Top 10 Fun Facts about Munich City

Christmas Day Munich Germany Photo by Nicolee A. Miller Wikimedia

Top 10 Fun Facts about Munich City

Munich is the capital and most populous city of the German State of Bavaria. The city is known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and its beer halls including the famed Hofbrauhaus founded in 1589.

The city of Munich is the third largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg, and thus the largest which does not constitute its state and it’s the 11th largest city in the European Union.

The size of the city is 310.71 kilometers squire (119.97squire miles) and 520 meters (1,710ft). The population of the city as of 2020-12-31 was 1,488,202 million. 

The city was first mentioned in 1158. Catholic Munich strongly resisted the Reformation and was a political point of divergence during the resulting Thirty Years’ war but remained physically untouched despite an occupation by the Protestant Swedes.

1. The Oldest Cinema

When talking about Fun facts about Munich, It should be noted that The Neues Kino Gabriels is the world’s oldest Cinema. It was opened back in 1906. However, some sources of information urge that the first cinema was founded in Poland, but it was not open until 1907. So, automatically Munich became the first to have a Cinema.

2. The Oldest Building is a Bathroom

In many cities, the oldest buildings would be churches, schools, and hospitals. However, Munich is different. This is a city that does things differently and extraordinarily. In Munich, the oldest building is a bathroom. It is fun right, this makes this fact a fun fact about Munich.

During excavations at the Marienhof workers discovered a 1260 latrine. The toilet was positioned past the main city gates, demonstrating that the Munich of the 13th century was already larger than historians had previously imagined.

3. The BMW Headquarters are Located in Munich

BMW  headquarters is a Munich-based company that stands for Bavarian Motors Works. It is as well known as BMW Tower. It is a high-rise building located in the Am Riesenfeld area of Munich. Since 1973, the building has served as a global corporate headquarters of German.

Munich does not only have the BMW  headquarters but also has its postal code. The brand has its museum, where you can learn about the history of the company as well as find out about future projects and the development of the automotive industry overall. BMW Factory is a must-see for anybody visiting Munich.

4. Beer Is Considered as Food in Bavaria

Beer photo by Fabio Alves Unsplash

When talking of fun facts about Munich then this should not be left out. Many cities have burned the use of beer and declared it illegal. Then this is not Munich. In Bavaria, city beer is legally considered food. The 500-year-old Beer Purity law decreed on 23 April 1516 by Duke Wilhem, protects beer drinkers from contaminants, chemicals and additives. The law is still in effect today and directs how beer is officially made in Bavaria.

5. Beer Capital of the World

Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, Munich, Germany, September 29, 2014 Photo by Choi Kwang-mo Wikimedia

The interesting thing about Munich is that it’s not only Bavaria’s capital, it’s also Germany’s beer capital. A lot of beer is drug every day in Germany and most beer is drunk in Munich.  During Oktoberfest(Munich’s Festivals)it is said that a lot of beer is consumed. About a 7.5milllion litres are drunk. It is shocking to hear that right! Hence Munich city became the beer capital of Germany.

6. There are Over 60 Beer Gardens in Munich

Indeed Munich is a city of a different style and does things differently. The city has over 60 Beer Gardens. Not talking of other little dinky outside decks of a restaurant where you can drink a beer in the sun. We are only focusing on real, live beer gardens well known. It is impossible to estimate all spots selling beer in Munich.

Some of these Beer Garden include Augustiner-Braustuben, Lowenbraukeller, Hirschgarten, Augustiner Keller, Hofbrauhaus München, Tap-House, Paulaner Brauhaus, Chinesischer Turm, Biergarten Viktualienmarkt, and Wirtsshaus im Braunauer Hof among others.

7. Surfing Spot in the Middle of a River

It is interesting and fun at the same time to know that you can surf on the river in the middle of Munich City. It is a walking distance from downtown and you can observe river surfers shredding the waves of the Eisbach.

This has helped Munich grow economically and become the centre of tourists, I mean who doesn’t love fun and adventure. This is one of the best reasons to visit Munich during summer grab a drink and have fun at the same time. This activity is popular with surfers such that unless you get there early in the morning, you have to wait for ages to grab a wave.

8. Munich Invented the Play-doh

piling blocks photo by La-Rel Easter Unsplash

The fun of modelling was invented in Munich. Pharmacist Franz Kolb owned a pharmacy in the city, he invented the plasticine machine to help out his artist friends, who had problems using modelling clay in the cold winter months for their work. Nowadays, it has become important rather than the one intended, it has become a constant companion to any person’s childhood.

9. The Olympiapark Hill is Made of Something Unusual

Olympiapark in Munich Germany is an Olympic Park that was constructed for the 1972 summer Olympics. The park serves as a venue for cultural, social, and religious events, such as the event of worship. It is governed by Olympiapark München GmbH, a company fully owned by the state capital of Munich.

It might look like your normal hill but it’s not made of soil. It is made from rubble created during World war II. The hill is one interesting fun fact with amazing futures. It can offer sweeping 360-degree views that stretch to the Alps on a good day.

10. Hofbrau Beer Rescued a City From Destruction

Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, Munich, Germany, September 29, 2014 Photo by Choi Kwang-mo Wikimedia

Munich city is known as a beer spot in Germany. The beer is legalistic in the city. If you love beer this is the place to be. However, the beer saved the city big time. When Sweden occupied Munich during the Thirty Years’ War, 344 buckets of Hofbrau Maibock were traded as part of Sweden’s agreement not to destroy the city. Sweden’s strictly followed the agreement and the city survived. This is one of the reasons why Germans love their beer.