Munich

Munich was a surprise. I wasn't really expecting much (not sure why) but was really taken in by this city--beautiful parks, amazing buildings, lots of surprises around the corners. Munich is particularly interesting to visit because many of the buildings have been restored to their original state. After WWII, like many European cities, Munich had been devastated by bombings. Unlike many other European cities, though, Munich officials decided to rebuild many important and historical structures rather than leaving ruins or building something new.

One of our favorite places in Munich was this area by the Munich Residenz. This is the former royal palace and is amazing. So much so that I actually spent the money to take a tour. I was not disappointed. It has been completely restored and was just marvelous.

The Antiquarium

Part of the Residenz

The Emperor's Courtyard

The Residenz includes a large courtyard with a gazebo in the center. The gardens weren't in bloom yet, but it was still lovely. On Sunday afternoon, a gentleman was giving an impromptu cello concert there. That was definitely a highlight.

Just outside the Residenz walls was this big, beautiful, old church. I think this was one of Joe's favorites.
We heard about the royal family's summer palace, a little out of the city center, so decided to make the trip there. Oh.my.word. Amazing. The Schloss Nymphenburg was out of this world (or as one of my clients says OTT--over the top).

Front of the Schloss

View of the back

While the interior of the Castle is apparently gorgeous, the really unique aspect of the palace is the grounds. With 490-acres, it is huge and has many walking paths. They allow the public free access to the gardens so we enjoyed a leisurely stroll. This is the view from the back of the palace out into the center of the gardens. It goes back further than you can see in the picture. On either side are large areas of "wilderness" as well as several pavilions, pump houses, and greenhouses.

Central garden area

One of the first things we actually saw when we got to Munich was the Rathaus, or City Hall. We were taken aback when we rounded the corner from a fairly modern row of shops to find this:


Other highlights included a trip and a pint (well, half-liter actually) at the world famous Brauhaus, a stroll through the Englischer Gardens (larger than Central Park, but still not as big as Forest Park in St. Louis), and another random run-in with a talkative local (this one who claimed he was my astrological soulmate and gave me a hug while my dear husband looked on and giggled).

Two days was not enough in Munich and we definitely want to go back.