A castle credited to Philip of the Palatinate, the Rennaissance style structure dates back to 1530. After being under the patronage of different rulers, the castle ultimately came under the management of the municipality of Ismaning in 1919 and has been its owner ever since. Today, it serves as a host to the Schlossmuseum Ismaning, which houses artworks of the local artists.
Facing Residenz Palace, the Hofgarten (Court Garden) was commissioned by Duke Maximilian I and built between 1613-17. Stroll through this beautiful garden and notice that all of the paths converge on the dodecahedral pavilion in the center, which is crowned by a statue of Diana, one of Bavaria's most recognizable symbols. The Hofgarten is enclosed on two sides by a series of arcades which were originally decorated with murals. The only surviving painting is Peter von Cornelius' fascinating depiction of the story of the Bavarian royal family.
One of the oldest English-style landscape gardens and one of the largest municipal parks in Europe, the Englischer Garten is Munich's most fascinating park. Sprawling across an area of 3.7 square kilometres (1.4 square miles), this place is one of the largest public parks in the world. The park features some of the best architecturally diverse landmarks along its vast verdant expanse and rolling lawns. From a Chinese pagoda with an adjoining beer garden and the Monopteros Greek temple, to a Japanese Tea House, the park is full of intriguing monuments and landmarks. Artificial streams gush through the park and several surfers can be seen gliding effortlessly along its foamy waters. Also housing an artificial lake and an open-air theater, the urban park is one of the best socio-cultural hubs of Munich.
BMW Welt is one of the defining landmarks of Munich's architectural and technological advancements. An immaculate glass cone design that combines form and function, the center is an exquisite socio-cultural hub used for large-scale exhibitions, meetings, conferences and other major events. Displaying the brilliant cars, this is also the collecting center for BMW buyers, with on-site restaurants and lounges serving delectable cuisine for visitors.
Longer in width than the Palace of Versailles, Schloss Nymphenburg was the impressive summer residence of the Wittelsbachs. One of the most popular attractions in Munich, the palace and its grounds are home to several landmarks showcasing diverse architectural styles. Designed by Italian Baroque architect Augustino Barelli, the palace still preserves its rococo and baroque rooms. The ornate, marble polished Stone Hall is particularly impressive and the famous 'Schönheitengalerie' (Gallery of the Beauties) containing the portraits of 36 local women, is a must see for visitors. A few interesting smaller palaces can be found in the park: the Amalienburg, Pagodenburg and Badenburg. The Marstallmuseum has a comprehensive display of carriages, sleds and crockery, while the Meditationskapelle (Meditation Chapel) with its Magdalenenklause is also worth a visit.
Located in the Schloss Nymphenburg, Schlosspark Nymphenburg is one of the largest parks in Munich. The picturesque green landscape, complemented by some extraordinary garden art, is the reason behind the castle garden's popularity among visitors. The entire area is spread around 229 hectares (565.87 acres) of land and is a must visit when in Munich. You can also avail of guided tours conducted by the garden authorities.
Once an aristocratic palace, thought to have been constructed in about 1726 by Ignaz Anton Gunetzrhainer, Lerchenfeld Palace was destroyed during the War, with just its rococo facade (attributed to Stuber) remaining. In 1958, the palace was beautifully restored by Erwin Schleich. The plaster figures, attributed to Johann Baptist Zimmermann, are especially fine, particularly the Wessobrunner Madonna above the portal. The building now serves as the municipal funeral department.
The Hofkistlerhaus, built in 1730, is one of the splendid buildings in front of Schloß Nymphenburg and houses a small museum devoted to the works of the Munich artist Erwin von Kreibig (1904-61). Shortly before his death, the painter was awarded the prestigious Schwabinger Kunstpreis award. Works by contemporary (local) artists are also displayed in temporary exhibitions. Admission: DEM 3.
More a platform for modern spiritual art than you might expect from the name alone, the exhibitions focus on the parallels between modern art and contemporary philosophical and theological thought. This may sound very modern but the society was founded in 1893 and has its roots in the 19th century layman movement. One can explore the regular but temporary exhibitions to gain more insight into Christian art.
Kunstraum München e.V. is a private association promotes contemporary art in Munich, and originates from an early-1970s private initiative. Since then, a great deal has been done for local artists including the sponsorship of artists and the organization of over 130 exhibitions. In 1996, the association moved from Schwabing to the inner city. The association now boasts over 400 members: temporary exhibitions are organized on a regular basis. Admission is free.
For over 35 years, Galerie Thomas has been dealing with art works from the fields of German expressionism and modern classicism and is one of the leading international galleries in this area. The gallery focuses on works by artists of the groups Blauer Reiter (Blue Rider), Brücke and Bauhaus groups (including Kandinsky, Jawlensky, Macke, Marc, Kirchner, Nolde, Schlemmer and Klee). A further pillar is art from the fifties and sixties by the likes of Nay, Winter and Ackermann. The programme is completed by contemporary artists such as Xenia Hausner, Fernando Botero and Joannis Avramidis.
Exhibitions at this gallery, which was founded in 1991, show works by national and international contemporary artists in the fields of new media, photography, painting, installations and video art. Andreas Binder Gallery is also a major art dealer and provides professional advice. The list of artists exhibiting at the gallery changes constantly, but all are relatively young. The program draws on contemporary mainstream art, and past featured artists include Ruth Biller, Walter Dahn, Tim Maguire, Markus Oehlen, Ursula Rogg and Julio Rondo.