Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River
Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Franz Josef Strauss International Airport is
Germany's second largest airport. The airport began operations in 1992, replacing the former main
airport, the Munich-Riem airport.
The Peterskirche is the oldest church of the inner city, which was first built
during the Romanesque period. Heiliggeistkirche (The Church of the Holy Spirit) was
converted to baroque style from 1724 onwards and looks down upon the
Viktualienmarkt, the most popular market of Munich.
The Frauenkirche is the most famous building in the city centre and serves as
cathedral for the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising.
The Deutsches Museum, located on an island in the River Isar, is one of the
oldest and largest science museums in the world.
The city has several important art galleries, most of which can be found in the
Kunstareal, including the Alte Pinakothek, the Neue Pinakothek, and the
Pinakothek der Moderne. The Kunstareal will be further augmented by the
completion of the Egyptian Museum. An important collection of Greek and Roman art is held
in the Glyptothek and the Staatliche Antikensammlung (State Antiquities
Collection).
Munich is a major European cultural centre and has played host to
many prominent composers.
The National theatre is the home of the
Bavarian State Opera and the Bavarian State Orchestra.
Munich is a green city with numerous parks. The Englischer Garten, close to the
city centre is larger than Central Park in New York and the city's oldest park
is the Hofgarten, dating back to the 16th century. Best known for the largest
beer garden in the town is the former royal Hirschgarten. Munich is famous for
its breweries and the Weissbier (wheat beer) is a speciality from Bavaria. There
are around 20 major beer gardens, with four of the most famous and popular being
located in the Englischer Garten.
