Munich, the provincial capital of Bavaria, has more to offer than lederhosen, Oktoberfest, pretzels and a cozy atmosphere. Apart from a lot of tradition, there is metropolitan flair, wealthiness and culture.
In the area of the present city of Munich, there probably used to be a monastic settlement already in the 8th century. The town was first put on record under the name "Villa Munichen" in the 12th century and had one of its periods of cultural prosperity during the late gothic period. In 1506, Munich became the official capital of Bavaria. Barely 300 years later, under Napoleonic rule, the town started developing into a large city. Today, Munich at the river Isar is not only Germany's third-largest city and the twelfth-largest within the European Union, but also one of Europe's most vibrant places. It is a city that is not only famous for its good beer, veal sausages and the annual Oktoberfest, but also for its comprehensive cultural treasure, fast Bavarian cars and an internationally successful soccer team.
The locals, too, are special in a certain way: they are metropolitan and modern, but at the same time rooted in tradition. Munich's residents are proud of their quaint German dialect. They confidently regard Bavaria as their very own "nation within the nation" and sometimes even still bemoan the loss of their Bavarian King ("king" means "König" in German, and "Kini" in Bavarian dialect).
