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GERMANY

place guides to travel

Munich

Ancla 1

On  german ,  Munich,  on  Austro-Bavarian,  Minga  is the capital. Is  the largest and most important city in the  federated state  from  bavaria  and  the third city of  Germany  by number of inhabitants after  berlin  and  Hamburg . It is on the  Isar river , north of the  Bavarian Alps . The city is known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and beer halls, including the famous Hofbräuhaus, founded in 1589. According to a 2009 study, it is the city with the best  quality of life  from Germany.​  Modern Munich is a financial and publishing center. In terms of social and economic innovation, the city ranks 15th out of 289 cities according to a 2010 study,

munich

How to get to Munich  from the airport

is about  28 kilometers northeast of the center;  is named  Franz Joseph Strauss , for a major 20th-century Bavarian politician. It is next to the town of Freising, in the metropolitan area of the city.

Train: The  S-Bahn  is the Munich train system

The two lines that lead to the airport are the  S1 and S8.  Both take a few  40-50 minutes and depart every 10 minutes, operating from 4:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

The airport train station is  located  on the ground floor of the central area (located between the two terminals, but closer to terminal 1). It has no loss, because it is very well signposted from both terminals.

Bus: The other public transport option with which you can travel  is  the bus, the   Lufthansa Express Bus. It works  every 15 minutes from   6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.  of the night and  They take you to different points of the city. They all depart from a stop located just in front of the central area, between terminals 1 and 2.

Taxi: One of the most comfortable ways to travel from Munich airport to the city center, but more expensive than other means.

The stops are located:

Terminal 1: on the arrivals and departures level, on E04, just in front of the AE modules.

Terminal 2: next to the access ramp for buses and taxis north of the arrivals area (level E03) and at departures (level E04).

Central Area: on level E03, to the north.

How to get around the city

Subway (U-Bahn):  there are  6 subway lines available.  They don't seem like many, but combined with the commuter and tram services, they form a complete public transport network.

The metro stops are  marked with the letter U  in white on a blue background.

The metro runs from 4:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on weekdays and until 2:00 p.m. on weekends.

 

Tram:  It is one of the most used means of public transport in Munich.

It currently has  20 daytime lines and another 4 at night: N16, N19, N20 and N27.

Daytime hours are from 4:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Train (S-Bahn): there are currently  8 lines operating in Munich.

They are complemented by the metro and tram service, so they have the same operating hours and ticket prices.

 

Urban bus: thanks to the  extensive transport network, it is said that anywhere in Munich is less than 400 meters from a metro, tram, train or bus stop.

The schedule and the price of the tickets coincide with the rest of the means of transport.

The lines with night hours are: N40, N41 and N45.

 

Taxi: as in all cities, the taxi is the most expensive means of transport to get around Munich.  In Germany they are cream-colored, with no other distinction than the yellow sign on the roof with the word taxi. 

What to see in Munich

marienplatz

It is the central square  since the founding of the city in 1158. The Marienplatz is today the nerve center of city life, around which the main shopping streets with all kinds of shops and restaurants extend. Previously known as Schrannenmarkt (a place where merchants and farmers sold and bought their products), the name was changed when in 1854 a statue of the Virgin Mary was installed in the center on a tower called Mariensäule.  

Marienplatz

Column of Santa Maria

It occupies the central space of the square. It was built in 1638 to commemorate the end of the Swedish invasion. At the top of the column is a sculpture of the Virgin surrounded by four angels symbolizing victory over plague, famine, war and heresy. The monument consists of a marble column on top of which appears a golden statue of the  virgin mary  with the  Child Jesus  in arms.

column of santa maria

new town hall

plaza building  Marienplatz is a monumental neo-Gothic building decorated with all kinds of statues, very tall towers and figures. In the center, a tower rises to more than 85 meters. In its basements is the Ratskeller München restaurant, beautifully vaulted and, by the way, not expensive. Every day large numbers of tourists gather in front of the tower, at 11 and 12 noon (in summer, also at 5 pm) to hear the famous Munich carillon as well as the parade of 32 figures that make it up. . Those in the top row hold a tournament in honor of Duke William's wedding, while the figurines in the bottom row represent the barrellers' dance.

new town hall

old town hall

It was built between 1470 and 1480 in a gothic style with all the appearance of a fairytale medieval castle and a beautiful interior.  

