A Weekend At The 130-Room Bavarian-Styled Munich Residenz

Explore a Bavarian-Styled Residence in Munich, Germany, Europe.

How long do you think it would take a person to visit 130 rooms in a mansion? How many of us get to step into a place this enormous? We are fortunate that we can today, because Babak is going to show us around the massive 130-room Bavarian-style residence. We will explore Munich Residence, also known as The Residenz. 

The Residenz.

I’ll attempt to answer my trivia question using my logic. I live in a relatively modest, three-room apartment. It would take me just four steps each way to reach the corners of each room. Four steps in less than 30 seconds to be exact, and probably add another 60 seconds if I spot a place that needed fixed. Since I’d be seeing these 130 exquisitely furnished rooms for the first time, I’d say I’d need a heck of a lot more time. So, I’ve decided to put up my tent here. 

Outside the The Residenz.

There is no hurry. You can explore the Residenz at your own pace. We know colossal places such as this can be confusing, so we have included many pictures. If you get lost, follow the picture trail to locate us. Do also note our exploration tips embedded here in green. 😊 

First, let us park our bicycle and get a good look at the exterior. We are so excited. Let's go in.

Parking our bikes at the Residenz.

Next, we need to purchase a ticket. There are tickets for each exhibit section. Make sure you get the right one(s).

Here is ours! 

Ticket to the Bavarian-styled residence

It’s a combo ticket for three large sections: Residenz Museum, Treasury, and Cuvilliés Theatre. Now, we are set to go in. By the way, entrance is free for children under 18 years of age. 

But before we enter, here are a few outdoor shots. 

Sunrise over the Residenz.

Do you think that guy is racing with us to get in?

Hurry! Run! Meet you inside the Residenz.

Munich Residenz.

The Munich Residenz was the former royal palace of the Bavarian Monarchs. It stands today as the largest city palace in Germany, in the centre of Munich’s old town. 

The Residenz is rated as one of the top must-visit spots in Munich by both domestic and international visitors. 

Munich Residenz is open daily, except for on major national holidays. Prior reservation is not required to get into the museum section. So, if you wake up feeling like you want to explore this exquisite palace, your answer is here. No reservations required!

We are outside again. The Residenz.

[*** That’s a tip 😊] Looking at the pictures in this post, I think I’d rather take a day off for this visit. That way, I can enjoy the rooms all to myself, or that’s what I think.

Be sure you have sufficient time on your hands. Our trip today took over five educational hours of exploration. For those who wish to know the history in-depth for each item and room,  be prepared to allocate at least one week. 

The Residenz. Quick get in!

Interestingly, this palace was a small castle surrounded by a moat back in 1385. Over time, the Wittelsbachs, who were the rulers of Bavaria between 1180 and 1918, grew wealthier and more powerful, and so did this castle. Damaged severely during the World War II bombings in 1945, the building today has been tastefully restored to reflect its past glory.  

Babak is showing us around this time. See if you can spot our traveler on site in this post. Hint, you have to look at each photo.  

The Residenz. What you are still outdoors?

If you get a little overwhelmed just hearing about the number of rooms, just wait. There is more. There are ten courtyards within this palace. We will show you a few of them, as well. 

Good, now we are inside the complex, but at the courtyard.

Getting to Munich Residenz.

[*** A tip, awesome! 😊] Did I already mention that the Residenz is at the heart of Munich’s tourist attractions, near Marienplatz? Well, if you are taking the train, hop onto either the U-Bahn or S-Bahn lines to Marienplatz. If you live nearby and want to reduce the carbon effect, you could always take a walk or cycle.

Here are a couple of recommendations for getting to the Residenz.

• S-Bahn(suburban railway) "Marienplatz." 

S-bahn is an abbreviation for the German "Stadtschnellbahn" (meaning "city rapid railway") and was introduced in December 1930 in Berlin.

• U-Bahn (underground) "Marienplatz" or "Odeonsplatz."
• Bus "Odeonsplatz."
• Tram "Nationaltheater."

Bus to Odeonsplatz.

Tea (Coffee) in Royal Elegance.

