Marienplatz, Munich's picturesque central square, is a great place to admire architecture and people watch.
A view past the base of St. Mary's column toward the Altes Rathaus (the 14th-century "Old Town Hall")
A little goulash and a beer in Marienplatz is the perfect way to break up the day
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At the base of the statue honoring the Virgin Mary, cherubs fight the dragon of war (above), the lion of hunger, the rooster-headed monster of plague, and the serpent (below).
Everyone who goes to Europe has a list of major can’t-miss sights. But some of the best moments aren’t found by following guidebooks.
In Marienplatz, if you’re filling your water bottle at the public fountain, look up and notice the enormous mosaic of . . . who is this guy? And why is he standing 20 feet tall on this building? This is Saint Onuphrius, a 4th-century hermit who lived alone in the Egyptian desert and wore only his hair and a loincloth of leaves. I’ve never seen this in a tour book, but I bet he was on some 18th-century traveler's bucket list.
The Fischbrunnen (fish fountain) in Marienplatz
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