Munich 2024
In early December 2024 we visited Munich with Nick and Carol. I didn't take my camera with me but Pat had her Canon S90 and phone camera.
Münchner Residenz
The Residenz in Munich has been open to the public as a museum since 1920 and is today amongst the most significant palace museums in Europe.
The building was originally erected and owned by the Wittelsbach family who lived and ruled from there as Prince-Electors in the 17th Century and then as Kings of Bavaria between 1806 and 1918.
The building was originally erected and owned by the Wittelsbach family who lived and ruled from there as Prince-Electors in the 17th Century and then as Kings of Bavaria between 1806 and 1918.
Hofbräuhaus
The Hofbräuhaus in Munich claims to be the most famous German Tavern in the world. It is owned by the Bavarian state government. The Hof comes from the brewery's history as a royal brewery in the Kingdom of Bavaria. There are many types of beer brewed using original recipes handed down by Wilhem V, the Duke of Bavaria, who founded the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl in 1589.
On 24th February 1920, Adolf Hitler announced at the Hofbräuhaus the official program of the Nazi Party to a meeting of around 2,000 people and he was elected leader of the party during a meeting there on 29th July 1921.
We dined in the Schwemme which is the main hall downstairs (there are also dining rooms upstairs) which holds 1,500 people. There's no need to book - you just go and sit where you can and this usually involves sharing a table with others. We were lucky to get a table on our own for a time but during the course of the evening we were joined by two others.
On 24th February 1920, Adolf Hitler announced at the Hofbräuhaus the official program of the Nazi Party to a meeting of around 2,000 people and he was elected leader of the party during a meeting there on 29th July 1921.
We dined in the Schwemme which is the main hall downstairs (there are also dining rooms upstairs) which holds 1,500 people. There's no need to book - you just go and sit where you can and this usually involves sharing a table with others. We were lucky to get a table on our own for a time but during the course of the evening we were joined by two others.
There's always live music from 6pm in the Schwemme. At the moment, this is provided by the Obermüllers who have been the house band since October 2002.
Treasury at the Residenz
Our tickets for the Residenz also included a visit to the Schatzkammer or Treasury
In its 10 rooms on the ground floor of the Residenz, it houses around 1200 ornamental pieces including works of gold, enamel, crystal and ivory.
In its 10 rooms on the ground floor of the Residenz, it houses around 1200 ornamental pieces including works of gold, enamel, crystal and ivory.
Cuvilliés-Theater
The third part of the Residenz that we visited was the Cuvilliés-Theater which is now named after the architect who designed it (François Cuvilliés d. Ä), but was originally the Neuen Opera Hauß (New Opera House) when it was built between 1751 and 1755.
The building was destroyed during the Second World War and is now the site of a re-built Residenz Theatre. However, the Cuvilliés-Theater was rebuilt close by using material from the remains of the original where possible.
The building was destroyed during the Second World War and is now the site of a re-built Residenz Theatre. However, the Cuvilliés-Theater was rebuilt close by using material from the remains of the original where possible.
Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau
On the day before flying home, we caught a Flixbus to Schwangau to visit the well-known castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.
Both castles are in the foothills of the Alps and roughly face each other from opposite hilltops. Neuschwanstein was built by "mad" King Ludwig II who had previously lived in Hohenschwangau.
Ludwig was a very interesting character. He ascended to the throne of Bavaria when he was 18 in 1864 but increasingly withdrew from the affairs of state in favour of various extravagant artistic and architectural projects - including the building of Neuschwanstain. He borrowed extensively to finance these and defied the attempts of his ministers to restrain him. Eventually they'd had too much and used his extravagance to declare him insane.
Ludwig was taken into custody on 12th June 1886 and he and his doctor were found dead the following day. Their bodies were found, head and shoulders above the water, in shallow water near the shore of Lake Starnberg. His death was officially ruled as suicide by drowning. However, the official autopsy indicated that no water was found in his lungs and Ludwig was a strong swimmer and the water was roughly only waist deep and Ludwig had not expressed suicidal feelings. His doctor's body showed blows to the head and neck and signs of strangulation.
Both castles are in the foothills of the Alps and roughly face each other from opposite hilltops. Neuschwanstein was built by "mad" King Ludwig II who had previously lived in Hohenschwangau.
Ludwig was a very interesting character. He ascended to the throne of Bavaria when he was 18 in 1864 but increasingly withdrew from the affairs of state in favour of various extravagant artistic and architectural projects - including the building of Neuschwanstain. He borrowed extensively to finance these and defied the attempts of his ministers to restrain him. Eventually they'd had too much and used his extravagance to declare him insane.
Ludwig was taken into custody on 12th June 1886 and he and his doctor were found dead the following day. Their bodies were found, head and shoulders above the water, in shallow water near the shore of Lake Starnberg. His death was officially ruled as suicide by drowning. However, the official autopsy indicated that no water was found in his lungs and Ludwig was a strong swimmer and the water was roughly only waist deep and Ludwig had not expressed suicidal feelings. His doctor's body showed blows to the head and neck and signs of strangulation.
Weihnachtsmarkt
During one of our days in Munich we stumbled across a medieval Christmas Market. In addition to the usual food and trinket booths, there were stage performances of music, acrobatics and sword-fighting. The players wore clothing fitting with the medieval age and some carried falcons or puppets.
