That amazing arch in Munich
That amazing arch in Munich, known as Siegestor…
This is the Siegestor in Munich Germany, and it’s pretty awesome. When we visited, this was something that I kept seeing on various websites about interesting sites to see, so I made sure to check it out. The clouds were just perfect that day!
Overlooking Munich
A view over the rooftops of Munich, Germany…
I just adore European cities and always look for interesting vantage points - but it’s often difficult to get a view from above a city. In Munich, we took the tour to the top of their City Hall building which has a bell tower, and when we got there I knew this was a view I would enjoy. It happened to be approaching sunset, too, so I was lucky to get some decent light as well!
Inside the Antiquarium
Inside Munich's Residenz, staring down the amazing Antiquarium...
At the Residenz Palace in Munich, Germany
This hallway, known as the Antiquarium, was the primary reason that I visited the Residenz in Munich, Germany. I do love wandering in castles and palaces but after seeing quite a few over the years, they do start to get overwhelming and a bit repetitive to me. Sure, they are amazing, but you know what I mean.
But before we got to Munich, I had looked up cool spots in the city and this one was high on my list. So we got there when it opened, and I wandered quickly around to find this place, knowing that if I was quick I could find it nearly empty. I succeeded and spent quite a while in here. It really is pretty amazing that this was someone's home. So opulent!
The sadness of Dachau
A trio of photos from a visit to Dachau, outside of Munich...
While we were in Munich earlier this year, we took a trip out to Dachau one day. I had been before when I was a kid but didn't remember it too well. It's about a 30 minute trip from downtown Munich, and well worth the visit.
If you aren't familiar with it, Dachau was a massive Nazi concentration camp that is now a museum and sobering reminder of man's inhumanity to man. It's incredibly educational and just so sad. Everyone is quiet there, out of respect, and you can wander the grounds on a self-guided tour. It's done very well and I left with a much deeper knowledge of the entire situation.
While I mostly visited as a tourist, I did take a few photos while there. If you are ever in Munich and have the time, take the visit out to Dachau and learn about this important period in history. I think you will be glad that you did so.
A visit to Viktualienmarkt
While in Munich, we visited the Viktualienmarkt, which is sort of a big farmer's market. Here's a trio of shots from there!
This is a farmer's market in Munich, and it's awesome!
When we were in Munich, one thing I wanted to see was the Viktualienmarkt. It's like a big farmer's market with a lot of various food stalls, but it's permanent. It covers an entire town square and it's just around the corner from the Marienplatz, which is sort of like the main town square.
So we walked through here a few times, having lunch or a beer whenever we passed through. I find these sort of things really interesting. It's like getting a glimpse into daily life in a place, even though I assume there are a lot of tourists here, too. You can purchase all sorts of foods and snacks and there are picnic table set up everywhere so you can get a beer and just chill and watch the people.
I spent a lot of time wandering with the camera of course, taking shots of the market itself as well as some of the buildings that surround the square. I have a thing for German architecture so I was pretty much always distracted when we were here!
Storm clouds over the Siegestor
We came across this wonderful and huge triumphal arch in Munich one day recently...
This is a huge, beautiful arch in Munich!
I was really surprised about Munich. I expected to like it, but I wasn't sure how much I would like it. It turns out that I liked it quite a lot! (Although that might have to do with the many beer halls.)
We spent a few days in Munich, mostly without a firm plan. We had some general ideas about what we wanted to see, but didn't put a huge effort into planning. I like to have a list of things I want to see in a place, but I don't like being on a rigid time schedule. I like things to be a little free-flowing when I travel. It seems to work better for me when I do.
Anyway, we took a cab over to this part of town one afternoon, and the first thing I saw was this massive triumphal arch. It was basically what I headed directly for after leaving the cab. With these rain clouds coming in I had to make sure I got some shots before I got soaked!
As it turns out, it didn't even rain for a while. We left here and wandered in the massive English Garden nearby and then back into the historical center of Munich. A good day all around!
By the way, the arch is called the Siegestor and is modeled after the Arch of Constantine in Rome.