Fun Facts About Munich

• The Bavarian city is called "Minga" in the Austro-Bavarian slang.
• Its native name, "München", is derived from the German word "Mönche", meaning "Monks".
• The park called "Englischer Garten", close to the city centre, is larger than Central Park in New York.
• Best known for the largest beergarden in the town is the former royal "Hirschgarten", founded in 1780 for deer which still live there.
• On October 16, 2009, the International Olympic Committee has listed Munich as one of the three Applicant Cities for 2018 Winter Olympic Games, with Annecy (France), and Pyeongchang (South Korea). If chosen, Munich will be the first city to host both the Summer (1972) and Winter Olympic Games.
• The "Deutsches Museum" or "German Museum", located on an island in the River Isar, is one of the oldest and largest science museums in the world.
• Munich has played host to many prominent composers including Orlando di Lasso, W.A. Mozart, Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Max Reger and Carl Orff. With the music festival "Biennale", the city still contributes to modern music theatre.
• In 2010 the famous beer festival "Oktoberfest" celebrated its 200 year anniversary.
• The "Weißwürste" (white sausages) are a Munich speciality. Traditionally eaten only before 12:00 noon - a tradition dating to a time before refrigerators - these morsels are often served with sweet mustard and pretzels.
• For its urban population of 2.6 million people, Munich and its closest suburbs have one of the most comprehensive and punctual systems in the world. The Munich Tramway is the oldest existing public transportation system in the city, which has been in operation since 1876.