The Oktoberfest begins in 31 days (September 20th-October 5th, 2008). Don't wait 'til the last minute to make your reservations. Check below for flights, hotels and cars.
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 We're sorry- there are no hotel specials for Munich today. Please check Munich hotels (on the left) for our great, everyday internet rates. Check back from time to time as we update frequently.
Munich is the capital of the German Federal State of Bavaria. Munich is Germany's third largest city and one of Europe's most prosperous and expensive. The city is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is noted for its architecture and culture, and its annual Oktoberfest beer celebration is world famous.
At the center of the city is the Marienplatz - a large open square named after the Mariensäule, a Marian column in its centre - with the Old and the New Town Hall. Its tower contains the Rathaus-Glockenspiel, an ornate clock with almost life-sized moving figures that show scenes from a medieval jousting tournament as well as a performance of the famous "Schäfflertanz" (roughly translated "Barrel-makers' dance"). Three gates of the demolished medieval fortification have survived to this day - the Isartor in the east, the Sendlinger Tor in the south and the Karlstor in the west of the inner city. The Karlstor is the oldest building at Stachus, a grand square dominated by the Justizpalast (Palace of Justice). The Alte Hof, a medieval castle and first residence of the Wittelsbach dukes in Munich still exists in the inner city close to Marienplatz.
Two large baroque palaces in Nymphenburg and Oberschleissheim are reminders of Bavaria's royal past. Schloss Nymphenburg (Nymphenburg Palace), some 6 km northwest of the city centre, is surrounded by an impressive park and is considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful royal residences. 2 km northwest of Nymphenburg Palace is Schloss Blutenburg (Blutenburg Castle) situated, an old ducal country seat with a late-Gothic palace church. Schloss Fürstenried (Fürstenried Palace), a baroque palace of similar structure to Nymphenburg but of much smaller size, was contemporaneously erected in the south west of Munich. The large Residenz palace complex (begun in 1385) on the edge of Munich's Old Town ranks among Europe's most significant museums of interior decoration.
The Deutsches Museum, located on an island in the Isar, is one of the oldest and largest science museums in the world. Other museums to visit include Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, National Antique Collection, National Bavarian Museum and the City Museum of Munich.
