Fun Facts & Figures About Munich

These are just some of the many interesting things you’ll hear about on our tours.

PRESENT STATISTICS

  * Munich is the 3rd largest city in Germany with a population of more than 1.3 million people.
  * Munich’s Englischer Garten is one of the largest metropolitan parks in the world. It’s a vast expanse and a joy to explore. To put it in perspective, it’s:
      - 3.7 square kilometers
      - More than 40% larger than Central Park in New York City
  * There are more than 45 museums and more than 60 beer gardens.
  * Munich is the capital of the province of Bavaria. It’s the largest of Germany’s 16 provinces, was once an independent nation, and boasts Germany’s largest national park
  * While much of Germany faces high unemployment, the unemployment rate in Munich is only 5.6%.

Did you know?

  * While Bavaria is typically touted as conservative - and the conservative party has been in control continuously since WWII, Munich has an almost unbroken legacy of a left-leaning party mayor since WWII.
  * The shopping street of Maximilian Straße and Kaufinger Straße boast some of the most expensive rents in all of Germany.
  * The only Apple (as in iPod) store in all of Germany is just off Marienplatz.
  * The city seal of Munich has always featured a small monk - the Münchner Kindl - and certain iterations actually have had him holding a beer stein!

MUNICH IN THE 20TH CENTURY

  * In 1908 the Deutsches Museum was opened as the world’s first technical museum. It still is the largest such in the world, with the aircraft exhibits recently having to be moved to more spacious confines.
  * Hitler first came from Austria to Munich in order to escape having to serve in the Austrian military. He was, however, very in favor of Germany entering WWI and requested permission to serve with the Bavarians.
  * Over 80% of Munich was bombed during WWII, making the mix of old and new architecture all too blatant.
  * Munich was the headquarters of the American sector after WWII, meaning a healthy portion of the money funneled in through the Marshall Plan was channeled here.

Did you know?

  * The first U-Bahn in Munich was completed just in time for the 1972 Olympics held here.
  * People have been “illegally” surfing on the Eisbach stream in the Englischer Garten since the early 1970s.

MUNICH PRIOR TO THE 20TH CENTURY

  * München, originally named so to mean “to the monks”, was originally founded on the lucrative salt trade line in 1158.
  * Ever since Ludwig the Bavarian became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1314, the city colors of Munich followed that of the Holy Roman Empire itself: gold and black.
  * The exact details surrounding the death of King Ludwig II, the fairy-tale king responsible for building Neuschwanstein castle, are still not fully known.
  * Ludwig I, famous for transforming Munich into the “Athens on the Isar” eventually had to abdicate the thrown because of his love affair with the dance Lola Montez.

Did you know?

  * The Wittelsbach family was the longest ruling dynasty to ever rule anywhere in the world.
  * Of the many breweries in Munich’s history, only 6 remain through mergers and attrition.  And it’s only these 6 that may have tents at the Oktoberfest.