Hold on, another thing before I forget. Can visitors enjoy their coffee and dine in grand style at the palace, you asked? 

Well, there is no café within the residence complex to get refueled. Instead, why not treat yourself to delicious hot coffee and sweet cake on the way? You showed me your entrance ticket. Oops! I hope you managed to get yourself a cup of coffee before that.

 [*** That’s a life-saver 😊] The residence is located near Munich’s popular tourist centre, Marienplatz. You won’t be disappointed with the many charming cafes around this neighbourhood. If you’d like a drink, remember to pick up your preferred choice before you to start your trip to the exquisite Bavarian treasures. Want to know more about Marienplatz? Explore Seasons Colours , A days walk  in Marienplatz.

Dine in style.

   

[*** That’s another tip 😊] Food and drinks are not allowed inside, but you can take in drinks in plastic bottles up to 0.5l. If you are carrying a delicious sandwich, finish it before you get in.  

Please join us.

Join us for a snack. It's caffè mocha and an apple pie at a quaint café, specialising in good coffee, in Pestalozzistr, called Aroma Kaffe Bar. The cafe is not only a popular coffee joint but also has several vegan options. Jackpot!  The atmosphere is trendy, relaxing and has great staff. I chatted with Juergen earlier, but we were not able to get a picture with him. What a good refuelling point for a long walk afterwards. 

Caffe Mocha at Aroma Kaffe Bar. Babak is onsite,
and that's me from a few years back outside the Residenz.

Exploring the Rooms inside the Munich Residenz.

[*** You are on a tip roll! 😊] What’s that – too many rooms and your feet are aching? Don’t worry. There is a buggy service, and it’s free! We didn’t catch any today – looks like everyone is in the mood for exploring by foot.

Inside the Bavarian Palace.

Whether you are on a buggy or walking, do look up to see the awesome artwork on the ceiling.

A beautiful ceiling inside the Bavarian Palace.

[*** Got that? 😊] The palace is enormous and has countless exhibits of impressive jewelry, art, furniture, and tapestries. It is easy to lose your way in the maze of interconnected rooms while you admire these exhibits. Make sure you have a floor plan in hand. We have ours.

Let's plan.

[*** Don’t miss this tip 😊] The stunning collections from the past capture the history well. To understand the impressive collections in each room, pick up an audio guide at the entrance. An audio guide is a device similar to a phone, and you can set it to any of the language options provided.  The guide helps you  understand the historic details related to a room and exhibits there. The best part is it’s free. 

Below is one of the three Charlotte Rooms. No matter how comfortable those chairs look, these are not for us to sit on.

See, but no touching!

What are Some of the Highlights We Captured During the Visit?

There is a lot to see at the palace, and you’d agree by just looking at these pictures. 

Lovely artwork everywhere.

The largest and one of the first few rooms you’d see is the Hall of Antiquities (Antiquarium). It was built between 1568 and 1571 to house the antique collection of  Duke Albert V, the Duke of Bavaria. Later, it was remodeled to a banquet hall. Did you notice the magnificent paintings in the two pictures at the Antiquarium?

Awesome sight, I am glued to this spot.

Below is a royal apartment. My thoughts transport me to Goldilocks. ‘Who’s sleeping on my bed?’

Goldilocks says its time to rest.

Here is more from the collection, showing some delicate figurines on display.

Delicate figurine.

Look up again to see beautiful stained window panels. 

Look up, but don't strain your neck.

The Wittelsbach family collected exquisite art and jewelry. We can see some of this fine collection at the Treasury.

Some of the exquisite jewelry.

[*** That’s another excellent tip 😊] If you love classical performances, you also can opt to see a live performance at the palace chapel. Do check out the concert tickets.  

What a beautiful walkway.

There are many lovely walkways and corridors along the way. Make sure you know which wing you are in. 

And, more walkways in the Residenz.

[*** Fabulous, keep the tips coming 😊] Did I already mention that we spent over five hours at the residence?  We highly recommend this visit for those who love art, culture, and history. It may be a bit overwhelming for young children, but sometimes kids do surprise you. Even if you are not a history major, it is still a fabulous place to spend a couple of hours. Just look at those lovely paintings!

Paintings on display.

