At the beginning of our second week of the Plus3 Trip to Germany, we travelled to Munich, the capital of the State of Bavaria. The ride was only 45 minutes long, but was enough to see the differences between German and American rail infrastructure. The railway station in Augsburg had so many connections to other cities, with the one in Munich with 36 platforms available for all different trains. The passenger trains themselves operated at 100 miles an hour, even the small commuter train we rode to the city. Freight and passenger trains ran alongside each other on a 4 track mainline from Augsburg to Germany, ensuring efficient traffic movement between the cities – something hard to find in the United States.
Once in Munich, we walked from the train station to the Marienplatz, or the main plaza in the center of the city. Built along the entire plaza is the Neues Rathaus, the New Town Hall. The incredible structure largely survived Allied bombing of Germany during World War II, and is one of only a few buildings left in such great condition. A statue of St. Mary, the patron saint of Munich, sits atop an obelisk in the center of the plaza. Each street leading to the Marienplatz was lined with clothing and jewelry stores.
We were led on a short tour of central Munich by a wonderful tour guide, who gave the history of many notable landmarks in the area. She was also able to tell which buildings survived the war, and which ones were rebuilt to resemble their pre-war apperance. We saw old royal headquarters, royal gardens, the original Hofbrauhaus, the Opera House, and numerous art museums. Near the end of the tour, we passed a canal that, due to its construction, creates a wave that surfers ride, only a kilometer from the center of Munich.
As the time approached 12 pm, we returned to the Marienplatz to watch the Glockenspiel announce the hour – a large clock with full-size models that animate and move three times a day. The animation depicts a Medieval jousting match, where the Bavarian knight succeeds not on the first try, but on the second, to the joy of the traditional German barrel makers below. The plaza was filled with tourists all enjoying the spectacle.
After our tour, we climbed the tower at St. Peter’s Church. The tower was built in the 16th Century, where 308 stairs must be climbed before reaching the top. Once there, however, there were full views of all of Munich. What stood out immediately was the distinct lack of skyscrapers, and the large presence of greenery. Only a dozen or so buildings over 10 stories in height were visible, for as far as we could see. We were in the heart of the city, but it felt as if we were in but a small town. From the top of the tower, we could see the foothills of the Alps rising from the terrain below, the mountains themselves hidden behind clouds and rain many kilometers to the south.
Munich was a very exciting experience, and there were plenty more things to do than what we were able to do today. I want to go back and tour all the museums, to experience the full history of Munich and the culture it holds.