Frominsideawoodenbuildingcomethesoundsoflaughterandtheclinkofglasses.ClappingbeginsaspeopleinBavariancostumesdancetothemusicofanoompahband.Munich’SfamousOktoberfestisunder—way.The16一dayfestivalbeganbackin1810asamarriagecelebrationforPrinceLudwigIandhisbride.PeoplehadSOmuchfunthatthepartybecameanannualevent.ThisyearmillionswillenjoyOktoberfest.Theycometosamplethebeerandthehospitalityofacitythatmakesvisitorsfeelathome.NestledclosetotheBavarianAlps，Munich，orMunchen，reignsasGermany’Smostpopulartouristdestination.ThebeautyofthecityanditssurroundingsinspiredAmericannovelistThomasWolfetowrite，‘‘HowcanonespeakofMunichbuttosaythatitisakindofGermanheaven?”Munich’SbeautifulbuildingsandseveralchurcheswerebuiltbytheWittelsbachfamilythatruledtheareafor750years.Theymadethecityaworkofart.GrandbuildingsinallstylesfromBaroquetoModernlinestreetsandplazas，waitingtobephotographed.Oneofthemostbeautiful，Mu—nich’SNewTownHall，standsonMarienplatz.Builtbetween1867and1908，thebuil~nglookslikesomethingfromafairytale.Thelargestmu—sicalclockinGermanyclingstooneofthetowers.Eachdayat11a.m.andnoon，theclock’Sdoorsopenandbrightly—coloredwoodendancersInnearbyFrauenplatzstandsMunich’SmostfamouscathedraiChurchofOurLady.ItstwotalltowershavebecomethesymbolofMu—nich’Sskyline.Builtmorethan500yearsago，thecathedralisjustoneofMunich’Snearly300churches.Asearlyasthe18thcentury，thecityearnedthename“RomeofGermany”foritsmanychurches.Visitorswanderthroughthebeautifulbuildingsadmiringthearchitecture.Theyal—SOgazeattheworksofartthatfilltheinteriorsofmanyofthechurches.AfterwanderingMunich’Sstreetsfor]hours，avisitormaywantsomerefreshments.Thereareplentytochoosefrom.Munchenerslovetosaythat“snacktimeisthebesttime”。~rheninthecityofbeerandsau—sage，orwurst，hungrysightseersmustsamplesome.Munichboastsdoz—ensofvarietiesofboth.Foralargermeal，thecityhasmorethan5，000restaurantsineverypricerange.TheyserveeverythingfromtraditionalBavarianspecialtiestoexoticAfricanandAsianfoods.Munichoffersawidevarietyof“foodfoI’thesoul”initsmanymu—seums，too.Forartlovers，TheOldPictureGalleryhousesawonderfulcollectionofOldMasters.ThosewithmoremodemtastesmayprefertheNewPictureGallerywithits19th—and20th一-centurymasterpieces.AndnoonewillwanttomisstheDeutschesMuseum—oneoftheworld’Slar.gestmuseumsofscienceandtechnology.Inside，visitorscanseesuchwondersasthefirstcamera，thefirstCarandthefirstrefrigerator.JustabouteverythingfromBavariancostumesandwoodcarvingstojewelryandhandmadeGermantoyscanbefoundinMunich’Sshops.FashionablestoreslineMaximilianstrasseandtwokilometersofpedestri—anmallsneartherailwaystation.Theareaisparticularlyattractivearoundwhenlocalcraftsmensetupboothsan、dsellallkindsofents.Don'tsaVeyourshopp。ingforSaturdayafternoonorSunday.however.Shopscloseat2P.m.onSaturdayanddon’treopenuntilMondaymorning.NotonlyforeignvisitorswishtocometoMunichtoenjoyitswon’