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Munich is the largest city in southern Germany, the third largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg, and one of Germany’s major economic, cultural, technological and transportation centers.
Munich has developed automobile manufacturing, precision equipment, electrical appliances and insurance industries, 25 Fortune 500 companies and more than 300,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. Among them, companies on the Fortune 500 list include Volkswagen, BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Telekom, Allianz Group, Siemens and many other well-known multinational companies.
Introduction to the city of Munich
Munich is the largest city in southern Germany and the third largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg, as well as one of Germany’s major economic, cultural, technological and transportation centers. Munich is also an economic and cultural capital with an international reputation. It is a bustling city that combines the most prosperous, modern and quaint style in Europe, and has the reputation of the most magnificent “palace cultural center” in Germany.
Munich is located on the Bavarian plain in the southern German state of Bavaria, about 45 kilometers from the northern foothills of the Alps. Munich has a temperate continental climate with warm summers and very cold winters, with an average temperature of -2°C. The temperature difference between day and night and winter and summer is very large, and heavy rains are common.
Munich is home to the Allianz Insurance Group, one of the largest financial companies in Europe and one of the largest insurance and asset management groups in the world. It is also one of the most active scientific research sites in Europe and is home to the European Patent Office, the German Patent Office and the German Patent Court. In addition, Munich is home to top international universities such as the University of Munich, the Technical University of Munich, and the Technical University of Munich, more than 3,000 galleries, more than 50 museums, 4 opera houses, 3 world-class symphony orchestras, and numerous bookstores. It is an important art center in the Kingdom of Bavaria, including a large number of cultural and artistic facilities. In short, Munich is a bustling city with a strong economy and a strong artistic scene.
The historical evolution of Munich
The history of the Munich area dates back to the time of the Roman Empire. In the 8th century, a Benedictine monastery appeared here, so Munich means “land of monks” in German.
According to records, Munich was founded in 1158, and in 1175, Munich officially acquired the status of a city and established a fortress.
In 1240, the city of Munich was given to Duke Otto II of Bavaria. In 1255, the Duchy of Bavaria split into two parts, and Munich became the capital of the Duchy of Upper Bavaria.
In 1328, Louis IV, Duke of Upper Bavaria, was crowned Emperor of the Roman Empire. He granted the city a salt franchise, and the city’s status was enhanced. From 1327 to 1429, Munich was twice burned down and rebuilt twice.
In 1506, Munich began to become the capital of the whole of Bavaria. Art and politics were increasingly influenced by the court. In the 16th century, Munich was the center of the German Counter-Reformation and the center of German Renaissance art.
In 1634, the Black Death broke out in Germany, killing about one-third of the population. Munich quickly became the center of Baroque art.
In 1806, Bavaria was elevated from a principality to a kingdom, and Munich was elevated to the royal capital. Throughout the 19th century, Munich entered a period of rapid development.
After the end of the First World War, Munich became a center of political turmoil. Living is difficult and there is an extreme shortage of materials. In 1923, Hitler and his supporters staged the “Beer Hall Coup” in an attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic and seize power. In 1933, after the Nazi Party came to power in Germany, Munich became a Nazi stronghold again.
During World War II, Munich was hit by 71 Allied air raids, destroying more than a quarter of the city’s buildings and razing many places to the ground.
After the American occupation in 1945, Munich began to rebuild and the city developed further and became the largest city in southern Germany.
In 1972, Munich hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics after beating Montreal, Madrid, and Detroit in voting.
Today, Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. It is a bustling city where many multinational companies such as BMW and Siemens gather.
Munich's economic strength and honorary titles
As of 2024, according to the data of the list of the top 500 global brands by value, Munich has 25 Fortune 500 companies, whose main businesses are distributed in the fields of automobiles, retail, and insurance. Among them, Volkswagen (11th), BMW Group (41st), Mercedes-Benz (42nd), Deutsche Telekom (77th), Uniper(79th), Allianz(82nd), DHL Group(134th), Siemens (145th), BASF, E.ON and others. In addition, Munich is home to more than 300,000 small and medium-sized enterprises and the European headquarters of many multinational companies such as McDonald’s, Microsoft, Cisco, Abbott and many others.
The Munich Hi-Tech Industrial Park is one of the top 10 high-tech industrial parks in the world, where more than 600 companies producing electronic components and electronic systems are located, supplying 2,400 companies with their products.
Germany’s GDP in 2024 is experiencing mixed trends influenced by structural economic challenges and evolving global market conditions. Projections for 2024 suggest the economy is expected to contract slightly by 0.1%, attributed to weak industrial output, sluggish exports, and high energy costs. However, private consumption and disposable income growth have shown some resilience, with inflation rates stabilizing closer to the European Central Bank’s target of around 2.2%
Munich's famous tourist attractions and scenic spots
- Marienplatz was built in 1158 and is Munich’s oldest central square, the center of the pedestrian street and the stage for large events. The statue of Maria, the patron saint of Bavaria, was erected on Marienplatz. The neo-Gothic-style new town hall and its prominent façade stand out on the square, and the magical chiming clock in the bell tower of the town hall is pleasantly sounding. Marienplatz is always very lively at any time of the year, attracting many tourists from home and abroad every year.
- The Wittelsbach Royal Palace was once the city palace of Munich and the residence of the king. The building is a mix of Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Classicist styles, and the building is magnificent and magnificent. The complex comprises 10 palaces and the museum consists of 130 exhibition halls and is considered one of the most important palace art museums in Europe today.