Its 55 meter high tower houses the  Museum of Toys, a peculiar museum that illustrates the history of toys since the beginning of the 19th century.

Old Town Hall in Munich

Frauenkirche Church

Church of Our Lady, the city's Catholic cathedral,  is a  largest brick church in Europe. Up to 20,000 faithful can gather here. This church was ordered to be built by the Wittelsbach Family, who held the throne of Bavaria for more than 6 centuries, either as Dukes, Prince Electors or Kings of Bavaria. It was built at the end of the 15th century in a late Gothic style, although the truth is that it is much less spectacular than many other Gothic cathedrals.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Munich

The highlights are the twin towers that reach 99 meters and the monument that is located next to the entrance, dedicated to Emperor Ludwig IV of Bavaria.

By the way,  In Munich, no building can be built taller than the towers of the Frauenkirche. 

San Miguel's Church

It's a great church  Renaissance  from the south of  Germany ,  the largest north of the  Alps . It was built for the Jesuits (from 1585 to 1597) by  Wilhelm V, Duke of Bavaria  (1579-1597), as the spiritual center of the  Counter Reformation . His style expresses well the transition from  Renaissance  to the  Baroque  and had a great influence on early Baroque architecture in southern Germany. It is said to be the largest Renaissance-style church outside of Italy, although it has a lot of German Baroque in it.

Inside it is more reminiscent of those in Spain or Italy, instead of  the most austere churches in Germany.

Under the church there is a small crypt, which it is possible to visit. Several Bavarian kings are buried there, including Ludwig, "the mad king".

church of st michael

St. Peter's Church

On  German  Peterskirche, is located between Marienplatz and Virtualienmark and is also known as Alter Peter.  It is the oldest Catholic temple in Germany and one of the main emblems of the city.  Going up  to their towers  56 meters high you can enjoy one of the best views  from the city.  The ascent is very complicated since there are 302 narrow and steep steps. The interior of the church presents a peculiar mixture of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo elements.  

View of Alter Peter Munich

Virtualienmarkt

Open every day except Sunday, this market is one of the favorite places among tourists, but also among locals. The market has occupied a huge square for almost two centuries and is home to a large number of gourmet shops, especially  feeding. Here are the best cheeses, olives or traditional products.  

Also in a good place to taste typical Bavarian cuisine in one of the  stalls that sell ready-made food.

Virtual market

Hofbrauhaus

There are several breweries to visit in Munich. . But of all of them, there is one  near Marienplatz  who was the manufacturer  official version of the beer that the Bavarian monarchy had been drinking long before it opened to the general public: the   Hofbrauhaus , which has been serving its beer for some two centuries in a huge set of vaulted rooms where you can  enjoy an excellent atmosphere and that as in all   German breweries you have to share a table.  In addition to beers you can enjoy typical German dishes such as sausage and pork.

hofbrauhaus
Hofbrauhaus Munich

Residence  

It was the main palace of the House of Wittelsbach in Munich. From here the Bavarian domains were governed for centuries and as usual in these cases, each monarch was expanding the dependencies at will. Among the more than 90 rooms that can be visited, the largest palatial Renaissance room north of the Alps stands out. It was built during the second half of the 16th century by order of Albert V and is known as the Antiquarium, for being full of Greco-Roman sculptures and busts and copies of them. The rococo rooms decorated by Francois de Cuvilliés are among the most spectacular in the palace.

