City walks in Munich

Together with the district Lehel, which adjoins it in the east, Munich's Old Town forms the number 1 Old Town-Lehel district.

The Old Town comprises the formerly walled center of Munich. The first documented mention dates back to 1158; the city area was extended several times and newly walled. Today's Old Town consists of the four medieval quarters Kreuzviertel, Graggenauer Viertel, Angerviertel and Hackenviertel. One of Munich's main traffic areas, the Altstadtring, surrounds and demarcates the district.

The Lehel was the oldest suburb of Munich. The former St. Anna suburb was located outside the city walls and was inhabited by poorer people who were denied access to the city area. In 1724, Lehel was incorporated. Curiously enough, today, Lehel is one of the most beautiful and expensive residential areas in Munich.

Although the center of Munich is a real tourist magnet thanks to its many famous sites, it also offers some hidden and exciting sides. Even as a local or returning visitor, the route through the first district of the city offers new sights every time.

Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt is the second urban district of the Bavarian capital and consists - as its name suggests - of the two areas Ludwigsvorstadt and Isarvorstadt. In addition, the inner-city district is subdivided into eight districts, including the popular Glockenbachviertel and the Gärtnerplatzviertel.

The city district doesn't have a centuries-old history; it was created in the 19th century. Ludwigsvorstadt was first mentioned in history books in 1804 under the name "äußeres Hacken-Viertel" before it received its present name after the crown prince and later King Ludwig I. Isarvorstadt was first mentioned in 1812 as "äußeres Anger-Viertel." The final merger of the two districts did not take place until 1992.

Today, district number two is one of the most popular inner-city districts of the Bavarian capital. The many old buildings, numerous imposing church buildings and other historical sights make it so popular. The Oktoberfest also takes place here. In addition, the district is characterized by a colorful coexistence of different cultures: the center of the LGBTQ+ scene, the Munich chic and, of course, numerous students.

Along the approximately 8 km long city tour, you will discover popular meeting places for students, traditional sites of the gay scene as well as a variety of cultural areas. By the way: Did you know that the British rock star Freddie Mercury once lived in the Glockenbach quarter? No? Then take a look at the following story!

Schwabing-West is the fourth city district of Munich. Schwabing was first mentioned in 782 as "Suuapinga," which means "with Swapo and his people." The area was thus named after a man who was known as "the Swabian." In 1886, Schwabing was announced a city and in 1890, it was incorporated into Munich.

Schwabing-West was already recognized as a separate city district in 1909 and emerged from the then-new development areas west of Schwabing.

Today, Schwabing-West is primarily known for its wide range of leisure facilities in the Luitpoldpark, the Bamberger Haus, its shopping facilities around Hohenzollernstraße, varied restaurants and its large stock of old buildings.

The fifth district of Au-Haidhausen is located on the northern bank of the Isar, not far from the city center. The two formerly independent villages were incorporated on October 1, 1854. As former hostel quarters for artisans and day laborers, who had to settle outside the city gates due to the high rents, they developed into workers' suburbs during the Wilhelminian period.

The accommodation provisionally cobbled together by day-laborers still defines the historic townscape today. The picturesque charm that the houses exude today should not, however, hide the fact that they were once home to the poor inhabitants.

However, the district is characterized by its small-scale development housing several essential institutions and sights like the Maximilianeum or the cultural center at the Gasteig. The French Quarter is also of particular urban planning importance. Two epochs of settlement development meet; the baroque style and buildings from the Wilhelminian period.

The sixth district of Munich is located south of the Isarvorstadt and Ludwigsvorstadt. The district can be reached by S-Bahn line 7 and U-Bahn lines 3 and 6. Sendling is famous for the Grossmarkthalle and the Flaucheranlagen, where many residents meet to bathe, barbecue and relax.

Since its incorporation in 1877, Sendling has belonged to the metropolitan area of Munich. But of course, the district has been around much longer.

Excavations revealed that people have been living here since 1800 BC. The name Sendling or Sentliniga was first mentioned in 762 AD.

Before industrialization, Sendling was a farming village with many fields and farms. Today, only one farm is left, which has no longer a dairy farm but is known as an organic oasis in the town: the Stemmerhof.

The rest of Sendling consists mainly of tenement houses and there is usually a hectic bustle. Only at the Flaucheranlagen, a section of the Isar, you can find a little quietness in nature.

Sendling-Westpark is Munich's seventh city district and is located in the southwest of the city. In contrast to the neighboring Sendling, the quarter was mainly built after World War II to alleviate the housing shortage. After 1945, many inexpensive social housing units were built here. Especially along the main traffic arteries such as Garmischer Strasse, the towering apartment blocks dominate.