- Munich’s new town hall is a neo-Gothic building on Marienplatz. The façade of the town hall is decorated with statues of Bavarian kings, legendary heroes and saints. In addition, you can climb to the top of the giant tower for a spectacular view of the Munich city. In addition, the most amazing thing is the clock on the tower, where 32 life-size figures perform a historical play at 11:00 and 12:00 every day, vividly recreating the wedding of King William V in 1558. It’s spectacular and fun, attracting passers-by and tourists every day.
- The Munich Royal Palace district is located in the heart of the city and includes several buildings such as the King’s Building, the Maximilian Palace, the Ballroom Building, the Bavarian Opera House, the General’s Memorial Hall, and many others. Because they were built in different eras, these buildings have very different styles. The jewel hall in the palace displays many priceless jewels, including crowns and other items used in coronations. It is said that touching the lion statue in Munich’s Imperial Palace district brings good luck. In addition, the old Royal Theatre in the palace is also particularly eye-catching, it is a golden red building in the rococo style, which is very beautiful and well worth a visit.
5. The BMW Museum is located in the BMW Brand Experience Center in Munich, the headquarters of BMW, covering an area of 5,000 square meters. In addition, it is located next to the headquarters of BMW’s “four-cylinder building”. The museum has a total of seven thematic exhibition areas, displaying samples of various types of BMW cars, BMW motorcycles, light bikes and some special-purpose vehicles produced over the years, and comprehensively interprets the history of the growth and development of BMW Motor Company. In addition, it is a place where you can experience exciting racing games or watch realistic movies, which is very interesting. For car and racing fans, this is a very good place to check in.
6. Hofbräuhaus, originally the Royal Brewery, opened to the public in 1828. Hofbräuhaus is a white, four-storey building that is smaller, but it’s inside. When you go inside, the first thing that catches your eye is the souvenir shop, which displays and sells beer-related goods. Further inside, there is the public hall, which is very spacious and can accommodate 1,300 people at the same time, and the frescoes on the vault are beautiful and very old. To the left of the main entrance is a large bar, and the “Beer Cup Wall” is a spectacular mountain. Inside the hall there is a music platform where an orchestra dressed in traditional Bavarian costumes performs live for guests. It’s very German, it’s very special.
Munich’s food culture and famous restaurants
Munich is an important city in Germany, with a mix of traditional German cuisine and international cuisine. From hearty German sausages, Munich duck and Munich pork knuckle, to fine Michelin-starred restaurants and vegan eateries, Munich has a wide variety of cuisines, whether you’re looking for something traditional or something new and exciting.
Among them, the most famous cuisine in Germany is sausages and beer, as well as a variety of baked goods, specialty desserts, etc. In addition, there are many international cuisines such as Italian pizza, French cuisine, Japanese sushi, etc. A variety of options to suit the needs of different tourists.
As the beer capital of Germany, Munich’s Oktoberfest is world-renowned. It takes place in Munich, Germany, from late September to early October every year, and lasts for two consecutive weeks. In addition, Munich is known for its rich beer culture and wide variety of beers. Among them, Munich beer is the representative dark beer brand in Germany, which is known for its high quality, unique taste and aroma. In addition, there are more than a dozen well-known beer brands such as Baker, Odinger, Paulan, Priest, etc. Beer gardens and outdoor bars are everywhere in the city, so you can enjoy the pleasant atmosphere and rich beer culture of Germany.
Munich’s political figures and celebrities and their interesting facts
- Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was the Minister of Defense of Germany. Born in Munich, Germany, he graduated from the University of Bayreuth in Germany and served as CEO of Gutenberg. On February 12, 2009, Gutenberg became the German Federal Minister of Economics, and on October 28 of the same year, he became the German Minister of Defense, but was forced to resign due to plagiarism of his doctoral dissertation.
- Karl Marx was one of the founders of Marxism, the organizer and leader of the First International, one of the founders of Marxist political parties, the spiritual leader of the proletariat, and the founder of the international communist movement. He was also a German thinker, political scientist, philosopher, economist, revolutionary theorist, historian and sociologist. He has a great reputation in Germany and in the world.
- Willy Brandt, is a German politician and former Chancellor of West Germany. He was Germany’s first Social Democratic chancellor after 1930, and his original name was Herbert Ernst Karl Flam. During the Nazi regime, he fled to Norway and then to Sweden, where he assumed the pseudonym Willy Brandt to avoid detection by Nazi agents. Brandt maintained close ties between West Germany and the United States and worked to strengthen the European integration of Western Europe, while initiating a new policy.
- Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer, harpsichord and violinist of the German Baroque period, and a master of Baroque music. Born into a musical family in Eisenach (in present-day Thuringia, Germany) in the Holy Roman Empire, he received musical education from an early age and taught himself to compose throughout his life. In conclusion, Bach is one of the most famous musicians in the history of German music.
Fun facts about Munich
- Oktoberfest: Munich is known as the beer capital, and Oktoberfest, held every September, is one of the largest folk festivals in the world. Visitors can enjoy hearty German cuisine and a wide selection of beers.
- Coran’s Law: In Munich’s Marienplatz, there is a statue called Coran’s Law, which is a statue of a Munich architect Johann Baptiste Coran. It is said that touching the thigh of this statue brings good luck.
- Statue of Hephart Heidplatz: There are many interesting statues in Munich of Hephartheideplatz, one of which is a giant frog. It is said that touching this frog can grant a wish.
- “Acrobatic World” Museum: The “Acrobatic World” museum in Munich is the only museum in the world dedicated to acrobatics. Visitors can learn about the history and development of acrobatics and experience some of the acrobatic events firsthand.
- Youth Police Operations Room: The police headquarters in the center of Munich has an operations room specially designed for teenagers. Here teenagers can learn about police work and simulate handling some police tasks.
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