With much of the western world awash with Christmas Markets, Ben Illis took a trip to Munich, capital of the German region of Bavaria, to check out where it all began: 48 Hours at the Christmas Markets – and galleries – of Munich, an Instagram tour…”
Ice-skating in the outdoor rink.
Bavarian street Christmas decorations.
Carved wood decorations.
Crowds of tourists and locals gather in the markets for a glühwein and a catch up.
Glühwein and gossip.
Hot sugared almonds.
Mmmmmm… bratwurst.
Munich at Christmas.
Santa’s snow globes.
Merry Kitschmas one and all.
Grand Bavarian entrances.
Dragons in Marienplatz.
Classical buskers.
Church door.
Munich is full of second hand bookshops.
Street Art.
Fruit stands holding their own.
Even church doors seem festive.
Dallmayr has been servicing Munich’s old moneyed brigade since 1700 and is THE place for chocolates, stollen and coffee.
CHEESE!
Nougat stall at Rindermarkt.
The window at the Spanish fruithouse is legendary.
The best glühwein is at The Rindermarkt.
Mushrooms and more at the viktualienmarkt.
Secondhand book store in the university district.
It wouldn’t be christmas without a schnitzel.
Lunch at Ella at the Lenbachhaus is delicious and excellent value.
Afghan cuisine at Bamyan, for when you’re had enough German fayre.
Afghan decor at Bamyan.
Police station getting into the spirit.
There are Christmas Markets all over the city and even a gay one in the gay district.
Germany’s favourite Christmas cake – Stollen.
Schnitzel at the famous Deutsche Eiche Hotel.
White truffles at the viktualienmarkt.
The Lenbachhaus hosts one of the world’s most vibrant collections of early twentieth century art – and particularly expressionism.
Lenbachhaus interior gallery.
Franz Marc’s Deer in the Snow.
Gabriele Münter was one of the leading female expressionists.
Rudolf Belling’s Organic Forms (Man Striding).
The facade of the Museum Brandhorst.
The striking facade features 36,000 ceramic rods in 23 different colours.
The design collection at the Pinakothek der Moderne is superb.
Mid twentieth furniture collection at The Pinakothek der Moderne.
Stunning reflective glass installation in the foyer of the Lenbachhaus.
Walter de Maria’s Large Red Sphere is one of 16 sculptures on a sculpture trail around the Pinakothek galleries.