24 June 2019, Monday
The Wittlesbachs continued to rule until 1919, when the Communists usurped power and turned Bavaria into the world’s second socialist republic after the USSR. This, however, only lasted a few months and in the 1920’s, Munich became the base for right-wingers such as Adolf Hitler. Munich became his “capital of the movement”. Today Bavarians are the minority here. Munich has a roaring economy and is home to corporations like Siemens and BMW.
The restaurant recommended by our hostess was in Marienplatz, a central square in the city centre. It has been the city's main square since 1158, more than 450 years. Marienplatz (or Mary’s Square in English) was named after the Mariensäule, a column featuring the Virgin Mary at the top and erected in its centre in 1638 to celebrate the end of Swedish occupation. Beneath, the lion, basilisk, dragon and snake symbolise the struggle against the plagues of mankind: war, plague, hunger and disbelief. Today the Marienplatz is dominated by the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus) on the north side, and the Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus, a reconstructed gothic council hall with a ballroom and tower) on the east side.
In the Middle Ages, markets and tournaments were held in this city square. It used to be called Markth(market), Schranne(grain market) and later Schrannenplatz(grain market square). Later the grain market was moved into the modern glass-and-iron Schranne near "Blumenstrasse" in 1853, and the square received its new name, starting 9 October 1854. We ate at one of the restaurants here recommended by our hostess. I had grilled sausages with potato salad (a typical Bavarian dish) and the local draft beer which was Augustiner beer from the wooden keg.
Nearby I saw a famous church known as the Frauenkirche or the 'Cathedral of Our Dear Lady' or the Munich Cathedral. It serves as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and is the seat of its Archbishop. It’s brief history: a Romanesque church was added adjacent to the town's first ring of walls in the 12th century, replacing a former late romanesque building. This new church served as a second city parish following the older, Alter Peter church.
The late Gothic building visible today, commission of Duke Sigismund and the people of Munich, was erected in the 15th century. It is a landmark and is considered a symbol of the Bavarian capital city. Although construction of the church started in 1468 under the reign of the Wittelsbachs, the two towers of the church (98 metres tall) were only completed in 1525. It is said to hold a standing congregation of 20,000.
After dinner we took the tram back and walked about 650 metres in the dusk and guess what. There were fireflies out in the dark, sparkling away while flying. It felt a bit magical.
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