Seven exciting myths about Munich: true or lies?
Munich is full of stories and myths. But which of them are actually true? A city guide explains.
Munich – The lion tower on Rindermarkt comes from Munich founder Heinrich the lion. The bones of rich citizens lie within the walls of the Frauenkirche. Munich is full of stories. But are they true? City guide Carmen Finkenzeller knows the answers.
On her “True Tales Tour” from STATTreisen Munich, she has unbelievable stories about Marienplatz at hand. After each station, the audience can decide whether it’s true or not. We present some of the treasures of the tour of lies for you to guess. Munich stories that are not entirely free from giddiness.
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Seven exciting myths about Munich: true or false?
1. Height of the towers
The Frauenkirche from the 15th century is Munich’s landmark. However, their famous onion domes are not the same height. The north tower is 100 meters high, the south tower only 99 meters. We learned that at school, didn’t we?
The solution: A lie! They only differ by 12 centimeters. The north tower measures 98.57 meters, the south tower 98.45 meters.
2. Old City Wall
On the 25 meter high lion tower on Rindermarkt there is a yellow sign with the inscription: Legendary remains of Henry the Lion’s first city wall, 12th century. Is this statement correct?
The solution: “It is not true that it is a remnant of the first city wall,” says city guide Carmen Finkenzeller. “That would be the wrong place, the tower is too far towards the city center.” And she points out: “It’s easy to miss the word legendary. And according to legend, the Lion Tower can of course very well go back to Henry the Lion.” Historians disagree on the purpose of the tower. “What is certain is that access must be via another building, as there is no stairwell to get to the top of the seven-story tower.”
3. Dead behind the tombstones
There used to be a cemetery around the Peterskirche as well as around the Frauenkirche. When Munich became more and more populated – and thus more people died – the cemeteries were moved to the outskirts and the dead were reburied. “The church allowed the rich people of Munich to have their expensive stone gravestones attached to the church wall,” says Carmen Finkenzeller. “The bones were then buried behind it.”
The solution: The weathered tombstones on the outer walls actually exist, some of them are several hundred years old. But bones were never buried behind it. The cemeteries located around the churches.
Munich is the commuter capital
Seven exciting myths about Munich: double fir, gargoyle and conservatory
4. Double fir
The Christmas tree at Marienplatz is a topic of conversation every year. Years ago there was a particularly magnificent tree. “But it was so beautiful above all because there were actually two trees – a so-called “double fir tree”, according to the city guide.
The solution: That’s correct! The tree of the year 2013 from Bad Kohlgrub had split at the trunk at a height of around eight meters (left) – only those who looked up from below into the branches could see the double tree.
5. Spitting Gargoyle
At the town hall there are gargoyles, often figures with distorted faces or dragons. “After a renovation, downspouts replaced the gargoyles. The water only flows out of the bottom row of figures in the courtyard,” says Carmen Finkenzeller. This was allowed to exist for fear of harm.
The solution: rubbish! Carmen Finkenzeller: “If the supply line is turned off at the top, no more rain comes out, even through the bottom gargoyles.”
6. The incredible journey of the Crown Treasury
We have a Swiss to thank for the fact that the crown treasure of the Bavarian king is still in Munich. Shortly before the end of the Second World War, Tino Walz, employed by the Bavarian Palace Administration, was afraid that the treasures would be looted. Without further ado, he packed the crown treasure, which had been outsourced to Kelheim, in his old Opel Kadett by the crate and took it to Tegernsee, where he hid it in a potato cellar.
The solution: Is correct! Architect Tino Walz (1913 – 2008) succeeded in this life-threatening action in April 1945 because he decorated his totally overloaded cadet with a Swiss flag and pretended to be a Swiss courier. He sank other art treasures in boxes in the Tegernsee. Only when it was clear after the end of the war that the treasures would remain in Bavaria did he reveal his hiding places – and later oversaw the reconstruction of the residence.
7. Ludwig’s conservatory
Ludwig II (1845 – 1886) is world famous for building his fairytale castles. What Kini built in Munich is less known. On the roof of the residence he created a tropical paradise: a winter garden with palm trees, orchids and a lake with swans.
The solution: That’s correct! In 1869 the 70 meter long and 10 meter high glass conservatory was built on the roof of the residence. Inside an Indian tent, an illuminated grotto and modern central heating. Carmen Finkenzeller: “But the pond wasn’t completely watertight, it dripped down into the beds of the servants living below it.” After Ludwig’s death, the conservatory was demolished.
The Tour
If you want to guess more: The next tours will take place on February 12 at 3 p.m. and on June 11 at 11 a.m. Duration: 1.5 hours. Adult price: 15 euros. Meeting point: Toy Museum. There is a tour for children on April 1st. at 14 o ‘clock. Price for children: 8 euros. Registration is possible online at www.stattreisen-muenchen.de – but it is also sufficient if you come to the meeting point on time.
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