residence

Odeonplatz Square

This imposing square owes its name to the Odeon concert hall that was in that place at the time of its construction. It is surrounded by impressive constructions such as the  Feldherrnhalle, symbolizing the honor of the Bavarian army and designed in 1841 in much the same way as the  Loggia dei Lanzi, from  Florence ; the  Hoffgarten,  beautiful Italian-style gardens, or the impressive  Theatine Church.

odeonplatz

Nymphenburg Palace

Imposing baroque style construction that was built in 1664 to be the summer residence of the  Wittelsbach family.  The interior of the palace is truly surprising and beautiful with numerous beautiful rooms, including a Rococo-style ballroom. In its beautiful English-style garden with more than 800,000 square meters you will find  from a charming mansion, to some beautiful bathrooms or a beautiful chapel.

nymphenburg palace

BMW Museum and BMW Welt

Designed together with the BMW headquarters and coinciding with the celebration of the  1972 Munich Olympics, the museum of the Bavarian car brand was formally opened already in the summer of  1973. The exterior design, especially innovative for the time, offers as a result a hemispherical building. It is dedicated to the history of BMW cars and motorcycles. It is located right next to the  BMW Tower . The  BMW Welt  it is not part of the same building as the BMW Museum and  sample  the most current products of the BMW brand, also being used as a distribution center for a larger range of BMW products.

BMW Museum

Augustiner-Brau

The second of the best breweries in Munich and one of the most important in the country. The Augustinian monks settled in Munich in 1294 and by 1328 they were already making it. Since 1885 it was transferred  to the building  historical Kellerareal. It is a very large brewery where you can also taste traditional dishes.

augustiner-brau-brewery

Book the best Tours and Walks in Munich

Munich gastronomy

Kartoffelsalat:  cooked potatoes accompanied by different ingredients; It is used on many occasions to accompany other delicious recipes during parties and family celebrations, being  one of  the  typical dishes  from  Munich  for its great flavor and simplicity.

papars_salad

Dampfnudeln:  delicious fritters made with flour, milk, fresh yeast, salt, some sugar and  fat and are also stuffed with meat. They are usually consumed for breakfast or snacks. On the other hand, they can be accompanied by various herbs, salads, pickles or with mushrooms in a cream sauce.

dampfnudeln-recipe

Weisswurst:  white sausages  from  Pork Meat,  veal  and spices. To make them, use the  veal head meat  and some portion of  loin bacon  I the  sirloin  (piece of meat from the lumbar part). This sausage is usually accompanied with beer and a little sweet mustard in the Bavarian style. 

The-sausage-Weißwurst

Sauerbraten : roast from a  meat marinade  (the "Beize" -  marinated ) with  vinegar , water,  Vegetables soup  and  spices  (for example  bay leaves ,  nails ,  pepper ,  mustard seeds  etc.) left to stand for several days. The resulting marinade softens the meat little by little, and it is for this reason that no special beef is needed.

Obatzda: it is the main typical cheese of the region of  bavaria,  prepared with a mixture of  Camembert cheeses  with powder  sweet paprika and onions  into a kind of spreadable dough that is used  on bread or pretzels. 

Apple strudel:     sweet that is served in almost every restaurant in Munich consists of a  bun made with puff pastry and stuffed with applesauce and raisins. This dessert is ideal for those who enjoy sweet foods as its flavor is unique and authentic.

Berliner Krapfen:  known as  Berlin or whale. It is a delicious typical dessert that basically consists of  balls of dough with pastry cream inside and can also be filled with cream, finally sprinkled with sugar on top. 

img_marinade_for_meats
Obatzda
Wiener Apple Strudel
berliner krapfen

Black forest

Ancla 2

It is  a mountainous strip 160 kilometers long and about 60 kilometers wide in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. This  region with its thick forests, waterfalls and rivers, blue-water lakes and manicured medieval villages give the area the name Black Forest. It begins at the same point where the borders of 3 countries such as Germany, Switzerland and France coincide (perhaps the Swiss city of Basel is its beginning),

black forest

How to get to the Black Forest

Plane: to Baden-Baden (the epicenter of the Black Forest) directly from Barcelona or Paris, for example.

