Munich is one of the few landlocked cities where you'll come across surfers, boards and wetsuits included. As you run around Munich, you'll discover their favorite spot, as well as the imposing Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Castle and the futuristic BMW headquarters. With JOOKS, discover the city of Munich with our 22 audio-guided routes!
"One thing is beyond doubt: if Paris appeals to the heart, Munich appeals to the stomach", declared Rachel Johnson, a famous English journalist. And, indeed, Munich is home to the very best in Bavarian gastronomy. But beyond the pleasures of the table, Munich has many other attractions.
Germany's third-largest city in terms of population, the capital of Bavaria is both a modern metropolis and the former residence of the Dukes of Bavaria. The nearby Alps and Bodensee lake add to the special charm of this city, which after the Second World War was described as Germany's "secret capital".
In the heart of old Munich
Although many historic buildings were destroyed during the Second World War, some have been rebuilt to their original condition. Some medieval fortifications also remain - the Isartor, Sendlinger Tor and Karlstor gates. Once through these gates, in the heart of the old town, stands Marienplatz. This is Munich's focal point. It is flanked by the splendid Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), built in Gothic style, and the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), built in Neo-Gothic style. Its architect was inspired by the Brussels Town Hall.
On your run through the center of Munich, you'll come across the city's most emblematic building, the Frauenkirche, with its two red-brick-roofed towers, recognizable by their distinctive "onion" roofs. Nearby is Germany's largest urban palace, the Residenz, dating from the 14th century. From here, your tour of Munich takes you to the old "food market". Further south, past the opera house, you'll take the more recent Maximilianstraße, built in the 19th century to accommodate military parades. Straddling the Isar River, it takes you to the eastern districts of the city, where you can admire the Maximilianeum, now the seat of the Bavarian Parliament.
Urban fun in Munich
On the other side of the Isar, to the east, lies an urban beach, the Isarstrand, not far from the Maximilian Bridge and the island it crosses. This district, known as "Au", is home to the Deutsches Museum, a technology museum also built on one of the Isar's islands. A wonderful place for strolling, the Au district is also home to the Müllersches Volksbad, which opened in 1901 after four years of construction. This is Munich's oldest public bath, built in the Art Nouveau style. An exceptional place to relax after your run around Munich!
The Maxvorstadt district, to the west of the city center, offers numerous examples of neo-classical architecture. These include the Royal Square, or Königsplatz, as well as the Glyptothek and the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, the German State's collections of antiques, a godsend for lovers of ancient art and architecture.
To the north, Munich's second-biggest avenue, Ludwigstrasse, turns into Leopoldstrasse. It leads to the Ludwig-Maximilians University and the Siegestor triumphal arch. But above all, it runs through Schwabing, the student quarter. This legendary artists' haunt is now home to the English Gardens, a must-see when strolling through Munich. Here you'll find a 25-meter-high Chinese pagoda, a Greek temple built in the 19th century... and a static wave, on which surfers flock in summer. However, if you want to take advantage of it, remember to bring your own equipment: it's a perfectly natural phenomenon linked to the shape of the Eisbach riverbed, which means that there are no surfing-related services nearby. What's more, Eisbach literally means "river of ice", which suggests the temperature of the water...
Finally, there's a real underground music scene in Munich. For aficionados of singular sounds, from krautrock to experimental electro, there's a wide variety of concerts. Alternatively, after your run, it's always possible to go and listen to Schlager, the German variety, while sipping a beer in one of the city's many Biergarten.
Run, walk or ride with JOOKS, from Marienplatz to the English Gardens!
Find all the routes in Munich and over 1300 others on the JOOKS app.
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