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SCMP Reporter

Munich is one of the most contemporary cities in Germany, attracting the hi-tech, the fashionable and the artistic.

It has a thriving arts, film, media and fashion scene, an abundance of outdoor cafes and a legendary nightlife.

It has been coined the 'Silicon Valley' of Germany because of its abundance of hi-tech industry and is home to luxury car-maker BMW.

It is a city of palaces, cathedrals and fashionable shops. From the glitzy boutiques lining the walkways of Marienplatz pedestrian precinct to wonderful shaded beer gardens that are so much a way of Munich life.

The New Town Hall on Marienplatz, home to the famous glockenspiel, is the tourist centre of the city. Jousting knights and dancing barrel-makers put on shows for tourists who can also enjoy the architecture of the neo-gothic New Town Hall with its gargoyles.

This medieval-looking building was built in 1908. Upstairs is the spectacular carved-wood city library.

Tourists also flock to the symbol of Munich, Frauendom (Church of Our Lady), the huge gothic cathedral where legend says the Prince of Darkness stamped his foot in disgust at its grandeur. (The prince's barbed footprint remains.) Another famous Munich church is the Frauenkirche. This imposing 100-metre-long building was constructed between 1468 and 1494. Its 100-metre-high spires offer breathtaking views.

There is a great panorama of the city from Monopteros Hill in the English Garden, or the 300-metre Olympic Tower.

There are 70 theatres, 50 museums and 10 universities in a city with a population of just 1.3 million.

Munich's flagship art museums are the Old and New Pinakothek. In the Old Pinakothek is housed an immense medieval collection of Old Masters, including Rembrandt, Rubens and Durers. The New Pinakothek has collections of the 19th Century Romantics.

Marienplatz is also a place for great food. At booths dotted around the area, an amazing array of fresh edibles can be found.

For more traditional Munich fare, wander through the Old Town Hall Gate from Marienplatz to the Weisses Brauhaus on Tal Street for some local delicacies. The area is also home to the most legendary beer hall, the Hofbrauhaus. It serves its first Weissbeir of the day at 11 am.

  Along with great beer, Schweinsbraten (roast pork) with dumplings or schnitzel and chips are the staples.

The big breweries also maintain about a dozen beer gardens, including the Chinese Tower (complete with oompah bands), Seehaus and Aumeister and Hirschgarten, which has a herd of grazing deer wandering around the gardens.

No mention of beer and Munich can avoid the Oktoberfest. This celebration of beer and life takes place every year from late September to early October and attracts an astonishing 10 million visitors.

Another less-known beer festival takes place in March, the Starkbierfest (Strong Beer Festival) held at the Nockerberg beer hall. The festival is drawn from the times when Bavarian monks brewed 'liquid bread' during lent.

Barrels had to be sent to Rome by ox-cart for papal permission for the monks to drink.

By the time it reached the Vatican, the beer was flat and tasted so bad that they were given permission to drink it if they so desired.

A taste of Munich's frenetic nightlife can be had in Schwabing, where bars stay open until 3 am.

For the hip, the French quarter bars and restaurants are popular.



Rich Bavarian history makes Munich top draw