OLYMPIAPARK

The Munich Olympic Park is a shining example of the successful conversion of Olympic facilities. Olympic organizing committees, most recently teams from Brazil and Tokyo, regularly visit Munich in search of a recipe for success from the 1972 Games. The large park, inspired by the rolling landscape of the Alpine foothills, can be explored on foot or by bicycle. It continues to host major cultural and sporting events all year round, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. It's a green and lively place. The architecture of the sports facilities continues to look futuristic fifty years on.

The complex formed by theOlympiastadion (Olympic stadium), the Olympiahalle and the Olympiaschwimmhalle (Olympic swimming pool) is breathtaking! Their glass roofs are stretched by cables, giving them the appearance of modern tents or marquees. A real tour de force.

The 291-metre-highOlympiaturm (Olympic Tower) offers spectacular views across the city to the Alpine peaks. It is the second-tallest building in Bavaria and one of the symbols of Munich. If you prefer a more relaxing way to visit, take a ride on the miniature railroad that circles the park.

Above theOlympiasee (Olympic Lake) is theOlympiaberg (Olympic Mountain), built on the rubble and ruins of the Second World War. The Olympia-Alm is the city's largest open-air café, the ideal place to relax. As has always been the case, events are still held in the Olympic Stadium and Olympic Hall all year round.

The Olympic ice rink(Eissportzentrum) and swimming pool are open all year round. Other facilities such as the velodrome and tennis courts complete the picture. It's here, too, that stars from all over the world come to leave their footprints, just as they do on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. This is where you'll find the footprints of German celebrities such as the metal band Rammstein, and foreigners like the Dalai Lama, Lionel Richie, Anastasia and Julio Iglesias.

And don't forget the permanent exhibition on the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Or opt for a tour that takes you up the outside stairs to the top of the stadium, then back down on foot... or by zip-line to land in the parking lot or, if you prefer, right in the middle of the stadium! All dates for this new activity can be found on the Olympiapark website.