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59°F / 15°C
(Passing Clouds. Cool.)
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Tour One: Karlstor to Isartor
The old part of Munich is extremely elegant and is well worth exploring. This tour takes you directly through its center. It starts at the Karlplatz and ends at the Isartor, which is at the opposite side of the city. It should take you about an hour and a half, depending on what you are interested in.
From the Karlsplatz, which the natives call "Stachus", you walk throuth the Karlstor, which was once part of the city wall that Ludwig the Bavarian built at around 1300. Today, only two towers can be seen, the main tower was demolished following concerns about its structural safety. If you now walk into the Neuhauser Straße, which is the city?s main pedestrian zone, you will see the church of St. Michael to your left. This 16th century church was built for the Jesuits. From the outside, it looks big but not particularly impressive, but don't be fooled. Its interior is picturesque and the domed ceiling is second only to St. Peter's in Rome. If you have time, then take this opportunity to attend one of the numerous concerts that are held here throughout the year.
Once you have left the church, carry on walking along the pedestrianized zone until you reach the German Hunting and Fishing Museum (Deutsches Jagd und Fischreimuseum, which is housed in what used to be the Augustinian church. Special features here are the skillfully made hunting sledges.
If you decide not to visit the museum, or when you have finished visiting it, turn left toward the Frauenplatz. This is where the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) stands, which is the city's cathedral. Covering an area greater than the average football pitch and with its distinctive twin towers, Frauenkirche is widely regarded as Munich's most prominent landmark. Each is tower is over 300 ft high. The building suffered severe damage during World War Two but was fully restored by 1958. On entering this late Gothic structure, be sure to look at the floor where you will see a large footprint, said to be that of the devil.
From the Frauenkirche, you should now walk towards the heart of the city, the Marienplatz. This square is dominated by the New Town Hall (Neue Rathaus), whose carillon attracts hundreds of tourists every day - 38 figurines dance to the tune of the bells at 11a and 5p.
The highlight of the tour is St. Peter, Munich's oldest parish church. Climb the 302 wooden steps of "Old Peter" (Alte Peter) and admire a view of the city from above. On a clear day, you can see forever, well, to the Alps at least!
To the South of St. Peter's is the Viktualienmarkt, which is an open-air food market. Stop and have a beer in the beer garden if you feel like it. For those that favor a more cozy atmosphere, there is always the Turmstübl which is part of the Valentin-Musäum. Karl Valentin was the city's most famous comedian and a museum dedicated to him can be found in the Isartor, which was once Munich's Eastern gate. End your tour with a coffee, an apple strudel, some sausages or some other typically Bavarian dish in the museum?s café which is at the top of the Isartor.
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