Munich: Marienplatz, the Englischer Garten, Hofbräuhaus and Viktualienmarkt

The following pictures were taken in early May, 2006. This was my second time in Munich. During this visit I saw the Englisher Garten, Viktualienmarkt and much more of the city than back in March.

This is Marienplatz, the main square in central Munich. Marienplatz is the plaza in front of the Neues Rathaus, below the Glockenspiel.

Me in Marienplatz, behind me is the old City Hall (Altes Rathaus) which was destroyed in the 2nd World War, much more than the new City Hall (Neues Rathaus). After the war the old City Hall was rebuilt so now it is actually newer than the new City Hall... which is older than the old City Hall.

Cherubs on the Marien Säule, in front of the Neues Rathaus in Marienplatz

The top of the Marien Säule, behind it is the Glockenspiel

Behind the Glockenspiel, in the courtyard of the Neues Rathaus.

A few blocks further back, away from Marienplatz.

This is a World Cup display setup in downtown Munich. It is called the Fußball Globus, inside is a theater that has some presentation over the history of the World Cup. Munich hosts the opening of the Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft (Soccer World Cup) in June - Germany vs. Costa Rica

Odeonsplatz, a monument to two Bavarian generals... However, the guy on the left was not actually a general, the guy on the right was a general but he wasn't from Bavaria. The two spires in the back, right-hand side are the part of the Cathedral in Munich, they show up in most of the pictures I took. The Cathedral, by law, is the tallest structure in Munich.

This is Ricardo, he is an Italian exchange student, he thought it'd be cool if he climbed up on one of the lions at Odeonsplatz.

Staatskanzlei, Bavarian state offices - formerly a Bavaria military museum before World War II, most of it was destroyed, hence the glass/steel construction.

The Hofgarten, between the Staatskanzlei and Odeonsplatz.

The Hofgarten is part of the Residenz - sort of a Bavarian Windsor castle

The city beer garden, part of the Viktualien Markt, there are 500 seats in total.

Englischer Garten, the largest park in Munich, it's larger than Central Park in New York. In the middle of the Skyline you can see the twin spires of Munich's Cathedral

The Monopteros, a monument at the top of a small hill in the Englischer Garten dedicated by King Ludwig I in 1837. The hill it is built on is comprised of leftover stone and scraps from the building of the Münchner Residenz in 1832.

The Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) in the Englischer Garten surrounded by a large beer garden. On the 2nd floor is a band playing traditional Volksmusik. There has a been a pagoda on this spot since 1790.

One entrance to the Munich Botanical Gardens

Karolinenplatz, a circular intersection with an Obelisk dedicated to Queen Karoline in 1832. The wires overhead are for the streetcars which run all over the city. In the lower left you can see the spires of the Cathedral

Königsplatz, on the left and right side of the gate are two large Greek style buildings which are museums that house the royal family's collection of Egyptian artifacts

Schloss Nymphenburg, the last resident of the Bavarian royal family. Bavaria still has a Duke, Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog von Bayern, who has private quarters off to the right, the rest of the palace is a museum.

Siegestor, the victory gate, dedicated to the armies of Bavaria. It's adorned with lions, the symbol for Munich

Hofbräuhaus, one of the main tourist attactions in Munich, it's a traditional style German bierhalle full of Japanese and American tourists. Across the alleyway from the main entrance you can find an authentic San Francisco Coffee Company and Hard Rock Cafe.