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Walls, myths, monks

VIRTUAL CITY TOUR “MUNICH IN THE MIDDLE AGES”

Look forward to ornate facades, crooked arcades, ribbed vaults, grotesque gargoyles, oversized church windows, and plenty of medieval flair!
Get to know the oldest part of Munich's old town and stroll along the so-called "Heinrichs-Ei" - even if historians throw up their hands at this expression!

Find out what life was like in the medieval streets of Munich, which were strangely protected by a bearded African patron saint.

Description:

Yes, sometimes you have to look very closely to find Munich's medieval roots! But that's exactly what we'll easily achieve on this virtual tour thanks to the many images in my online presentation. I set out with my camera to show you my favorite city digitally. Designed with a variety of picture puzzles, numerous questions, and interactive ideas, this virtual tour is perfect for all ages. It's the perfect family experience with friends for those gray and lonely winter evenings!

I'm happy to offer this tour in the digital classroom as long as field trips to Munich aren't possible. Aligned with the fourth-grade local history curriculum or the favorite topics of older students in history class, this tour is tailored to each grade level and is therefore the ideal complement to distance learning. Clearly presented, old city maps help with orientation and encourage participation. In a preliminary, individual discussion with the teacher, we can discuss which of the topics is best suited for your class.

Since its founding in the 12th century, fashion-conscious rulers have happily stripped away the old walls, towers, moats, town houses, and small churches that had characterized the royal residence of the Bavarian dukes. Nevertheless, hidden clues can be found everywhere, revealing what life must have been like between piety and the sale of indulgences, the Salt Road and monastery breweries, castle moats and Gothic mega-building projects, leprosy and the plague – even odorless today! Some of these centuries-old witnesses have even survived the destruction of war and still dominate Munich's skyline. But beware! Not everything that looks medieval is real... Read more

Things were pretty "traditional" back then in the Middle Ages! This is demonstrated not only by the coopers, but also by the traces of many other craftsmen who shaped middle-class life in the Middle Ages. The bakers who were advised not to mix expensive flour with sawdust, the butchers who were forced to the outskirts of the city because of the mess, the dyers whose brew didn't exactly contribute to keeping the city's streams clean, and the many bricklayers who, when they weren't getting stuck in the mud with their carts, helped protect the city with countless bricks. You'll be amazed at all the places where bricks are hidden in Munich!

Our landmark, the Frauenkirche, is also built of brick – and when you gaze up at its characteristic green domes, you get a sense of how awed the citizens of Munich must have felt some 500 years ago. Especially if they had contributed significantly to its construction by purchasing indulgences! There were already enough churches and monasteries in such a small space, as is still clearly evident today from the many church steeples. Unfortunately, this did not protect the Jewish citizens from gruesome pogroms, as they were repeatedly used as scapegoats in Munich, too.

But above all, of course, reigned the Wittelsbach ruler – at that time still in the form of a duke, for only after the Middle Ages were descendants promoted to electors and kings! But wait, I almost forgot our emperor "Ludwig the Bavarian"! He ruled from a castle complex, the grounds of which are known today as the "Alter Hof" (Old Court), where one can take an idyllic break. A little later, the rulers were no longer safe from their own citizens and relocated the "new fortress" to the site where we can still admire the residence today.

As you can see, there was a lot going on, and I would like to take you on this exciting journey through time!

By the way, this tour is also suitable for our youngest children, who can then proudly share their knowledge from their local history and social studies classes.

The most important things in brief:

Meeting point:
at your event online, at home or in the virtual classroom

Duration:
according to your wishes and how it best suits your event. However, you should definitely plan for 45 minutes.

 

"The online tour was not only highly informative, but also participant-oriented, very vivid, and engaging. Highly recommended.

Dr. Helga Rolletschek, Head of seminar work in the Munich City seminar district, January 2021

Still questions?

Write to me or just call me:

Grit Ranft

Official tour guide of the state capital Munich
and the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

phone

+49 151 5254 1981

Request a tour:

How does the virtual tour work?

Step 1

In a personal preliminary consultation, we'll discuss which tour best suits you. We're also happy to test the technology.

Step 2

I'll organize a virtual Zoom meeting and send you the link. You can then forward this link to all participants as an invitation to the online event.

Step 3

Participants join the online event at the agreed time.

Or you can simply add me to the virtual meeting you have organized.