[*** Great, there is more coming 😊] Take short breaks when you need to. Do you still have your water bottle? It comes in handy, right? Again, the seats below are not for the public. I got you there!

So, tired after exploring 130 rooms. It's time to rest.

What, you have a history-overload bug? Need some fresh air to relax? Let’s go out for a short while. We are at the Hofgarten or Court Garden, located on the northern side of the Residenz. You can sit on the grass to rest and to admire the view, just like this visitor here.

Happy to see the sun at Hofgarten.

Did you get all our tips and count the number? Here is a hint: there are ten embedded within this article. 

And, if you had turned your step counter on, I am sure you’d be impressed with the total number you have made for this trip. 

Did you keep track of your step count?

We lost count of the number of rooms and time while tracing the footsteps of the Bavarian rulers in the palace. Luckily, each room is uniquely numbered, so we could find our way around. It was a memorable trip for learning this: counting the steps and the stars to ReachingDelphi. Enjoy the treasures along the way. 

A memorable trip to Munich Residenz.

Traveller on location : Babak. Danke schön Babak for the pictures and taking us on a tour of the Residenz. (Virtual traveller, me 😎 )

References: 
https://www.residenz-muenchen.de/englisch/residenc/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Residenz

Explore Munich : Deutsches Museum

Deutsches Museum :  A Visit to the World’s Largest Science and Technology Museum in Europe

We are once again in Germany. If you love history and are seeking places to satisfy your thirst for knowledge, then you will be overwhelmed with the number of museums in the country. Munich (München) alone has over eighty museums, but today, we will visit just one, the Deutsches Museum.⁽¹⁾

Aviation

What is the Deutsches Museum?

The Deutsches Museum is the world’s largest science and technology museum. It’s home to over 28,000 exhibited objects from 50 fields of science and technology, making it a great place for adults and children to spend a day getting up to speed on the technological innovations of the past, present, and future. What an educational way to spend a day off!

The museum is so large that visitors often get lost and enchanted by the numerous exhibits. Just remember to pick up a floor plan at the entrance!

When was the Deutsches Museum Founded?

The museum was founded in June 1903. A German engineer, Oskar von Miller, was an instrumental figure in this field and is considered the founder of Deutsches Museum.

Where is the Deutsches Museum Located?

The Deutsches Museum spreads over several sites. The main location is on a small island, known as Museumsinsel, in the Isar River in Munich. If you remember, we saw quite a bit of the Isar in the colourful Autumn Walk post last year.

Location

The other sites in the country include:

• Flugwerft Schleißheim (Munich), which houses aviation exhibits and opened in 1992.
• Deutsches Museum Verkehrszentrum (Munich), which features transportation technology exhibits and opened in 2003.
• Bonn Branch (Bonn), which focuses on German technology and research after 1945.

How Do You Get to the Deutsches Museum?

The museum recommends visitors to use public transport to get to Museumsinsel.⁽²⁾

• S-Bahn:

All trains, Isartor

• Tram:

Line 17, Deutsches MuseumLine 16, IsartorLine 18, FraunhoferstraßeLine 19, Deutsches Museum

• Bus:

Line 132, BoschbrückeLine 52 + 62, Baaderstrasse

• U-Bahn:

Line 1 + 2, Fraunhoferstrasse

Getting there

When Can I Visit the Deutsches Museum?

The museum is open to the public every day between 9 am and 5 pm, but do check their homepage before visiting to be aware of any changes.

What Are Some of the Exhibits?

Science freaks will love this place. If you are not one, you will still be amazed at endless variety of exhibits to explore, including those that teach visitors about various sciences, history, musical instruments, minerals, machines, and technology. I am sure you will find at least a couple of topics that interest you!

Here are some of the permanent exhibits you’ll find at the museum:⁽³⁾

List of exhibits

I’ve also included some photos of the various exhibits at the Museumsinsel site. Hopefully they give you a feel of the amazing findings this museum showcases. Here is a try at them. 😊 

•         Energy Technology 

This section showcases various energy sources from windmills to water mills. You can also see artificial streams and models that show how hydro-power spins the watermills.

