|
|
Sites in Old Town
Home » Germany » Munich - Restaurants and Activities » Sites in Old TownMost of Munich's sites are nicely situated in the Old Town (also called Altstadt or City Center). The concentration makes them easy to navigate and allows flexibility and spontaneity in your itinerary.
Beginning with the museums, Munich has several from which to choose. One of the most significant is the Deutsches Museum (German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology). It is nicely situated on the Isar River, and it is the largest museum of its kind in the world. Covering countless topics in the fields of science, technology, and industry, there are numerous hands-on exhibits and creatively displayed artifacts. It is an especially entertaining and educational experience for children.
The Alte Pinakothek is an art museum that began as a collection of the royal Wittelsbach family in the early 1500s. Now the museum shows European paintings from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The collections of Early Italian, Old German, Old Dutch and Flemish paintings are especially significant.
The Bavarian National Museum presents three floors of artworks and artifacts representing the region's artistic heritage. Pieces include sculpture, painting, folk art, ceramics, textiles, and furniture from the Middle Ages through the 20th century. An additional building houses the State Archeological Collections, which has pieces dating back to the Paleolithic Age, through the Roman period and the early Middle Ages.
Two other significant art museums are the Neue Pinakothek (18th and 19th century art) and the Pinakothek der Moderne (19th and 20th century visual arts).
The Residenz is certainly one of Munich's highlights. It was the official residence of Bavaria's rulers from 1385 to 1918. The diverse complex contains ten courtyards and 130 rooms. As new portions were added over the years, the palace became an architectural melting pot, with styles such as Baroque, Rococo, Classical, and German Renaissance all represented. The Residenz was almost completely destroyed in World War II, but has been completely restored in the ensuing years.
The Residenzmuseum holds 120 rooms for art and furnishings once belonging to the Wittelsbach royals. The Hofgarten is an Italian Renaissance style garden located between the Residenz and the Englischer Garten.
Maximilianstrasse is known as Munich's Fifth Avenue, and it is certainly a shopper's haven. You can enjoy the wonderful and varied architecture as you stroll, and then pop into one of the designer boutiques to pick up a remembrance of your visit to Munich.
Related Munich - Restaurants and Activities Articles
- Restaurants and Activities Introduction
- Restaurants and Dining
- Sites in Old Town
- Schloss Nymphenburg and the Englischer Garten
- Day Trip: Herrenchiemsee and Neues Schloss