Europe Tour - Munich

Munich is the capital city of Bavaria (Bayern), Germany. It is located on the River
Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are about
1.35 million people living within city limits.
Munich hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics and is a candidate city for the 2018
Winter Olympics.
The city's motto is "München mag Dich" (Munich likes you). Before 2006, it was
"Weltstadt mit Herz" (Cosmopolitan city with a heart). Its native name, München, is
derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The
city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city;
hence the monk depicted on the city's coat of arms. Black and gold—the colours of
the Holy Roman Empire—have been the city's official colours since the time of
Ludwig the Bavarian.
Modern Munich is a financial and publishing hub, and a frequently top-ranked
destination for migration and ex-patriate location in livability rankings.
Munich is noted for its architecture and culture, and the annual Oktoberfest beer
celebration is world famous. Munich's cultural scene is second to none in
Germany, with the museums even considered by some to outrank Berlin in quality.
Many travelers to Munich are absolutely stunned by the quality of the architecture.
Although it was heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its
historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city center appears mostly as it did in
the late 1800s.

The Frauenkirche

The Frauenkirche (full name Dom zu unserer lieben Frau, "Cathedral of Our Dear
Lady") is a church in the Bavarian city of Munich that serves as the cathedral of the
Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and seat of its Archbishop. It is a landmark
and is considered a symbol of the Bavarian capital city.
The church towers are widely visible because of local height limits. The city
administration prohibits buildings with a height exceeding 109 metres (358 ft) in the
city center. Since November 2004, this prohibition has been provisionally extended
outward and as a result, no buildings may be built in the city over the
aforementioned height. The south tower is open to those wishing to climb the stairs
and offers a unique view of Munich and the nearby Alps.
The Frauenkirche was constructed from red brick in the late Gothic style within only
20 years. The building is designed very plainly, without rich Gothic ornaments.

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a 16-18 day festival held each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany,
running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most
famous events in Germany and the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million
people attending every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian
culture. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled
after the Munich event.
The Munich Oktoberfest, traditionally, takes place during the sixteen days up to
and including the first Sunday in October. In 1994, the schedule was modified in
response to German reunification so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the
1st or 2nd, then the festival will go on until October 3 (German Unity Day). Thus,
the festival is now 17 days when the first Sunday is October 2 and 18 days when it
is October 1. In 2010, the festival lasts until the first Monday in October, to mark
the 200-year anniversary of the event. The festival is held in an area named the
Theresienwiese (field, or meadow, of Therese), often called Wiesn for short, located
near Munich's centre.
Visitors eat large amounts of traditional fare such as Hendl (chicken),
Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Steckerlfisch
(grilled fish on a stick), Würstl (sausages) along with Brezn (Pretzel), Knödel
(potato or bread dumplings), Kasspatzn (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato
pancakes), Sauerkraut or Blaukraut (red cabbage) along with such Bavarian
delicacies as Obatzda (a spiced cheese-butter spread) and Weisswurst (a white
sausage).

BMW Museum

The BMW Museum is located near the Olympiapark in Munich and was established
in 1972 shortly before the Summer Olympics opened. It deals with the history of the
automobile manufacturer BMW. In connection with the construction of the BMW
Welt, directly opposite the museum, it was renovated from 2004 to 2008. The
museum reopened on June 21, 2008.
The museum shows BMW's technical development throughout the company's
history. It contains engines and turbines, aircraft, motorcycles, and vehicles in a
variety of possible variations. In addition to actual models there are futuristic-
looking, even conceptual studies from the past 20 years.
The use of headphones and clever, often indirect lighting, lend the exhibition a
largely peaceful atmosphere. The emphasis is on technical development and
benefits of modernity. The building blends in with the exhibition concept.