Present day Munich was founded near a settlement of Munichen (monks) by Henry the Lion in 1158. The enterprising Henry destroyed the original bridge owned by Bishop Freising and built a new “toll” bridge and provided unyielding power until he was deposed as the Duke of Bavaria in 1180 and Munich was again handed over to the Bishop of Freising. In 1214, Louis IV was elected King of Germany and made Munich his residence. Meanwhile struggles for control continued to divide Bavaria. When Bavaria was finally reunited in 1506, Munich was named capital of all Bavaria. Life was good in Munich until the Thirty Years War brought destruction and the bubonic plague of 1634 killed one third of the city’s population. Following the war and the eradication of the plague, stoic German determination rebuilt the city and quickly regained its prominence as the center of Baroque life.

The years leading to World War I continued to be prosperous and pleasurable in Munich. Following WWI, much of the city was destroyed by bombing raids and food and fuel began to run out. In 1923, Adolf Hitler attempted to over the Weimar Republic and sieze power, but his revolt failed and he was arrested. His thirst for power undiminished, Hitler was released in 1933 and Munich became a Nazi stronghold. During World War II, Munich was heavily damaged by air raids. Following American occupation in 1945, Munich began rebuilding while carefully preserving and restoring historical sites. Tragedy again struck Munich when Israeli athletes were assassinated by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Today, Munich has left its dark past behind while savoring and preserving the its finest hours. Often called the “Paris of Germany” and cited for a high quality of life, Munich is a center for software, biotechnology, insurance and automobile manufacturing. Munich is also a leading tourism destination in Europe.