In addition, Sendling-Westpark is mainly home to detached and semi-detached houses and many green spaces like the Westpark. The quarter's jewel was planned for the International Garden Exhibition (IGA) in 1983. The Südpark, previously called "Sendlinger Wald" (Sendlinger Forest) because of its dense vegetation, is ideal for all kinds of outdoor sports.

The St. Josef retirement home stands out with its baroque architecture and two pretty towers. Furthermore, the Audi Dome, the FC Bayern basketball team's home ground, is located in Sendling-Westpark.

So if you are looking for relaxation and a change from everyday life in the city, the route "Westpark - Relaxation and Sports Experience in Munich's Botanical Wellness Oasis" is ideal for getting to know the highlights and the cultural potpourri of the district.

Nymphenburg Palace and the adjacent park mainly dominate the ninth city district. It comprises Neuhausen, Nymphenburg, Gern and the Hirschgarten.

Compared to Moosach and Pasing, Neuhausen, Nymphenburg and Gern were settled relatively late. According to a legend, an itinerant preacher named Winthir came to Neuhausen in the 8th century. He was a merchant and transported salt. But above all, he brought Christianity to Neuhausen. Later, the Winthir Church was built on his gravesite.

The first written record of Neuhausen did not exist until the 11th century. The village of Gern is the oldest settlement in this district and was first mentioned in 1025. On January 1, 1890, it was incorporated into the city of Munich. The lively Rotkreuzplatz is still a central square of the quarter with its many restaurants and alternative scenes.

Nymphenburg also developed rather quietly. After the castle was built in 1664 and the many extensions that went with it, the wealthy society's first residential houses were built. The quarter retained its rural character until the 19th century, and it was only after the incorporation of the town that the population increased.

The quiet "royal Bavarian" district of Nymphenburg is particularly appreciated for its castle and the associated grounds and canals.

Moosach is one of the oldest places in Munich. The first documented mention dates back to 807, but Moosach has likely existed much longer. The earliest find (a Neolithic handle jug dated around 2000 BC) indicates that there has been a continuous settlement around the sources of the "Moosach" river since this time.

From 1808 onwards, Moosach belonged to the Munich district court (today's county) and, at this point, took on the function of an independent municipality. The life and economy in Moosach were primarily oriented towards farming and craftsmanship and were somewhat isolated. Only after the connection to the railway network in the 20th century could the community catch up with industrialization.

Since September 1, 1992, Moosach has been the tenth district of Munich. Today the district combines history and tradition as well as modernity and visions of the future.

In 1910, Milbertshofen was given the status of a town for the first time. Since 1913, it has been part of Munich. The first written references are from 1149, which refer to it as "Ilmungeshoven."

For a long time, the area was mainly populated by farmers. However, industrialization began very early and the area was used as a resource base during the First and Second World Wars. From here, for example, supplies were transported by rail to France. The station was also known as a Gestapo deportation base during the National Socialist era.

Since the economic upswing in 1960, Milbertshofen has been known for the flourishing industry surrounding BMW and Knorr-Bremse, contributing significantly to the district's growth.

The twelfth city district, Schwabing-Freimann, is located in the north of Munich. It lies next to the English Garden and is considered the third-largest district of the Bavarian capital.

Schwabing is known for its many literary and artistic celebrities who lived here during the Prince Regents time. However, it is not only the Schwabing bohemians who are decisive for today's famous district.

The district looks back on a long history. The village Schwabing was first mentioned in 782. Many new residential houses and a castle were built (on the site of today's "Münchner Freiheit"). Thus Schwabing established itself as a residential area of the upper class. The neighboring quarters of Maximilians- and Ludwigs-Vortstadt contributed to Schwabing becoming the center of the spiritual sciences. In 1890, the city of Schwabing became part of Munich.

Freimann, which today also belongs to the twelfth city district, developed independently of Schwabing. The first written documents containing the name Freimann (then "ad frienmannun") date from 950. Freimann was known for centuries as a farming village. It was not until the 19th century that the municipality of Freimann was formed, including the neighboring communities of Neufreimann, Kultursheim and Fröttmanning.

With the establishment of the Krupp factory, Freimann developed into an industrial town. As a result, the population in the area increased abruptly. In 1931, Freimann, with 2800 inhabitants, became part of Munich.

Bogenhausen, district number 13, is located in the northeast of the city on the Isar's right side. It is divided into Oberföhring, Johanneskirchen, Herzogpark, Englschalking, Daglfing, Parkstadt and Altbogenhausen.

Bogenhausen was first mentioned in 768 as Pupinhusir ("Houses of the Poapo"). The district was also the place where the contract between the Electorate of Bavaria and France was concluded, which resulted in creating the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1805. The farming village became a part of Munich in 1892 and, from then on, set off on its development journey, turning into a noble district.