Energy technology

·         Glass industry

This section shows the work that goes on inside a glass factory.

At work

Here’s another form of glass. Ever wonder what early spectacles looked like? Well, you’ll find out here! For the curious, they were created as early as 1600. Also, did you know Brille means glasses in Deutsch?

That's just like the one I wear

 ·         Ceramics

The next picture shows pottery and ceramics dating back to thousands of years ago. The regions where they were discovered are also mentioned in exhibits. 

Any China for coffee?

·         Toys

This is section is for the small and not-so-small. These are modern toys, as Lego’s, ancestors.  Notice that most of them are made from stone. Can you imagine how heavy the the old-Lego-like grand pas would have been?

The kid inside us

Don’t these blocks look amazing? These are not printed like the ones we get today. These are actual cut stones.

Santa's sack will be heavy

·         Aviation/Aerospace

There were so many interesting displays of early aircrafts. Here two very famous ones!

Fly fly

·         History of Music, Musical Instruments, and TV.

There are many traditional musical instruments and devices that were used for radio and TV broadcasting displayed in this saloon. There was even an unaided piano here where the keys moved on their own to produce the sounds. See the invisible musician? 😊

The invisible musician

·         Clocks.

You’ll find many types of clocks in this section. Here is one. Can you tell if it is lunch time?

Tell me when its lunch

·         Mining

To finish off, here is a picture of a mine. You can see also see amazing and very fascinating shows about how natural resources have been mined.

Dark exploration

I have been informed by the museum that currently the museum is undergoing major refurbishment  activities and only half of the building is open to the public. Nevertheless, there is so much to see and a day is still hardly sufficient to cover the open areas. For more information visit here. 


The museum is vast and hugely popular among visitors of all ages. It is a highly recommended place to visit, so when you are in Munich, be sure to plan some time to come here.

An entrance ticket is required for anyone over six years of age, and it can be purchased either on location or online. Yearly membership is also available for the frequent visitor. Do check for any local concessions offered.  Visitors who are on a tight travel budget need not worry. Tickets are reasonably priced. 

As I mentioned earlier, visitors can easily get lost (in thought) here. It is not unusual to spend many hours at this museum. If you get hungry, there is a large restaurant where you can get a good meal and a hot cup of coffee. Below are some hot cuppas from around Germany. Pick one, and enjoy your coffee while seeing the exhibits at the museum.

Reach for knowledge. Reach for the stars, Reaching Delphi.

Thank you for the coffee pictures 💗

Traveller on location : Babak. Danke schön Babak for the pictures and taking us on a tour of the museum. (Virtual traveller, me 😎 )

(1)    http://www.munich-touristinfo.de/museums.htm

(2)    http://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/information/how-to-get-to-the-museumsinsel/

(3)    https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Deutsches_Museum

Update: 18/June - regarding refurbishment activities.

Seasons Colours, An Autumn's Day Walk.

Munich - Seasons Colours, An Autumn's Day Walk 

I am sure that you have heard of the famous annual Oktoberfest carnival. Yes, that is the carnival where you get super tall mugs of beer. That very mug can get you talking for hours.  Do you know where Oktoberfest is held? In Munich, of course!

Thus, where is Munich, and what are some of Munich’s famous landmarks? Munich is in the state of Bavaria and is the third largest city in Germany. Do names like Siemens and BMW sound familiar? Munich is where the headquarters for both these companies are. This Bavarian city is home to six million people. Do you remember when I talked to you about Munich and Oktoberfest last year?  Here is the link to that informative and exciting article on tips for your next Oktoberfest and Bavaria trip.

Guess what, to bid goodbye to the pleasurable summer and colourful fall this year, ReachingDelphi is taking you on a short walk to explore the colours of the third calendar season. Come, join me, as we explore these lovely sights with my friend Babak along the Isar River in Munich. 

Munich, we are here once again! 

Lets get started, Munich here we come

We start our walk at the Marienplatz. What and where is Marienplatz? In just a few words, Marienplatz is the most famous square in Munich. It is one of Munich's most important landmarks. Do be cautious not to step on anyone’s foot or hold someone else’s kid here, as this is a very crowded square. Almost all visitors to this city have come here at least once. 

