Ten brilliant ideas for a trip to Munich in spring 2019
Put an end to darkness. Light is quality of life and makes us happy. While spring is still practising, numerous opportunities to refuel on lux and lumen can be found in Munich. Thus, read about ten great examples for a Munich trip to the light on the following pages.
‘Heavy metal with light show’ in the German Museum
Light is more than illumination. That is what the German Museum wants to bring closer to visitors with a new, impressive light show. The 117-metre-long, blue-lit tunnel, which connects the physics exhibition with the special exhibition room, cannot be missed. Of course, visitors can also gain further insights into the topic of light: for example, they can gaze at their own thermal images, learn about what light is comprised of and much more.
Street art in the spotlight – MUCA and the Magic City exhibition
In the heart of Munich’s old town, Germany’s first Museum for Urban and Contemporary Art (MUCA) opened at the end of 2016. Its façade was designed by the renowned street art artist Stohead and is an artwork in itself. On 2,000 square metres, internationally celebrated artists will showcase their works and experimental formats and interesting positions are also displayed.
The exhibition Magic City – The Art of the Street is a declaration of love to Munich. On 2,500 square metres, street art presents itself in all its diversity: political, lyrical, cuttingly, critical and above all, entertaining.
Shining star of the south – the Allianz Arena
When the Allianz Arena is illuminated in FC Bayern’s red colour, the stadium seems like a space ship from another planet. More than 300,000 LED lights on 26,000 square metres illuminate the modern landmark’s diamond-shaped membrane cushions. The innovative lighting system can be controlled digitally and masters 16 million colours. On days when no games are scheduled, guided arena tours are special highlights.
Poet of the light – Munich’s light designer Ingo Maurer
Since the ‘60s, the internationally renowned light designer has designed exceptional lamps in his office in Munich: from the ‘Bulb’ lamp that has become a mile stone of design history to winged table lamps and light installations for some of Munich’s underground stations, such as ‘Am Moosfeld’, ‘Westfriedhof’ or ‘Münchner Freiheit’. He also designed the orange-red overhead lighting for the mezzanine floor under the Marienplatz. Visit or book a guided tour in Ingo Maurer’s showroom in Schwabing.
Light design and global player – guided tours through Schwabing
Thomas Mann wrote the famous lines “Munich glows…” in his domicile in Schwabing. Back then, the quarter was a place for culture and creative professionals – and still is today. The ‘Blaue Reiter’ artist group around Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc was founded in Schwabing’s Ainmiller Street. In 1911, a new neighbour joined the group: Paul Klee. The two-hour-long walking tour for groups of up to 12 people leads directly into Munich’s legendary neighbourhood and visits Ingo Maurer’s showroom, the Heinz-Bosl Foundation, the Constantin Film AG, the Munich Distillers Bar and others.
Munich’s nightlife – moon light and mood light
Every full moon, the Luna Party invites guest to celebrate at Hotel Bayerischer Hof’s Blue Spa Terrace & Lounge. Free entry.
Furthermore, Munich’s techno temple Harry Klein belongs to Germany’s top techno clubs, according DJ Mac magazine. The disco is situated in the city centre and does not only play great music, but also impresses with its visual artists, light shows, video projections and animations.
www.facebook.com/harrykleinclub
Light and luxury – guided tours in Munich’s palaces
Over centuries, night lighting has been a symbol for power and wealth. Thus, a guided tour gives an insight into how in Munich’s palaces Nymphenburg, the Residenz and in Schleißheim, the nights were turned into day.
Light in the darkness – tent roof tour
Equipped like at an expedition, a guide leads visitors along the edge of the Olympic Stadium’s roof. When night falls, visitors get headlights and can gaze at sunsets and the breath-taking panoramic view.
‘Fünf Höfe‘ in Munich | Photo © S. Mueller / München Tourismus
Light in the jungle
Growth lamps make the impossible possible: plants that grow towards the bottom. The hanging gardens that artist Tita Giese designed for the Salvator Passage are an attraction in the city quarter ‘Fünf Höfe‘ in Munich’s old town. The vines fall up to 12 metres into the shopping arcade that was designed from the architectural team Herzog & De Meuron.
Light art in the Lenbachhaus
Directly upon exiting the ‘Königsplatz’ underground station, ten brightyellow neon steles from the American light artist Dan Flavin point towards the neighbouring, main museum building of the Lenbachhaus. The museum also has another light installation from Flavin on offer: the accessible light sculpture Untitled (for Ksenija). Furthermore, Thomas Demand’s scripture sculpture LENBACHHAUS also points towards the Lenbachhaus’s new entrance. Wirbelwerk is the title of the spectacular spiral that the Danish-Islandic artist Olafur Eliasson realised for the Lenbachhaus’s new atrium. Illuminated from the inside, the sculpture shines its shadows and colours onto the surrounding walls. Additionally, light artist Dietmar Tanterl created the light installation ROTWEINROT for the northern staircase.
TEXT:MUNCHEN TOURISMUS | TRANSLATION: NANE STEINHOFF | MAIN PHOTO BY HEINZ HOFFMANN PHOTOGRAPHY VIA PIXABAY
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