CITY DESTINATION: Essentials in Munich

Essentials in Munich

By Jorge R.Jefferds March 14, 2017

Before planning a trip to Munich, Germany, there are basic tips to keep in consideration. You might only need your US passport to enter the country of the North Sea. Visa is not required if your trip does not last more than 90 days and is only for business or vacation. Climate in this area is similar to the one on the west coast of the United States, specifically to Washington and Oregon States. Winters are cool, not freezing. Summers can be warm. Most days are cloudy throughout the year. Since German is the official language, make sure to bring your pocket bilingual dictionary or try to learn the essential expressions needed in restaurants, hotels, public transportation, and tourist attractions. 

Aerial View of Cologne

Upon the arrival to the airport, look for any KVB or DB ticket machine and buy a KölnCard. For as little as €9.00, you will discover Cologne in all its diversity at reduced prices, which means discounts in restaurants, cultural attractions, and free public transportation rides. With ticket in hand, take the Kölner Verkerhsbetriebe KVB in order to get to downtown. Book accommodations always prior to your departure, for you can receive the necessary information about your hotel.

Cologne is the fourth largest city in Germany with one million inhabitants. As well, almost three million hotel guests and private visitors stay here each year. Therefore, booking is important if you do not want the adventure of losing a day trying to find your room. If you arrive during the early hours, don’t rest even if you have a jet lag. Go to your first stop; visit the most famous postcard icon of the city: the Cologne Cathedral.

Shrine of the Three Kings

Regardless your religious beliefs, you will be amazed by the beauty of this gothic landmark, whose construction dates back to the 12^th century. The bones of the three wise men (shrine of the Three Kings) lie inside of it. The ground breaking ceremony was in 1248, the inauguration as the third largest church construction in the world was in 1880. Cologne became an important centre of medieval pilgrimage, when Cologne’s Archbishop Rainald of Dassel gave the relics of the Three Wise Men to Cologne’s cathedral in 1164 (after they in fact had been captured from Milan). Furthermore, Cologne preserves the relics of Saint Ursula and Albertus Magnus.

Actually, it was finished in 1880 not just as a place of worship but also as a German national monument celebrating the newly founded German empire and the continuity of the German nation since the middle ages.

If you have time in your first day, visit these medieval houses:

The Cologne City Hall (Kölner Rathaus), founded in the 12th century, is the oldest city hall in Germany still in use. Located off Hohe Strasse, it accommodates part of the city government with a documented history spanning about 900 years.

The history of its council during the 11th century is a prominent example for self-gained municipal autonomy of medieval cities. Today's building complex consists of several structures, added successively in varying architectural styles: they include the 14th century historic town hall, the 15th century Gothic style tower, the 16th century Renaissance style loggia and cloister (the Löwenhof), and the 20th century Modern Movement atrium (the Piazzetta). The so-called Spanischer Bau is an extension on Rathausplatz but not directly connected with the main building.

The Cologne City Hall

The Gürzenich is a magnificent representation building in the heart of Cologne, which was opened in 1447. It offers a classic late Gothic façade on the outside. The interior was designed in the style of the 50s. In 1997 a general renovation of the building took place, with the aim of combining historical architecture with the most modern event technology into an exquisite event center. The Gürzenich Cologne is a worthy setting for stylish celebrations, congresses, balls, concerts and other social events. Cologneers love "their" Gürzenich. Organizers and their guests experience why.

Haus Saaleck is another amazing landmark, and very representative, patrician house built in late Gothic style in 1461. Over the centuries it has preserved its original face. The Second World War, however, led to considerable destruction, with the interior completely burning out. In the post-war period the building has been rebuilt using old building fabric in its external appearance. The interior was expanded in the style of the 1950s. In the meantime the house was initially used for exhibitions of the Cologne City Museum.

Haus Saaleck

The ground floor of the building has been available to the artothek since 1973 to the present day as an exhibition space; in the upper floors were up until 2005 several municipal facilities. Since 2007, the new owner, Christoph Böther-Schultze, has been working for Haus Saaleck and has extensively renovated it in the last three years.

The history and the restoration work are presented by the builders and caretakers. Also highly interesting are the new possibilities of use resulting from the preservation of monuments as a living Cologne citizen's house.