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Statue of Bavaria
Statue of Bavaria is an 18m-high Amazon in the Statue of Liberty tradition, oak wreath in hand and lion at her feet. This iron lady has a cunning design that makes her seem solid, but actually you can climb via the knee joint up to the head for a great view of the Oktoberfest. At other times, views are not particularly inspiring.
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Steinzimmer
Another highlight is the Steinzimmer, awash in intricately patterned and coloured marble, which was where the emperor stayed during his Munich visits.
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Theatinerkirche
The mustard-yellow Theatinerkirche, built to commemorate the 1662 birth of Prince Max Emanuel, was dreamed up by Swiss architect Enrico Zuccalli. Also known at St Kajetan, it's a voluptuous design with two massive twin towers flanking a giant cupola. Inside, an intensely ornate dome lords over the Fürstengruft (royal crypt), the final destination of several Wittelsbach rulers, including King Maximilian II.
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Theresienwiese
The Theresienwiese, better known as 'Wiesn', is the site of the Oktoberfest. At the western end of the meadow is the Ruhmeshalle (Hall of Fame) guarding solemn statues of Bavarian leaders, as well as the statue of Bavaria, an 18m-high Amazon in the Statue of Liberty tradition, oak wreath in hand and lion at her feet. This iron lady has a cunning design that makes her seem solid, but actually you can climb via the knee joint up to the head for a great view of the Oktoberfest.
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Tierpark Hellabrunn
Tierpark Hellabrunn has 5000 furry, feathered and finned friends that rarely fail to enthral the little ones. It was one of the first to be set up like a 'geo-zoo' with spacious natural habitats dividing animals by continent. A baby giant panda (born in July 2007) is a current squeezable of the pre-teen set, as is the large petting zoo where tots get to feed deer and goats.
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Verkehrszentrum
An ode to mobility, the Verkehrszentrum is all about the ingenious ways humans have devised to transport things and each other.
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Viscardigasse
The little Viscardigasse, which runs behind the Feldherrnhalle, came to be known as Drückebergergasse (Dodger's Alley) during the Third Reich. To commemorate the 16 Nazis who died during the Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler installed a guarded memorial along Residenzstrasse and required all passers-by to give the Hitler salute. The only way to 'dodge' such nonsense was by sneaking through Viscardigasse instead, a small act of civic defiance.
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Wedekindplatz
The heart of Altschwabing (Old Schwabing) - Wedekindplatz - still preserves a boho touch thanks to the nearby small stores, gritty bars and alternative theatres. While living here from 1899 to 1901, Thomas Mann penned his famous novel Buddenbrooks . Beatniks and hippies invaded in the '60s, fuelling a minor spin on the 1968 revolution.
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