Come wandering

Facade in Ohmstrasse en route to English Garden

We are staying in Kaulbachstrasse, Schwabing, which is now quite an up and coming part of Munich. It was not always thus as in the early 1900’s, Schwabing was the centre of artistic and bohemian life. A naughty Grafin, Franziska von Reventlow lived in an old house on the site of our apartment block. Both an artist and writer, Franziska was reputed to have entertained lovers at no. 63, but was also known to be the centre point of an artistic circle. Across the road is a plaque commemorating Ruth Schaumann, who lived there in the 1920’s.

Outside 63 Kaulbachstrasse

An artist and writer, she also was a photographic model and a stunning young woman, from photos of that time. Next door to us, in the 1930’s, was a home for the Don Bosco Sisiters, an Italian Catholic order of nuns, who provided food and shelter during the bombing of Munich in 1944. Walking along the street now, there is still evidence of religious groups and a small church, within a courtyard.

Herr Schack in Schackstrasse

At the first cross street is Schackstrasse and across from the intersection is a ‘Tante Emma’, a corner store selling essential food and drink items. This Tante Emma is a large dour lady but she does very well supplying wine and beer to us!

From Seigestor, at the intersection of the Ludwig Maximillan University, Schwabing stretches on either side of and is filled with history.

Seigestor during street fair on Leopoldstrasse

There is a route you can take by bicycle which traces the best of Jugenstil architecture. Dating back to the turn of the century, this ‘Young Style’ is reminiscent of Art Nouveau.

The tall buildings, which stand with no gap between them provide wonderful facades for plaster and paint, with Greco-Roman and Eygptian themes. Dotted throughout these building are plaques indicating where famous artists, writers, actors and philosophers lived in the brief flowering of modern artistic life, from 1900-1918. People such as the artists Paul Klee and Vassily Kandinsky, and the writer, Rainer-Maria Rilke all lived next to each other in Ainmillerstrasse.

Jugendstil architecture in Aimillerstrasse

On our side of Leopoldstrasse just one block away is the Englischer Garten. This huge tract of greenfield – mooted to be one of the largest city parks in the world – was initially established in the 1700’s by an Anglo-American army officer, Benjamin Thompson, Graf von Rumford, who as War Minister, spent 11 years reorganising the Bavarian army in the late 1700’s. The marshy land around the river Isor was drained for a military garden to assist Bavarian troops to learn about growing food to support themselves during war. Alongside this the main Garden was designed in the manner of an 18th century English park and the two incorporated together in 1800. There is a memorial to Rumford recognising his role in establishing workhouses for the poor and promoting the idea that all should have access to food and shelter.

Surfing on the Eisbach

Quite close to the memorial is the famous surfing site on the Eisbach, where young men and women can be found cycling In their wetsuits, clutching their boards and very civilly waiting their turn on the artificially created weir in the river for a ‘surf’! Even Guy Sebastian had to have a go, as part of his promotional video for competing in Eurovision! Some are better than others.

Cycling through the English Garden is only challenging if you hesitate! The paths are wide and it is criss-crossed with sealed sections where sometimes you can encounter a bus. It is always full of people, mostly young families either strolling or riding with their small children in a variety of little wagons, dog walkers and occasionally horses. The university veterinary clinic is close by and there always seems to be a constant supply of manure on the paths. Close to our entrance is the Chinescher Turm or Chinese Tower. It was part of the original construction in 1789 and continues to this day to operate as a bandstand.

Chinescher Turm and happy drinkers

The beer garden below can seat 7000 patrons, who happily sit on long green benches drinking ‘halb’ or ‘mass’ (500ml or 1 litre) steins of beer accompanied by giant ‘Brezes’ ( bread pretzels).

Lunch in the Englischer Garten

Together with Signe and Peter, we enjoyed a very civilised lunch at the nearby restaurant, served by a buxom wench in a dirndl. We have returned on numerous occasions to listen to the band, spot spunky men in lederhosen and drink beer in convivial company. We are now biking veterans.