Today, however, Bogenhausen stands out above all for its artistic wealth. Between historical buildings and modern architecture, there is always a potential for cultural shocks and supposed contradictions, which, however, is what makes Bogenhausen the attractive district that it is. Curious? During the tour through Bogenhausen, you will discover the district's most diverse corners, rich in art and culture.

The 14th district of Berg am Laim is located in the east of Munich and was incorporated on July 1, 1913. For a long time, this part of Munich was considered dull, ordinary and not very special. But that is history! Berg am Laim awakes from its Sleeping Beauty sleep and impresses with a unique history: The former farming village "ad Perke," which was first mentioned by name in 812 as a settlement with just 30 houses, has a long and impressive history.

Since Berg am Laim was in the hands of the church for a long time, the district owes some of the most beautiful and impressive buildings in all of Munich to this era: The St. Michael parish church, for example, is one of the most famous monuments of the rococo period.

Furthermore, the raw material "clay" (in German "Lehm") plays a decisive role. This served as a raw material for brick production - a craft that has brought a strong upswing since the Middle Ages.

The community's village character is still present, but this is exactly what makes this part of Munich so charming. The new Berg am Laim is also currently developing into an up-and-coming, innovative district with cultural diversity, exceptional office buildings and creative works of art. It thrives on creative free spirits and high-rise complexes that are literally eye-catching at night.

Anyone who has not yet had this part of Munich on their list should catch up and explore the "Hidden Champion" Berg am Laim! Why not try the tour "Berg am Laim - from a farming village to innovative factory district"! There, you will discover the secret corners of Berg am Laim during a 2-hour city walk and learn about the history of district 14.

Trudering-Riem is the 15th district of Munich. While Trudering is more of a residential area with a village character, Riem, with Messestadt and its international guests, is the exact opposite.

However, it was a long way until then. The history of Trudering-Riem and its eight sub-districts, Am Moosfeld, Gartenstadt Trudering, Kirchtrudering, Messestadt Riem, Neutrudering, Riem and Straßtrudering, began over 1200 years ago. At that time, Trudering and Riem were still separate villages.

"Truchteringa" was first documented in 772. "Riema," on the other hand, was first mentioned in documents sometime later in 957 or 972. For centuries, the essential salt road, Reichenhall-Munich-Augsburg, ran through the village.

Both Trudering and Riem became independent municipalities in 1818 and were incorporated into the city of Munich in 1932 and 1937, respectively. Since 1939, the townscape is strongly influenced by the Munich-Riem airport, which is replaced by today's exhibition center. Its construction heralded the new, modern Riemen and Trudering era and continued to develop into an upmarket district.

A 1000 years of Ramersdorf, 1200 years of Perlach - This pleasant hiking trail through the 16th district of Munich does not take that long, but its settlement history is just as old.

In 790, the name "Peralohc" first appeared in a document. It derived from "bear" or "boar with tan," used the Lohwald. You probably won't see these animals on this route, but we will dive into the history of the district's settlement situated on the "Perlacher Schotterzunge."

The route through Ramersdorf-Perlach takes you from Perlachsoed Castle, which is now an architectural monument, over Theodor-Heuss-Platz, to the famous church Maria Ramersdorf, which is one of the oldest churches in Munich. Come along and explore a part of the history of Ramersdorf- Perlach.

Giesing was founded in 1818 as a parish and was incorporated as a district of Munich in 1854. Since 1936, Giesing has been divided into Obergiesing and Untergiesing-Harlaching, although district 17 was only incorporated in 1937 as Obergiesing-Fasangarten.

Giesing was first mentioned in 790 AD when it passed as an inheritance in the form of the property "Kyesinga" to the priest Icho.

The farming village experienced rapid population growth from the 19th century onwards, which is very much reflected in the picture of Obergiesing. Here an assortment of different architectural styles gathers in one place.

The urban district 19 consists of Thalkirchen, Obersendling, Forstenried, Fürstenried and Solln. District 19 is located on the southern outskirts of the city, west of the Isar river and is the third-largest with a population of 91,000. The five districts could hardly be any more different.

Thalkirchen, a former farming village, is one of the oldest settlements in the southern Munich area. Due to its location on the Isar, it has an important recreational and leisure function for the entire city population.

Obersendling, incorporated at the beginning of the 20th century, experienced rapid economic development after the last war, mainly due to Siemens company's concentration.

Both Fürstenried and Forstenried, with its old village center and village structure, are predominantly classified as residential areas.

Solln, which was incorporated in 1938, is one of the preferred residential areas with its garden city character and the predominant villa development, favored by the proximity to the Isar valley and the Forstenried park.

