Munich has been an important city since at least 1158, when "Munchen" - "by the monk's place" - was a stop-off on a major salt route. Since then it's been the capital of Bavaria, a center for the Catholic counter-reformation, and the home for many artists, musicians and writers.
Today it's the third-largest city in Germany, and the headquarters for many industries (inc. BMW) and publishing houses.
Munich played a vital role in the rise of the Nazis and the leadup to World War II. The party was founded there, Hitler attempted to lead a 1923 putzsch against the government there, and much of their early support came from there. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in Munich; because of that, "Munich" has become diplomatic shorthand for "appeasement."
On May 2, we'll tour some important Nazi sites in the city with Geoff Walden. You can find his Munich site, with many excellent photos, at:
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