Munich & Upper Bavaria

Haidhausen, first mentioned in 808 as "haidhusir" (houses on the heath), long thrived on brick production. Small lodging houses for brickyard workers emerged around Wiener Platz, some of which still stand today. In 1854, Haidhausen, along with Au and Giesing, became part of Munich. From 1872, the French Quarter was developed around Ostbahnhof, with streets named after sites of the Franco-Prussian War.Perched on the Isar high bank is the Maximilianeum, seat of the Bavarian State Parliament; to its north, Villa Stuck showcases a turn-of-the-century artist's home. In the evenings, the district offers traditional taverns, French bistros, and cultural venues like the Muffatwerk and Jazzclub Unterfahrt. U4 and U5 stop at Max-Weber-Platz, and Ostbahnhof is connected by S-Bahn and U5.

The Au is situated in the Isar lowlands on the right bank of the river and was first mentioned in 1340 as "Awe ze Gyesingen," a name meaning land by the water. In 1808, it was elevated to a city and granted market rights; in 1854, it became part of Munich. Following the air raids of 1944, post-war architecture largely defines its appearance today, with the Auer Mühlbach flowing right through the district. On Nockherberg, Duke Wilhelm V founded a monastery in 1623, its brewery being the precursor to Paulaner, and Karl Valentin was born here.The heart of the district is Mariahilfplatz with its Neo-Gothic Mariahilfkirche. Three times a year, the Auer Dult transforms it for nine days into a large market featuring pottery, antiques, and rides; the Kirchweihdult 2026 runs from October 17 to 25. In spring, the Starkbierfest on Nockherberg attracts visitors. Tram 18 goes to Mariahilfplatz; for U1 and U2, you alight at Fraunhoferstraße or Kolumbusplatz.

The Glockenbachviertel gets its name from a bell foundry in front of the Sendlinger Tor, where bells were cast from 1476 to 1671, and from the stream next to it, first documented as Glockenbach in 1575. The district belongs to the Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt borough and extends south from Fraunhoferstraße along the Isar. It has a long history as a gay and lesbian-influenced district; Germany's first leather bar opened on Müllerstraße as early as 1967. Together with the neighboring Gärtnerplatzviertel, it is now considered a trendy district with many pubs and bars.During the day, you can stroll through the Alter Südfriedhof with the graves of famous Munich residents, sit at Gärtnerplatz, or walk down to the Isar, which forms the district's southeastern border. In the evenings, the bars and traditional pubs around Fraunhoferstraße, Hans-Sachs-Straße, and Müllerstraße fill up. You can reach the heart of the district by taking U1 and U2 to Fraunhoferstraße station.

Munich is Bavaria's state capital and, with over 1.6 million inhabitants, Germany's third-largest municipality. The Isar River flows through the city for nearly 14 kilometers. The heart of the Old Town is Marienplatz with the New Town Hall, where the carillon chimes daily at 11 AM and 12 PM; a few steps away stand the two towers of the Frauenkirche.The Wittelsbach dynasty ruled from 1508 to 1918 from the Residenz, Germany's largest city palace, and created extensive grounds like Nymphenburg Palace and the English Garden. In Maxvorstadt lie the Pinakothek museums of the Kunstareal, and on an Isar island, the Deutsches Museum. Every year, starting the Saturday after September 15th, the city celebrates Oktoberfest on the Theresienwiese, an event dating back to Crown Prince Ludwig's wedding in 1810.

Schwabing was an independent town until 1890, when it was incorporated into Munich. Around 1900, artists and writers made the district famous: Wassily Kandinsky, Alexej Jawlensky, and Franz Marc shaped the Blauer Reiter movement, and from 1896, the satirical magazine Simplicissimus was published here, with Thomas Mann serving as an editor for a time. To this day, the main axis is Leopoldstraße, which starts at the Siegestor and made headlines in the 1960s due to the Schwabinger Krawalle.You can stroll along Leopoldstraße, sit in pubs and bars around Münchner Freiheit, and visit the Englischer Garten, which directly borders the district. Further west, Luitpoldpark awaits with its panoramic hill. U3 and U6 stop at Münchner Freiheit, so you're just a few minutes from Odeonsplatz or Marienplatz.