Running in Munich: the secret capital
- audreyubertino
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Munich is one of the few landlocked cities where you'll come across surfers, boards and wetsuits included. When you go for a run in Munich, you'll discover their favourite spot, as well as the imposing Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Castle and the futuristic BMW headquarters. With JOOKS, you can explore the city of Munich on our 22 audio-guided routes!
‘There's no doubt about it: if Paris appeals to the heart, Munich appeals to the stomach’, said Rachel Johnson, a famous British journalist. And it's true that Munich is home to the very best of Bavarian gastronomy. But beyond the pleasures of the table, Munich has many other attractions.
Germany's third-largest city in terms of population, the capital of Bavaria is both a modern metropolis and the former residence of the Dukes of Bavaria. The nearby Alps and Lake Bodensee add to the special charm of this city, which after the Second World War was described as Germany's ‘secret capital’.
In the heart of old Munich
Although many historic buildings were destroyed during the Second World War, some have been rebuilt exactly as they were. Some medieval fortifications also remain - the Isartor gates, the Sendlinger Tor and the Karlstor. Once through these gates, at the heart of the old town, stands Marienplatz. This is the focal point of Munich. It is flanked by the splendid Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), built in Gothic style, and the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), built in neo-Gothic style. Its architect was inspired by the town hall in Brussels.
On your run through the centre of Munich, you'll undoubtedly come across the city's most emblematic building, the Cathedral of Our Lady, or Frauenkirche, with its two red-brick-roofed towers recognisable by their distinctive ‘onion’ roofs. Nearby is Germany's largest urban palace, the Residenz, dating from the 14th century. From here, your tour of Munich will take you to the old ‘food market’. Further south, past the opera house, you will take the more recent Maximilianstraße, which was built in the 19th century to accommodate military parades. Spanning the Isar, it will take you to the eastern districts, and further on you can admire the Maximilianeum, which is the current seat of the Bavarian Parliament.
Urban fun in Munich
On the other side of the Isar, to the east, lies an urban beach, the Isarstrand, not far from the Maximilian Bridge and the island it crosses. This district, known as ‘Au’, is home to the Deutsches Museum, a technology museum also built on one of the islands in the Isar. The Müllersches Volksbad, which opened in 1901 after four years of construction work, is a wonderful place to take a stroll. It is the oldest public bath in Munich, built in the Art Nouveau style. An exceptional place to relax after your run around Munich!
The Maxvorstadt district, to the west of the city centre, offers many examples of neo-classical architecture. These include the royal square, or Königsplatz, as well as the Glyptothek and the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, the German State's collections of antiques, a godsend for lovers of ancient art and architecture.
To the north runs Munich's second longest avenue, Ludwigstrasse, which becomes Leopoldstrasse. It leads to the Ludwig-Maximilians University and the Siegestor triumphal arch. But above all, it passes through Schwabing, the student quarter. This legendary artists' haunt is now home to the English Gardens, a must-see when strolling through Munich. Here you'll find a 25-metre-high Chinese pagoda, a Greek temple built in the 19th century... and a static wave, which surfers flock to in summer. However, if you want to take advantage of it, remember to bring your own equipment: it's a perfectly natural phenomenon linked to the shape of the Eisbach riverbed, which means that there are no surfing-related services nearby. What's more, Eisbach literally means ‘river of ice’, which suggests the temperature of the water...
Finally, there is a real underground music scene in Munich. For aficionados of unusual sounds, from krautrock to experimental electro, there are a wide variety of concerts. Alternatively, after your run, you can always go and listen to Schlager, the German variety, while sipping a beer in one of the city's many beer gardens.
Run, walk or cycle with JOOKS, from Marienplatz to the English Gardens!
Find all the routes in Munich and over 1,500 others on the JOOKS app.
Comments