To the  Strasbourg airport, which is an hour and a half more or less by train from Baden-Baden.

To the Frankfurt airport, which is a little over two hours away, but it is an airport with many more connections.

To the airport of  Basel  in Switzerland 20 kilometers from the beginning of the forests from Paris for example.

To the airport of  Stuttgart, Germany, the closest to the forests within the country.  

Car: it is the  best way to go through it. So you can enjoy each town with total freedom. A highly recommended route is to start in Baden-Baden and end in Freiburg.

What to see in the Black Forest

Baden Baden

This city is located in the heart of the Oos River Valley. During the 19th century it was the favorite vacation spot for the German gentry, mainly thanks to the numerous thermal baths that have existed there since Roman times. The city has around 12 spring water sources that emerge from a depth of 2,000 meters and that throughout history have been used for all kinds of ailments and therapies.

Places to visit:

The ancient ruins of the Roman baths, located under the Friedrichsbad Spa.

The  Kurhaus casino: one of the most beautiful and luxurious   in the world. , built at the beginning of the 19th century.

Lichtentaller Allee Gardens, a green, wooded park on the banks of the River Oos with more than 300 species of trees and the Gothic Siftskirche Church. 

In the cobbled historic center of the  exclusive Sophienstraße street you can see the Festspielhaus, the second largest concert and opera house in Europe and the Frieder Burda Museum.  

baden baden
Casino Baden Baden
spa in baden

SASBACHWALDEN

It is located in the Ortenau district, Baden-Württemberg, on the western slope of Mount Hornisgrinde, surrounded by forests, hills and vineyards attached to the town. It appears as a succession of typical houses, made of wood with  very bright colors and decorated with many flowers located along a winding path that climbs the hills.

It is interesting to visit  its water mills, the Heiligen Dreifaltigkeit pilgrimage church, the ruins of Hohenrode castle  and the Gaishöll waterfalls.

sasbachwalden
Sasbachwalden center

gengenbach

Small city of approximately 11,000 inhabitants located in the south at el Ortenau districtBaden-Württemberg. Her beauty  has been the reason why  has been chosen for films like  Charlie and the chocolate factory. The wall, the towers and the old town protect one of the most beautiful sites in the Black Forest. This city is limited to four or five streets and its central square, but with marvelous traditional architecture. It is the best place in the entire region to taste the Black Forest cake.

Places to visit: Gengenbach Town Hall built in 1784 and at Christmas it becomes the largest calendar in the country;  Kinzig Gate-tower an old defense tower that was part of the walls;  Church of Santa María that keeps beautiful frescoes inside, the Niggel Tower; the  Old Town and the streets Engelgasse (Street of Angels) and Höllengasse (Street of Hell) with cobbled floors and typical wooden  houses decorated with flowers.

gengenbach palace-lowenberg
Advent calendar Gengenbach
Gergenbach

Freiburg

It is considered the capital of the Black Forest. It was awarded the prize for the greenest city in Germany. Its main monument is the cathedral and around it a colorful and lively market is held every morning, from Monday to Saturday. In the city, it is easy to find the so-called Freiburg creeks, channels of crystal clear water that run through the streets of the historic center. The bell tower of the Gothic Freiburg Minster, at 116 metres, is the tallest and most recognizable building in the city

Places to visit:  the old city warehouse, from 1532; the Haus Zum Schönen Eck which houses the Freiburg History Museum; the Alte Wache building;  the old entrance gates to Freiburg, the Martinstor and  the Schwabentor, from the 13th century and the old and new Town Hall, located on the Rathausplatz._cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_A journey of about 38 kilometers separates Freiburg from Europa Park, the largest amusement park in Germany, which is located in the small town of Rust, very close to the border with France.

