July 2004
No Dough?
What to do this summer if you've got no money to spend
Low on cash? Well, that’s no excuse for staying home and sitting in front of the TV all summer. MUNICH FOUND’s Summer Insider Guide features gratis activities that are sure to get you off the couch and out to some of the most interesting museums, churches, theaters and concerts around town.
MUSEUMS
Forget paying € 8 to look at two hours’ worth of art and save your money for post-museum cappuccinos instead and
go for free on Sunday. The following Munich museums offer free admission to their permanent collections on Sundays: Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, Pinakothek der Moderne, State Collection of Antiques (Staatliche Antikensammlung), Bavarian State Archaeological Collection (Archäologische Staatssammlung), Bavarian National Museum (Bayerisches Nationalmuseum), Glyptothek, Munich City Museum (Münchner Stadtmuseum), State Coin Collection (Staatliche Münzsammlung), State Museum of Ethnology (Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde). Check the Tourist Office (
www.muenchen-tourist.de) or the Internet for museum opening times and locations.
CHURCHES AND CHAPELS
For a small fee pamphlets can be bought in most of Munich’s churches with information on the history of these buildings. Entrance to the churches listed below is free, but any extras, such as a guided tour or a climb up a bell tower, will cost a modest fee. St.-Johann-Nepomuk-Kirche, also known as the Asamkirche (Sendlingerstr. 62), is a great find. Located in the middle of a busy shopping street, this is a surprising church as the interior is Baroque: gilded putti, trumpet-playing angels and frescoes abound. The Frauenkirche (Frauenplatz 12) is famous for its twin towers, which have been considered a city landmark since 1525, and it is well worth taking a walk around its cavernous interior. Resting place of King Ludwig II (see this month’s travel article), Michaelskirche (Neuhauserstr. 52) is not only the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps but also has the world’s second-largest vaulted roof. Peterskirche (Rindermarkt 1) has some spectacular attractions: rare murals by Bavarian artist Johann Baptist Zimmermann and the jewel-covered skeleton of St. Mundita. Finally, take a look inside the Theatinerkirche (Theatinerstr. 22), which was erected at the behest of Elector Ferdinand Maria for his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy when she bore a male heir in 1662. There are many more beautiful churches in Munich to visit and, if you are interested, the Tourist Office can give you a list of addresses and a map.
OUTDOOR THEATER
What could be better on a summer’s evening than sitting in the English Garden with a picnic and your sweetheart and watching a play? This year the Munich Summer Theater Group (
Münchner Sommertheater) will be putting on Bernard Shaw’s
Pygmalion. Performances are in German and start at 9 pm in the Amphitheater, but it is advisable to arrive ahead of time as the best places on the lawn are taken early. Please bring blankets to sit on and a hamper full of treats to keep hunger at bay. Shows run July 9–11, 16–18, 23–25, 30–August 1 and in case of bad weather will be moved to the Mohr-Villa (Situlistr. 73).
MUSIC
The Munich Academy of Music and Theater (Hochschule für Musik und Theater München) runs a program of concerts featuring classical music. Although the concerts run only during the first week of July, they showcase highly talented students who often go on to achieve international renown later in life. This is your opportunity to check out some up-and-coming musicians for free. Concerts held from July 1 to 9 include performances by students of viola, violin, piano and voice. All free concerts will take place in the Kleiner or Grosser Konzertsaal of the Hochschule, Arcisstr. 12. Call (089) 289 03 or visit
www.musikhochschule-muenchen.de for further information. Should you still be at a loss for something to do, head over to the Olympia Park and join in the free concerts at the Sommerfest, August 5–22, or the Theatron MusikSommer, August 1–28. The former is often likened to the Oktoberfest as it runs for 18 days
from noon until late evening and has a
jovial, community atmosphere. Theatron MusikSommer offers a varying program of classical, rock, folk and pop concerts twice nightly, one at 7 pm, the second at 8:30 pm. Sommerfest events take place at Coubertinplatz and Theatron MusikSommer concerts at the Amphitheater. Check
www.olympiapark-muenchen.de and
www.theatron.de for more information.
DANCING
Every Wednesday and Sunday summer evening in the Pavilion in the Hofgarten after 8 pm there is outdoor salsa dancing. Please keep in mind this is more of a spontaneous happening than an organized event and is subject to change at any time for any reason. If, however, the weather is good, the band shows up and your dancing shoes are comfortable, you will most likely have one of your most memorable evenings in Munich ever. If you are here just for a short time and don’t want to take a chance with your evening entertainment, the Bayerischer Hof’s Night Club Bar (Promenadeplatz 2–6) has free salsa dancing every Monday night starting at 10 pm.
