Schwabing

Still a farmers' village at the turn of the century but ...

Ludwig the First had the ingenious idea of connecting the very old village of Schwabing to Munich via Ludwigstraße. After adding the university (Ludwig Maxlilian, ) and the academy of fine arts the newly joined community quickly promoted the cultural and bohemian touch of this district. Schwabing was formerly known as the "latin quarter" or the "Montmartre" of Munich. At the beginning of the century it attracted many internationally known artists with its liberal and "gemütlich" life style. At the time it was impossible not to meet painters, sculptors and writers in the streets. Why not take a stroll where Jawlensky, Kandinsky, Klee, Thomas Mann or Rainer Maria Rilke and Bertolt Brecht perhaps spurred their creative energies.

Schwabing: Munich's "hottest" district

Don't be mistaken, should you ask a Bavarian directions to the red light district he or she might be quite embarassed since there is none in Schwabing nor Munich. This in most parts of Europe still considered honorable business was banned out of the city onto the highways leading to the city. Schwabing is densely populated with beer pubs for all tastes. Centered around "Occamstraße" with different "genres" of fast food it's easy to spend a wet evening bar hopping and being kicked out at 1am, Munich's traditional nightlife curfew only (expensively) extended by some of Munich's trendy discos and restaurants. The beer pubs give ample opportunity to casually meet for at least two important reasons, comsumption of the daily "liquid bread" and discussing the latest political scandals in and around town. Noteworthy is also the birth of Simplicissismus - (Türkenstraße 1896) the most satirical magazine criticizing the corrupt imperial period. Conoisseurs of Jugenstil (Art nouveau) can find interesting facades.

Leoplodstraße: to see and to be seen, that is not the question

Should you feel an urge to submerge in a large crowd, do some window shopping or need to discover the newest and most fashionable convertibles, there is only one answer: Leopoldstraße by day and by night. On hot and humid summer evenings you can also enjoy original artwork presented by their respective local artists, there is something for all tastes and all budgets. It's at the italian cafés such as the Venezia and Rialto where girls in their shortest minis and heavily greased boys meet for home made ice cream. Should you have a craving for the most luscious cakes and tarts settle down at the café Müncher Freiheit. While you are there attempt a game of chess with unknown masters.