Who isn’t disappointed when, after waiting several hours, you realize that your delayed flight will lead to a missed connection? Problem number one. Upon the realization that you will arrive at your final destination well after midnight, you wonder what will you do all day in Munich? Problem number two.
Turn those tired lemons into lemonade baby!
On our way to Sibiu, Romania my friend and I now had an entire day to kill in Munich. Obviously although we are dog tired after our delayed overnight flight, we are NOT going to stay in the airport. Enter the Internet. After a brief search and a few questions posed to the lady at the Information Desk in the airport, we locked up our luggage and headed for the Number 635 Bus to Freising just outside the terminal.
[PRO TIP: Have some Euros handy as you’ll pay the bus fare once you board. It takes less than 15 minutes on the bus to get to Freising. Get off at the station and head into town. Luggage is stored in the airport terminal can charged by weight and time. Both of these conveniences are super affordable.]
What promised to be a quick and scenic exploration of a historic Bavarian town, delivered. Once the cultural heart of Bavaria, Freising is a university city today, and economic center due to its proximity to Munich Airport. The town is small enough to explore in a day, but large enough to offer lots of options eating and drinking and touring. It helped that the weather was sunny and a perfect 75 degrees F.
The public square or Marienplatz is the heart of any German city. Freising’s is surrounded by stunning architecture and landmarks like the Marienbrunnen (a baroque fountain), the Altes Gefängnis (Old Prison), and the Mariensäule (Mary’s Column), a beautiful statue erected in 1686 to celebrate the end of the Siege of Vienna. The square is also a great place to relax and people-watch, with plenty of cafes and restaurants.
Mostly we wandered in and around town as we didn’t have an agenda. We first camp upon the lovely grounds of the 17t century St. George’s Church. Just hearing the birdsong made us feel better!
Eventually we climbed Cathedral Hill to visit Freising Cathedral, also known as St. Mary and Corbinian Cathedral. It is a Roman Catholic church, once the home to many a Prince/Bishop and known for being the place were Pope Bendict XVI was ordained as a priest. An early church was on the site by AD 715 but completely destroyed by fire in 1159. Construction of the current Romanesque building started in 1159 and was completed in 1205.
Although we did not visit, Fresing is home to the oldest brewery in the world! The Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan sits atop a hill, once the site of a Benedictine monastery which was built in the 11th century and eventually closed in the early 19th century. The monks were granted the right to brew beer in 1040, although it is believed that hops were being grown on the hill much earlier.
Return to the airport terminal on Bus 635 was a sinch. Too bad our next flight was delayed! LOL
Global Staci 