German & Skiing

Munich, Germany

Located to the north of the Bavarian Alps, on the River Isar, Munich (München) is a city that combines proud provincialism with international glamour. Founded by Duke Henry the Lion in 1158, the city had become, within a century, the seat of the Wittelsbach dynasty, who ruled the duchy, electorate and kingdom of Bavaria until the end of World War I.

Their influence is evident in the concentration of grand Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and neo-classical architecture adorning Munich’s streets. Perhaps most importantly, the Wittelsbach’s patronage of the arts and extensive art collections provided the basis for Munich’s world-class museums and galleries.

The city acquired the name München (‘home of the monks’) from its first monastery, founded in the eighth century. Monasteries have since played an important role in the history of the city, not least by starting the beer brewing traditions for which the city has received worldwide renown.

Munich's warm summers, garden restaurants, open-air stages, world famous Oktoberfest celebration, and snowy winters with romantic Christmas markets make it a great place to visit year-round.

Germany is a historical yet modern country, split into sharply defined regions. Each region maintains its distinctive character with its own dialect, traditional dress and foods. Germany’s many modern cities stem from the time when it consisted of countless small states. North Germany has the delightful old seafaring ports, east is the beautiful cultural centers and south is the alluring Black Forest and those boisterous Bavarian beer halls. Along the Rhine and Moselle Rivers are picturesque castles and steep, terraced vineyards. From Frankfurt to Bremen runs a trail of villages that helped inspire the Grimm Brother’s fairy tales.