Private Historical Munich Tour, Old Town and English Garden

For centuries, the Marienplatz has been the heart of the city of Munich. When Duke Henry the Lion founded the city of Munich in the 12th century, the Marienplatz was situated at the intersection of two main streets. For centuries, the people of Munich held their market there, trading grains, eggs, and even fish in the marketplace.

When the Old Town Hall became too cramped for the Munich administration in the mid-19th century, a decision was made to construct a New Town Hall in the then-popular Neo-Gothic style, following the examples of town halls in Brussels and Vienna. A special tourist attraction is the Glockenspiel, which is one of the largest in Europe and is known for the Coopers' Dance.

The master builder Jörg von Halspach constructed the basic structure of the present Old Town Hall in the late Gothic style from 1470 to 1480. The basement of the building housed the city prison, while the ground floor accommodated the bread house. In 1938, the speech of the Reich Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels was broadcast from the Old Town Hall. This speech is considered, among other things, as the prelude to the November Pogroms.

The St. Peter's Church, the oldest parish church in Munich, stands in the historical center of the city. Locals affectionately refer to the Petersturm as the "Alter Peter" (Old Peter). The Petersturm is considered one of the best and most beautiful vantage points in the city. From here, you not only have a splendid view of the entire Munich skyline but, on clear days you can also enjoy a panoramic view spanning 100 kilometers to the Alps.

The Viktualienmarkt in the heart of Munich's Old Town was originally a farmers' and herb market. Today, it is a popular destination for enthusiasts of fine foods and delicacies, offering a wide range of goods from traditional Bavarian products to exotic fruits. Until the early 19th century, the market was located on Munich's Marienplatz and evolved over time from a small market into the present-day Viktualienmarkt. Initially, the square was simply called "Marktplatz" (Market Square) and only later became the Viktualienmarkt through the late Latin word "victualia," meaning provisions or food.

Visible from afar, the twin towers of the Frauenkirche soar into the sky, shaping the Munich skyline like no other building. It is of great importance to many locals that this remains the case for a long time. In 2004, they decided through a citizens' initiative that no new structure in Munich should be taller than the Frauenkirche, which stands at 98.57 meters. The Gothic cathedral and parish church, officially named "Zu Unserer Lieben Frau" (To Our Dear Lady), was constructed in the 15th century by the Munich architect Jörg von Halsbach. Due to cost considerations and the absence of a nearby quarry, it was built using brick. The construction was completed in 1488, after only 20 years, with the exception of the spires.

Max-Joseph-Platz is situated by the State Opera and the Residenz Theater. It was named after King Max I. Joseph, who is also honored with a statue at the center of the square. The square was created in the early 19th century when the Franciscan monastery in that location was demolished to make way for the construction of a National Theater.

The Munich Residenz is an architectural monument and served as the residence of the Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from the House of Wittelsbach from 1508 to 1918. Over four centuries, architects such as Friedrich Sustris, Joseph Effner, François de Cuvilliés the Elder, and Leo von Klenze expanded the residence from a small fortress into a monumental complex in the styles of Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassicism. Covering more than 40,000 square meters, the Munich Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany. With over 150 exhibition rooms, it stands as one of the most significant palace museums in Europe.

The Odeonsplatz was named in 1827 after the concert hall "Odeon," which King Ludwig I had built on the south side of the square. Besides Marienplatz, Odeonsplatz is the most important meeting point in Munich. It is also claimed that nowhere else in Munich feels as Italian as Odeonsplatz. This is undoubtedly influenced by the Theatine Church, built in the style of Italian late Baroque, and Café Tambosi with its spacious outdoor area.

Between 1663 and 1768, the double-towered Theatine Church, crowned with a high dome and dedicated to Saint Cajetan, was constructed. With its brightly yellow facade and green dome, it is modeled after the Roman Theatine Church of S. Andrea della Valle. Interestingly, this place of worship was built in celebration of the birth of the long-awaited heir, Prince Max Emanuel. The joyous Elector couple, Ferdinand Maria and Henriette Adelaide, funded and entrusted the church to the Italian Theatine fathers. The interior of the church also resembles an Italian Baroque basilica.

In the southern part of Ludwigstraße lies the Feldherrnhalle. It was constructed between 1841 and 1844 by Friedrich Gärtner, inspired by the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence. The site gained historical significance when Adolf Hitler's attempted coup failed here in 1923, turning the Feldherrnhalle into a cult site for the National Socialists. The two statues commemorate the military leaders Tilly and Fürsten Wrede. It wasn't until 1906 that the two lions, created by the architect Wilhelm von Rümann, were added to the monument.

The Hofgarten is a historic park located at the northern edge of the Munich Old Town. It was established from 1613 in connection with the northern expansion of the Munich Residenz under Duke Maximilian I.

Until the year 1788, the English Garden was a floodplain landscape, serving as a flood area for the Isar River and utilized by farmers as pasture for livestock. The dense forest was a hunting ground for the Bavarian princes, and the name Hirschau has persisted to this day. The initiator for the creation of the park was the American Benjamin Thompson, later ennobled as Count Rumford from Massachusetts. Rumford introduced the potato to Bavaria, among other contributions. The initial idea was to establish a "military garden" where soldiers could largely sustain themselves during peacetime. In 1788, the first groundbreaking took place. Soon after, the idea emerged to transform it into a public garden in the English landscape style.