Interesting Green: Summer cities in Southern Germany, München

WEEKEND TODAY, April 24 - 25, 2010, TRAVEL, PAGE T26
http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100424/2404TRW026.pdf
By Trixia Carungcong, trixia@mediacorp.com.sg

PHOTO: Neuschwanstein. SIA and other airlines have resumed operations to Europe. That’s good news, because summer in Europe is too beautiful to pass up. Here’s a quick guide to a focussed experience in Munich and Zurich
WEEKEND TODAY, April 24 - 25, 2010, TRAVEL, PAGE T26

The Bavarian capital effortlessly blends its old-world charm with a modern vibe, attracting visitors to its numerous museums, theatres, parks and beer halls. Competitive and affluent, Munich is nevertheless known, and envied, for its laid-back lifestyle.

PHOTO: Image of Bavaria, Germany, Bavaria on Oct 2006
http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w3-Bavaria.html#1595543
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/18/58/97/bavaria.jpg

Two days is barely enough to get a feel of the city, but here’s what you can do:

PHOTO: Viktualienmarkt mit Blumenständen (Flower stands)
http://www.art-presents-munich.de/images/Gruppe1/marktBlumen026.jpg

Day 1

9am: Head to Viktualienmkt, the open-air market in the city centre, for a traditional breakfast of white sausage and brezel. Skin the sausages, which are made of veal and pork and flavoured with onions and parsley, before dipping the tasty bits in sweet mustard.

PHOTO: München - Viktualienmarkt by zen-foto
http://www.klassenfahrt-muenchen.org/images/viktualienmarkt.jpg

PHOTO: View over city hall and Marienplatz (the square)
http://fabularz.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/p1010060.jpg

At 11am, watch the famous Glockenspiel, or clockwork theatre, at the new town hall in Marienplatz. The building’s balcony is usually where soccer club Bayern Munich would greet the public after winning the Bundesliga championship or a major international title.

PHOTO: 2002-09-22a Marienplatz Gary2
http://kenag.net/pictures_arch/2002-09-21%20Oktoberfest%20in%20Germany/2002-09-22a%20Marienplatz%20Gary2.jpg

PHOTO: Olympic Tower - Munich, Germany
http://www.cityscouter.com/images/munich/munich-olympia-tower.jpg

11.30am: Take the underground to the Olympic Park, site of the 1972 Summer Games. Have a quick lunch at the revolving restaurant in the Olympic Tower (www.drehrestaurant.de), which offers a 360-degree view of the area.

PHOTO: Munich Olympic Park taken from the viewing decks of the Olympic Tower
http://www.hostcity.co.uk/features/venues/munich1.jpg

PHOTO: Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) LOGO
http://askmeany.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bmwaskmeany.jpg

Then walk over to BMW Museum (www.bmwmuseum.de) to see the history of the car company from its beginnings as an aircraft engine producer.

PHOTO: The world BMW headquarters in the Bavarian homeland.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/2088953435_7d3a94c51d.jpg

Because this is Germany, even four-year-olds come here to see the exhibit. Bavarian Motor Works’ headquarters is at the iconic four-cylinder building beside the “salad bowl” building housing the museum. If you’d like to check out new cars and motorcycles, head to BMW World across the road.

PHOTO: Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) headquarters, iconic four-cylinder building beside the “salad bowl” building housing the museum
http://image.motortrend.com/f/editorial/why-america-should-care-about-detroit/6387099+w600+cr1+re0+ar1/bmw-headquarters.jpg

PHOTO: Kaufinger Strasse, Munich
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_RzoWa6WIaak/SoyVkY9Y2xI/AAAAAAAADfE/uvFq8KdoqQc/DSCF4659.jpg

PHOTO: Deutsches Museum von Meisterwerken der Naturwissenschaft und Technik München
(German Museum at Munich housed the Masterpieces of Science and Technology)
http://www.welt-atlas.de/datenbank/fotos/1-717/big/1-717-3.jpg

4pm: Depending on how you want to spend your afternoon in Munich, there’s the Deutsches Museum (www.deutschesmuseum.de), the world’s largest museum of technology and science. Or walk through Kaufinger Strasse, a main shopping district.

PHOTO: Kaufinger Strasse, Munich
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Kaufinger_Strasse_Munich.jpg

PHOTO: Kaufinger Straße
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2710479807_1695a41205.jpg?v=0

PHOTO: Trees and bridges and the tower of the Deutsches Museum
http://www.tropicalisland.de/germany/bavaria/munich/images/MUC%20Munich%20-%20Isar%20river%20with%20with%20trees%20and%20bridges%20and%20the%20tower%20of%20the%20Deutsches%20Museum%203008x2000.jpg

PHOTO: Deutsches Museum. It's the biggest technology museum of the world.
http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1463702-Deutsches_Museum-Munich.jpg

PHOTO: Allianz Arena Pahu
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Allianz_Arena_Pahu.jpg

If you’re a Bayern Munich fan, head down to Allianz Arena (www.allianz-arena.de) which also hosted the opening game of World Cup 2006.

