Located near the Olympiapark in Munich and established in 1972 shortly before the Summer Olympics opened, the BMW museum is one of its kind focusing on the history of the automobile manufacturer BMW. When the construction of BMW Welt began directly opposite the museum, it was renovated from 2004 to 2008 and later reopened on June 21, 2008. The museum is a very popular one with about 250,000 people visiting it each year.

The tourists get a detailed overview of BMW’s technical development throughout the company’s history with a varied display of engines and turbines, aircraft, motorcycles, and vehicles in a plethora of possible variations. In addition to actual models there are futuristic-looking, even conceptual studies from the past 20 years.

The use of headphones and clever, often indirect lighting, lend the exhibition a largely peaceful atmosphere. The emphasis is on technical development and benefits of modernity. The building blends in with the exhibition concept.

The building was designed by the architect of the BMW Headquarters, the Viennese professor Karl Schwanzer. The unique structure and design of this silver building makes it known as the salad bowl or white cauldron. The roughly circular base is only 20 meters in diameter, the flat roof about 40 metres. The entrance is on the ground floor and consists of a cloakroom (in basement) and reception.

In order to visit the exhibits, the visitors have to ascend on a spiral upward in the building. Slideshows and smaller, in-depth exhibits are located on four “islands” inside the building. On the upper floor are individual exhibits, a small cinema hall and several interactive exhibits that explain the technology further. An escalator leads visitors finally back into the ground floor.

The design reverses the spiral from top to bottom and the order of the “operation principle” Frank Lloyd Wright built in Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

The visitors to the beautiful city of Munich find no dearth of places to visit here as the city is dotted with exotic tourist spots. Among them is the Munich’s Nymphemburg Palace, which is surely a delight for the tourists.

The central pavilion is the oldest part of the palace, built (1664) as a gift from Elector Ferdinand Maria to his wife Adelaide of Savoy. The ground floor here has a gift shop. The palace was mainly used as a summer residence. The main structure is over 650m long.

The palace has the Stone Hall, a massive Rococo ballroom with splendid chandeliers. The ceiling in this hall is decorated with  frescos by Johann Zimmermann and his son Franz. In July the hall comes alive for the Nymphenburger Sommerspiele concerts.

Max Emanuel’s bedroom in the palace has nine paintings of women, depicted as Goddesses, whom Max had relations with during a spell in exile in Paris. The Chinese Lacquer Room is covered with depictions of country life in the Far East.

From 1726 the Southern Pavilion was reserved for Bavaria’s royal women: The Queens and electresses. As such, the Schönheitengalarie (Gallery of Beauties) has walls filled with portraits of 36 girls picked out by King Ludwig I and painted by Joeseph Stieler from 1826 to 1850.

In the southern pavilion of Nymphenburg Palace, lies the Maserzimmer, which is filled with portraits of King Ludwig I and his wife. The Blauer Salon features 200-year-old Parisian furniture and the bedroom next door was where Bavaria’s fairytale king, Ludwig II, was born.

Schloss Nymphenburg stands at 5km northwest of the city centre. Nymphenburg “combination tickets” cost 10€ (8€ concession) from April 1 to October 15. They cost 8€ (6€ concession) from October 16 to March 31. This ticket gives you access to the palaces, the Marstallmuseum, the Nymphenburg Porcelain Museum and the Nymphenburg park palaces (the Amalienburg, Badenburg, Pagodenburg and Magdalenenklause). Nymphenburg Palace is open daily. It is open from April to October 15, 9am to 6pm and from October 16 to March 10am to 4pm.

The city of Munich abounds in marvellous display of beautiful buildings. Yet greenery finds its place amidst the concrete jungle in the form of green parks, parklands and landscaped gardens. Also worth noticing in Munich are the beautiful Renaissance gardens and formal Baroque-style planting which border a number of grand palaces. Some of the must see parks and gardens in Munich are:

Munich’s city park
This happens to be one of the largest and most beautiful parks of Germany extending almost to the Isar River. Founded by Sir Benjamin Thompson, an English scientist, this park is loved by the visitors who enjoy long walks, picnics and sunbathing. The park is especially popular because it permits nude sunbathing in certain areas. You can have tea on the plaza near the Chinese pagoda, or have a beer at the nearby beer garden.

Botanischer Garten
Stretching along a wide span of 22 hectares, the garden is subdivided into areas where each one is devoted to a particular plant variety. The attractions of the garden include the Alpine garden, which reaches its peak during the summer months, the heather garden which displays a vibrant collection of violets and purples in summer, the rose garden, the fern gorge, and the series of hothouses that are home to numerous exotic tropical plants. Admission is 4€ for adults and 2€ for children.

Hirschgarten
The garden stands in west Munich and was designated by Elector Karl Theodor as a deer park in 179.1Eventually a beer garden was established, now the largest in the world, with a capacity for 8,000 thirsty patrons. The place is popular among the visitors for picnics, barbecues, or afternoon chess games.