At the square, you will see the New Town Hall, Old Town Hall, the Column of St. Mary and, the very famous Glockenspiel (the tower that houses motorised figurines). The square is a common meeting place and a great spot to have some coffee. I hope you have braved the thousands of cameras that are recording the figurines dance for their next YouTube entry. 

Look, my sister and I were here too, at Marienplatz, a couple years earlier. We had fewer wrinkles and more black hair then.

Back then at MarienPlatz

Have you had your cup of coffee? No? Then it’s time to grab a drink because our coffee refuel is the next stop. Babak recommends an Irish coffee and a delicious Torte.

Starters - Irish Coffee

Let’s continue our walk.  Here is a clip of Marienplatz for you. Do you hear the sounds from the violins?  It is charming. Another Julia Fischer in the making. It would be nice to stay here longer but we must get going. Before winter.

Now we head towards the river. On the way, just for today, you can see many runners on the street.  Today is the Munich marathon. This marathon is a full 42.2 km race. The marathon starts at the Coubertinplatz (Olympiastadion /Olympic Stadium) and ends at the Olympiastadion athletics track.  Watch out, it’s best not to get in their way.

Munich marathon

Plans can be bent, and there is a little detour along the way to show you the famous St Michaels church. This church is located between Karl’s Platz and Marienplatz. It is the largest Renaissance church in Bavaria and was consecrated in 1597.

St Michaels, Munich

Keep pace with us. We are now at the Zellstraße.

Look here! From a distance it looks like a Lennon showing a De Niro look alike how to handle the guitar and De Niro returning the favour with some valuable lessons in life of Yesterday, today! 💗

Yesterday .... All my troubles seemed so far away - Zellstraße.

We are at the Isar river. What a beautiful name! Isar is 295 kilometres long and cuts across two countries: Austria and Germany. Along the way, we spotted people swimming, picnicking, painting, napping, fishing and reading.

Isar, Munich

Just what are they painting here?

Time to concentrate, Isar Munich

I get it now. What a perfect spot for a Caspar David Friedrich moment.

Splendid, St Lukes, Munich

But like this lady here, ‘I can’t take my eyes off you’. 

The church you see here is St Luke's. It was built between 1893 and 1896. The St Luke's towers and it's 64ish-meter high domes are prominent features.

Wake me up later

Let’s keep walking. Mesmerised yet by the autumn shades of yellow, red and green?

Hiking

I wonder if he caught any fish? If he did, what would he do with it? The river looks like a perfect place to be in today.

Any fish today?

We cross this bridge. I see a few wise shadows in the Isar. 

Bridges, bridges

Did you find Babak?   

Where is Babak?

The view from where we stand is striking. We see another crossing not too far from where we are. It’s a long walk for me, but it’s worth the steps.

We take one step at a time, soaking in the sun. The crowd gets smaller, but the view remains just as stunning. We stroll along the river bank to the bridge across that we saw earlier and got more pictures of the inky blue Isar and Kabelsteg bridge.  

Isar again

I want to show you another place. Muller’sches Volksbad, an art nouveau style building. 

Did you know that Muller’sches Volksbad is a public sauna and bath? It also has an indoor swimming pool. This place is known as the most beautiful bath in Europe. The building complex was built in 1901. Karl Muller donated the building to the city of Munich on the condition that it be used as a pool for the poor.

Pretty Spa

We finally reach a spot called Vater-Rhein-Brunnen. The fountain you see here was created by Adolf von Hildebrand, a local sculptor. We end our walk here because the evening rays are taking my words away. And here is where I wish to drift away into the fallen evening leaves. 

Here is where I will be - Vater-Rhein-Brunnen

That long walk certainly made you hungry. Babak has some hot rice and tomato stew, if you decided to follow him even further.

Oh Yummy, Hot food. Danke Babak.

Thank you and Danke Schon Babak for taking us on this walk, far far away, and allowing me to put my thoughts into your pictures and videos. It was a kaleidoscopic experience for ReachingDelphi indeed.  

Es war ein sehr schöner Abendspaziergang.

Note:
Traveller on location : Babak - Sept 2018