Neuhausen, Nymphenburg, Gern

Three different districts are combined into one here in the ninth municipal district of Munich. Residents of Nymphenburg and Gern, with their beautiful old mansions and patrician houses, have always looked down upon the people of Neuhausen somewhat disapprovingly. Craftsmen lived and worked in Neuhausen in former times. The district still holds its own today. It has in fact become something of an 'in' area in which mainly students, artists and those who really like to enjoy life have set up a shop or at least would very much like to.

Numerous cafes, fancy guest houses and restaurants of all nationalities speak a common language and symbolize the cosmopolitan attitudes of the modern citizen. There is ample opportunity for shopping, along Nymphenburger Strasse and around Rotkreuzplatz. Shops are lined up one after the other. Antique collectors and bargain hunters often strike gold in the smaller shops too.  For those who still aren’t satisfied: Close by is the OEZ (Olympia Einkaufszentrum), the largest shopping centre in Bavaria. And yet another superlative: The biggest beer garden in the world can be found in Hirschgarten, Neuhausen.

Gern, on the other hand, is characterised by numerous villas and the moat of the nearby Nymphenburger Schloss and its adjoining park. Right next to the castle is the botanical garden and the Museum Mensch und Natur (Museum of Man and Nature). Nymphenburger Schloss itself is one of the most beautiful palaces in the world and together with the park is one of the best-known sights in Germany. One shouldn’t miss out on King Ludwig I of Bavaria’s Schönheitengalerie (Gallery of Beauty) and of course the Nymphenburg porcelain factory, which can only be visited with a written booking. The extensive baroque structure was built as a summer residence for the Bavarian electoral princes.

The impressive ensemble of baroque courtyards in the vast palace grounds comprises a range of important collections. The palace’s museum also includes the room in which King Ludwig II was born and the multi-storey banqueting hall with its magnificent ceiling fresco by Johann Baptiste Zimmermann. The Nymphenburg Palace Park is one of the largest and most marvellous landscape gardens in Germany. The artistic combination of formal garden and landscaped park is a masterpiece of garden art and has turned the whole palace and surrounding area into a much visited attraction.
   
In winter, pure romanticism is to be found immediately in front of the castle: The Nymphenburg Canal is filled with ice skaters and it feels as though you have been transported back to a former century.

After the fun on the ice, a stop at the nearby Dantebad Spa is highly recommended. In snow flurries and icy temperatures, one can swim in the heated outdoor Dante Winter Pool without freezing. Then enjoy an all-round sense of well-being in the sauna. This combination can only be found in one place in Munich. In summer, the Dantebad’s seven swimming pools offer passes for the whole family. 

by Inés Berber


Location:        U1 Rotkreuzplatz

Highlights:      Ruffini - see cafés

                       Dantebad - see swimming pools


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