Free tour with Civitatis. Click here

freiburg cathedral
freiburg town hall
old martinstor gate

Triberg

It was founded in the 14th century and is known for its famous cuckoo clocks. Here  you will find the most important Clock House in Germany, Eble Clock Park with more than 1,000 ancient treasures;  the Black Forest Museum; the highest waterfalls in Germany (Triberger Wasserfalle) with a  height of 163 meters, through which the Gutach river runs, leaving beautiful prints that are even better when they are covered in snow; its Town Hall that has a room decorated with carved wood that shows life in the Black Forest in a humorous key and the Church of Wallfahrtskirche Maria in der Tanne, built between 1699 and 1705 and decorated in Baroque style.

triberg cuckoo clock
tiberg waterfall
triberg town hall

Schiltach

It is a small town belonging to the district of Rottweil, in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located in the upper valley of the Kinzig. It stands out for its perfectly preserved old town where you can visit the  Market Square and the  Town Hall. From this square comes Schlossbergstrasse Street, with wooden houses of beautiful colors that goes up to the remains of the old castle. The  museums: from the Pharmacy, the Schüttesägemuseum that shows how to process wood; the Museum am Markt, with eleven themed rooms that tell the story of Schiltach and the  Hansgrohe Aquademie with pieces from the world of bathing and wellness dating back more than 700 years.

Schilach river kinzig
schiltach
schiltach Town Hall

ALPIRSBACH

It is located in the Kinzig River Valley, in the heart of the Black Forest and all its tourism revolves around the Alpirsbacher brewery and the old monastic church, a 12th-century Romanesque basilica, one of _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_the most beautiful in the country. The brewery, founded in 1870, was built in the same place where in ancient times there was a monastery for Benedictine monks, dating back to 1095. It brews craft beer from local raw materials; it is possible to visit the distillery and the beer museum where you can see how it is made.

alpirsbacher-klosterbraeu beer
alpirsbacher-klosterbraeu
ALPIRSBACHER former monastic church

Freudenstadt

Capital of the homonymous district, it is located in the Karlsruhe region, in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg and is a very popular vacation spot among Germans from all over the country who migrate here to seek some peace.  Es  known for having the largest market square in Germany that encompasses most restaurants, bars and places of interest becoming _cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_the nerve center of the city. You can visit the Gothic-Renaissance Lutheran church and the town hall.   Its gastronomy is quite famous too._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d

freudenstadt MARKET
Freudenstadt

Calw  

Located about 66 kilometers east of Baden-Baden is nestled in the pine-fringed Nagold Valley, about two hours' drive south of Frankfurt, or an hour's train west of Stuttgart.  .

It is interesting to know  its very well preserved historic center; the market square and the Nikolausbrücke bridge, the oldest bridge over the Nagold River and built in the 15th century, the  House of Salt and Hirsau Abbey.

Herman Hesse (Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946) was born in this city, and there is a museum in his name,

calwl
calw-baden-wurttemberg

Book the best Black Forest Tours and Walks

Gastronomy of the Black Forest

Black Forest Cake: is the queen of the Black Forest; Baba with cherry liqueur (kirch), with cream and  cherry jam in the middle. As a topping, it has more cherries and chocolate shavings.

Black Forest sausage: table of sausages with rye bread. They are usually smoked, with ham, bacon or bacon (Speck), some sausage (Wurst), local cheeses, horseradish and mustard.

Flammkuchen: very thin flour and water dough with onion, bacon and fresh cheese/cream.

Fädlesuppe or Flädlesuppe: soup based on beef broth.

 

Käsespätzle: cream cheese pasta with fried onion.

 

Kartoffelsalat or potato salad: it is typical in almost the entire country, but each region prepares it in a different way.

 

Schnitzel mit Pommes: breaded steak with French fries

 

Another highly appreciated product in these lands is wine. “More than 80% of Badense wines come from the western edge of the Black Forest. It is a pleasure to taste them in the wineries in the area where, in addition, wine festivals are held in summer and at other times.or not.

black_forest_cake
Flammkuchen
Wiener Schnitzel with Pommes
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