PHOTO: Allianz Arena
http://www.moeller-horcher.de/de/pressezentrum/download/zaunz/allianz_arena1.jpg

PHOTO: Allianz Arena Bayern Munich
http://www.footballpictures.net/data/media/417/Allianz_Arena_Bayern_Munich.jpg

PHOTO: Allianz Arena - the new Munich Stadium
http://pub.tv2.no/multimedia/na/archive/00225/allianz_arena__m_nc_225051g.jpg

PHOTO: Schema Allianz Arena
http://www.footiewallpapers.com/pic_upload/Allianz-Arena-wallpaper-14-828x628.jpg

PHOTO: Hofbrauhaus - Wikimedia Commons
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Hofbrauhaus.JPG

7pm: No visit is complete without a stop at Hofbrauhaus (www.hofbraeuhaus.de), dubbed the most famous beer hall in the world. There is live music on the ground floor and in the beer garden, or if you prefer some quiet, head upstairs to the first floor. You can also visit the other five main breweries in Munich that are allowed to serve beer during Oktoberfest, Augustiner, Lowenbrau, Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner and Spaten-Franziskaner.

PHOTO: hofbrauhaus beer stein
http://www.thirstyswagman.com/admin/Uploads/Images/OctoberfestBeerHallHofbrauhaus.jpg

PHOTO: http://girls.gunaxin.com/wp-content/gallery/oktoberfest_2009/oktoberfest_girls-001.jpg

PHOTO: http://www.agoraquest.com/personal_icon/file_1296463903hot_beer_girls.jpg

PHOTO: http://images.smh.com.au/2009/09/21/743100/Oktoberfest-118-600x400.jpg

PHOTO: http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,1315712,00.jpg

PHOTO: HOFBRAUHAUS
http://www.gunaxin.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/oktoberfest_girls-037.jpg

PHOTO: http://classicfun.ws/wp-content/uploads/sexy-bavarian-oktoberfest-girls-480x401.jpg

PHOTO: http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/893/oktoberfestgirls010.jpg

PHOTO: http://www.daretogamble.com/uploaded_images/oktoberfest_girls_01-772765.jpg

PHOTO: http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/images/thumbnails/kim-kardashian-mercedes-fashion-week-miami-711-1.jpg

PHOTO: http://cm1.theinsider.com/thumbnail/400/600/cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/436/71/mallika-bollyupdatescom-milkshake-1.jpg

PHOTO: http://www.wallpaperbase.com/wallpapers/celebs/parishilton/paris_hilton_76.jpg

PHOTO: Schwangau on May 2008
Neuschwanstein Castle is a famous German castle in Schwangau, Bavaria, built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria
http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g198564-Schwangau_Bavaria.html
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/11/cd/34/neuschwanstein-castle.jpg

Day 2

8am: Venture beyond Munich to Schwangau region (www.schwangau.de), popular for the castles of King Ludwig II.

PHOTO: He gave it the new name “Hohenschwangau”
http://www.luitpoldpark-hotel.de/se_data/_filebank/sehenswertes/hohenschwangau.jpg

You can take a train to Fussen, then a bus to the village. Walk up to Marien Bridge for postcard views of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, before visiting Hohenschwangau, the royal family’s summer residence and once the seat of the knights of Schwangau in the Middle Ages.

Remember to wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk up narrow, winding flights of stairs.

PHOTO: Hohenschwangau Castle, seen from Neuschwanstein
http://www.europeancastlestours.com/tours/bavaria/gallery/Hohenschwangau_from_Neu.jpg

PHOTO: View from the Hotel Alpenstuben
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/42/f4/d9/hohenschwangau.jpg

Noon: Ask for a traditional lunch at Hotel Alpenstuben (www.alpenstuben.de), which occupies a farmhouse that dates back to the 18th century, and pick up some souvenirs from the shops outside.

PHOTO: Hotel Alpenstuben
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/15/8c/4a/hotel-alpenstuben.jpg

2pm: Continue on to Neuschwanstein, the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle, by bus or horse-drawn carriage. Built in medieval style, its murals are a tribute to the works of composer Richard Wagner.

PHOTO: Neuschwanstein Castle.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Neuschwanstein_Castle.jpg

PHOTO: Neuschwanstein Castle Bavaria Germany - 2 Picture
http://www.citypictures.net/data/media/256/Neuschwanstein_Castle_Bavaria_Germany_-_2.jpg

PHOTO: http://www.oktoberfest.it/octoberfest/wp-content/uploads/neushwanstein23.jpg

PHOTO: http://image50.webshots.com/150/1/85/69/469018569XIwDep_ph.jpg

PHOTO: http://terre.sans.frontiere.free.fr/page_a_voir_a_faire/a_voir_a_faire_images/neuschwanstein_13_modifie.jpg

4pm: Head back to the city, and if you’re flying out from Munich Airport (www.munich-airport.de), wind up your trip at Airbrau (www.airbraeu.de). Munich is the first airport in the world to have its own brewery.

By Trixia Carungcong, trixia@mediacorp.com.sg

The writer’s trip was made possible by Singapore Airlines, Munich Airport, Munich Tourism and Switzerland Tourism

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