The 20th district was already mentioned in the 11th-century literature as "Haderun." Incorporated in 1938, the district lies southwest of the city center. It is located directly on the edge of the Munich city limits. Pasing-Obermenzing, Laim, Sendling-Westpark and Thalkirchen-Obersendling-Forstenried-Fürstenried-Solln surround the district.

Hadern grew around the old farming village core of Großhadern and Kleinhadern. With the steady increase in population in the last century, the residential districts of Blumenau and Neuhadern were created. Hadern is best known for the Klinikum Großhadern, although the district offers much more! Especially the largest cemetery in Munich, the Waldfriedhof, occupies a large part.

Furthermore, there are still awe-inspiring parts of the original village center. The old beer gardens and inns still invite to enjoy a tart wheat beer and - surrounded by churches, farmhouses and the almost endlessly winding paths of the Waldfriedhof - you could easily forget that you are in the state capital. Perfect for those who miss their rural home, want to get to know Munich's village origins or simply need a day in the fresh air.

Pasing-Obermenzing is the 21st district in the west of Munich and was forced to join Munich in 1938. Situated west of Laim and Neuhausen-Nymphenburg, Pasing-Obermenzing is ideally accessible with the S-Bahn lines S3, S4, S6, S8 and S20.

While Pasing was first mentioned in 763 as "Villa Pasingas," Obermenzing was first documented in the Freising Donation Documentation in 817. Since then, the district has developed into a lively quarter, partly due to the railway line's construction between Munich and Augsburg and the corresponding stop in Pasing.

In addition to Blutenburg Castle, Pasing-Obermenzing is home to several churches, probably the oldest inn in Munich and the largest library of children's and young adults' literature in the world.

In addition, through Munich's typically untypical district, you have the opportunity to take a look at the clichés and typical sights of the cosmopolitan city with heart and to get to know it in a completely new, previously unknown way.

The city district 22 is located in Munich's western outskirts and merged from Aubing and Lochhausen-Langwied in 1992. To expand Munich as the "Capital of the Movement," the communities were forced to move to Munich against their will in 1942. The village structures are still clearly visible around the old village centers.

Aubing was first mentioned in a document in 1010 as "Ubingun." The large housing estates Neuaubing-West and Am Westkreuz were built in the early 1960s. With 3,400 ha, the district forms the most extensive urban district in Munich in terms of area and, at the same time, has the lowest population density.

Especially in the district of Aubing-Lochhausen-Langwied, despite belonging to a metropolis, the distinctive nature with extensive meadows and forests as well as the local recreation areas Aubinger Lohe and Langwieder Seenplatte, which make an excursion a recreation. This makes the district particularly suitable for walking and cycling tours in the countryside.

Allach-Untermenzing is the 23rd district of Munich and is located in the northwest of the city. The neighboring districts include Feldmoching-Hasenbergl, Moosach, Pasing-Obermenzing, Aubing-Lochhausen-Langwied and the municipality of Karlsfeld.

Allach was first mentioned in a document in 774 as "Ahaloh" and was geographically and politically part of Dachau until 1803. After that, it belonged to the district of Munich but acted as an independent community. With the Munich-Ingolstadt railway line opening and the Allach Bahnhof stop in 1867, the former village quickly developed into an even larger community. In December 1938, Allach was finally incorporated into the city of Munich. On the one hand, Allach offers a local recreation area with the Allach Forest. On the other hand, Allach is an important industrial location in Bavaria; MAN, MTU and KraussMaffei have their headquarters there.

Untermenzing exists since 817 through a division of the Menzing district mentioned in a document. During the Thirty Years War, half of the community was destroyed. Due to a lack of a railway station, Untermenzing could not benefit industrially from the Munich-Ingolstadt railway line opening in the same way as Allach. The incorporation into Munich city took place in December 1939 and it was not until 2005 that the S-Bahn station Untermenzing was opened. Today Untermenzing is primarily a residential area with many green spaces in the surrounding area.

The 25th city district is located in the west of Munich and borders the city districts of Pasing in the west, Nymphenburg in the north, Hadern and Sendling in the south and Schwanthalerhöhe in the east. Although Laim is not directly in the city center, it has a great connection by the Munich S-Bahn and U-Bahn line 5. You will find beautiful housing estates in the district, the Laimer Schlössl, memories of the former railway quarter and the turbulent Landsberger Straße.

Since the incorporation of Laim in 1900, the district has been an integral part of the present state capital. According to a document, the village has existed for much longer; the first mention of "Laima" was in 1047 A.D. In former times, the village was characterized by agriculture. The change came with the railway. In 1894, the marshaling yard in the north of Laim was opened and so things took their course. With the new jobs, Laim gained many new workers and their families and one housing estate after the other was built at the beginning of the 20th century.

In the 1990s, the marshaling yard was finally closed down, but Laim remained a popular residential area for young and old.