Palaces day 1. And the Glockenspiel!

We really filled the last three days that Mom and Dad were here with lots of spectacular Munich sights.  The weather forecast was only good for the Monday, so we planned mostly outdoor trips that first weekday.

Monday, Oct 8:  the grounds of Schloss Nymphenburg

It was a beautiful day to walk around the stunning grounds of the Nymphenburg Palace.  This  was built as a royal "summer residence" in the country starting in the 17th century.  We didn't visit inside, but the gardens, canals, fountains, and many statues make for a peaceful "park" in what is now west-central Munich (since the city has grown around the estate in the last centuries).

We walked around for an hour or so, and discovered one of the royal "lodges" -- or small palaces -- on the grounds:  the Magdalenenklause is, interestingly, built to look like a ruin.  Elector Max Emanuel had the romantic idea of constructing a hermitage on the grounds for contemplation and escape, and ordered it built in 1725, but it looks many centuries older than that, with purposeful cracks and missing mortar.  There are apparently three other small palaces to discover, if you cover the whole (nearly 500 acre) grounds, but we wanted to go back into downtown while the weather still held.

Actually, at we wanted to be at Marienplatz, the heart of old downtown, by noon.  That is one of the times when the famous Rathaus-Glockenspiel (town-hall carillon) chimes.  We arrived with 15 minutes to spare and sat in an outdoor cafe seating area with the perfect view (and the triply expansive coffee, but well worth the price for the location).

Then we walked a few steps to the famous downtown Victualienmarkt ("Victuals Market") where we had a quick lunch -- more Bratwurst sampling, and some delicious zwiebelkuchen (onion torte) -- before moving on...

To the grounds of the Munich Residenz: (the "in town" palace, or residence).  Like the Nymphenburg palace gardens, the layout is very symmetrical, although a lot smaller!  There is a lovely central pavilion (with cellist that afternoon), and a fountain in each of the four corners of this Hofgarten (court garden).

We just stayed outside and visited the gardens that afternoon.  There will be more about the amazing Residenz itself next post!