrasse. But later on, the decision went in favour of two fountains, which bear a distinct resemblance to the St.Peterýs Square in Vatican, after which, indeed, they were modeled.

Goetz Collection

Goetz Collectionýs exhibitions are devoted exclusively to contemporary art, and there is a new exhibition every six months. Half of the available 1,500 works ranging from painting to photography, and from sculpture to machinery are on view. The only drawback is that you have to arrange a visit, usually by telephone.

Oberfuhringer Strasse 103
U-Bahn 4: Richard-Strauss-Strasse station, then bus 88 or 188 to Býrgerpark.

Phone: 9 57 81 23

Kulturzentrum Gasteig

ýGasteigý is a concentration of two Bavarian words: ýGachý and ýSteigý. ýGachý stands for ýsteepý, while ýSteigý means road. ýSteep roadý then?

The slope is indeed steep, but I guess its pretty bearable if you really love culture and would like to attend a concert in this centre opened in year 1985.

Its ýPhilharmonieý (Concert Hall) with room for a 2,400-strong audience, has made a name for itself with first-class musical events. The ýCarl-Orff-Saalý with around 600 seats, the small ýBlack Boxý, as well as theatres and exhibition rooms are also there. Arts for every taste then? Yes!

Munichýs Public Library, which has more than 600,000 books in stock, also has an office in the building. Time for a good read between the concerts!

Rosenheimer Strasse 5
S/U-Bahn: Rosenheimer Platz station

Phone: 480 98-625

Haidhausen

A place for shoppers, diners and wine lovers :))) Difficult to believe it, but just twenty-five years ago this region on the hill (ýRosenheimer bergý - they even called it a mountain!) on the east bank of the River Isar was still known as the townýs ýglass shard quarterý.

It came into fashion afterwards, and prices of flats and office property - quite predictably - soared. Especially for grander bourgeois houses from the Grunderzeit - this stands for post 1870 era.

Hereýs an itinerary to follow (stopping at shops & cafés): Wiener Platz ý Johannisplatz ý Kirchenstrasse ý Breisacher Strasse ý Wurthstrasse ý Preysingstrasse ý Gasteig.

BMW-Museum

The BMW-concern started exhibiting its often groundbreaking home-designed technology, products and developments as far back in time as year 1966, and - I guess - converted at least some of the visitors into its fans. Every four years an artist is chosen to bring the exhibition up to date. T

he museum is situated in the silvery so-called ýSalatschusselý - which can be translated as the ýsalad bowlý - next to the Concernýs administrative building, whose four-leafed-clover design represents the four cylinders of a car engine. Tel. 38 24 45 65. Up to four weeksýprior notice required, which, in my opinion, is pretty unfortunateý

You can also visit the assembly lines to see those bright and shiny BMWs rolling off, but only if you book ahead by telephone (Tel. 38 22 33 06).

Petuelring 130 U-Bahn 3: Olympiazentrum station Daily 9am-5pm. Admittance till 4pm

Valentin-Museum

ýAnno 1333 ý, Karl Valentin was born 549 years laterý - a writing on the wall :)) Famous local folk actor and simply a witty person, Karl Valentin was - as we can quite easily calculate - born in year 1882. When he died in 1948 his curriculum vitae as a creator numbered some 50 films - and thatýs no mean feat.

And if we add to this more than 400 stage plays, in which he performed together with his stage companion Lisl Karstadt, we will see what an impressive legacy Karl Valentin has left to culture. In this museum consecrated to him, all kinds of curious inventions and jottings can be seen.
Note the opening times - they do justice to Valentinýs wit: I guess he would have liked them!

Tal 50, Isartorplatz

S-Bahn: Isartor. Trams 18 or 20

Monday/Tuesday and Friday/Saturday 11.01am-5.29pm, Sunday 10.01am-17.29pm (!)

Centre of Museums of Out-of-the-Ordinary Subjects ZAM Zentrum für aussergewoehnliche Museen Review

Behind the abbreviation of ýZAMý - as this collection of museums is called - hide small museums dedicated to an incredible array of things and people - like Empress Sissi, Easter Bunnies, chamber pots, toy cars, odours and locksmiths. I could not even imagine somebody would make a museum dedicated to at least one of the subjects (save, maybe, toy cars) - so to find them all there wasý funny, I guess, and interesting, too.

Westenriederstrasse 41

S-Bahn: Isartor station. Trams 18 and 20

Open: Daily 10am-6pm.

Entrance fee of 4 Euros is applicable, but this curious place deserves the money paid.

Mullersches Volksbad Public baths Review

Mullersches Volksbad can be translated as ýPeopleýs Baths by Mullerý, or something of this sort. Indeed, fully justifying its name it is Munichýs first public bath-house, donated to his fellow-citizens by wealthy engineer Karl Muller. Opened in year 1901, Mullersches Volksbad, unlike most similar buildings, has withstood time and is still standing in perfect condition. Already the approach to this building, richly decorated with Jugendstil elements and standing on the banks of the River Isar below the Gasteig Culture Centre is something to remember.

Not only is it still standing, Mullersches Volksbad can even give you a bathing experience in style, and even a steam bath should you wish for one.

Rosenheimer Strasse 1
S-Bahn: Isartor. Tram 18
Daily 7.30am-11pm

Phone: 23 61 34 29

Alte Munze

Alte Munze - or Old Mint - dates from 1563-67 and was then regarded as a natural extension of the Munich castle. When the middle of the 16th century came, it already was home to one of the first, then - as it often happened during the Middle Ages - private, museums north of the Alps. From 1803 to 1983 it was used as an official mint, last by the German Bundesbank - which still is the German Central Bank (albeit today its has very few real powers of its own, and can not have a mint of its own).

Now what most people come here for is trapezoid interior courtyard from Renaissance times with its three-storey-high arcade corridors.

Hofgraben 4/ Pfisterstrasse
S/U-Bahn/Marienplatz station
Monday-Thursday 8am-4.15pm, Friday 8am-2pm