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Munich’s tallest “female,” Bavaria stands 18.5 m (59 ft) high. She holds an oak wreath in her hand, while a lion, Bavaria’s heraldic beast, lies at her feet. Designed by Ludwig Schwanthaler and cast by Ferdinand von Miller, the statue (1840–50) was a masterpiece of technological achievement at the time, incorporating an observation platform in the head (see Statue of Bavaria). Klenze’s Ruhmeshalle, with busts honouring famous Bavarians, stands behind the colossal statue.

Film and television productions are still made in these studios, which offer guided tours. There are explosions and excitement at the stunt show; replicas and scenes from famous films; and, most thrilling of all, a 3D cinema, where your seats move in synch with the on-screen action. Children must be at least 120 cm (4 ft) in height to view the film.

The Bavarian State library is the second-largest municipal library in Germany, with more than 6 million volumes, 70,000 manuscripts, and valuable handwritten documents and prints. It has as its nucleus the 16th-century collections of Albrecht V and Wilhelm V. Today’s building is the work of F von Gärtner (1832–43) in the style of Italian Renaissance palaces.

The Botanischer Garten (Botanical Gardens) were laid out beside Nymphenburg Park at the start of the 20th century. Over 14,000 plant species are cultivated here. Highlights include the Alpinum, an Alpine rock garden, the Arboretum, a spectacular display of rhododendron blossoms, the fern glen, and the greenhouses.

Burghausen experienced its heyday in the Middle Ages when it was a centre of the salt trade and, occasionally, the Wittelsbachs’ second seat of government. The enormous castle, one of Germany’s largest, is fascinating. Built in 1255, it was added to and became a fortress at the end of the 15th century. Other highlights include the Gothic Jakobskirche, the 16th-century town hall, and the 18th-century Schutzengelskirche, all on the market square.

Popularly thought of as “Bavaria’s Ocean,” Chiemsee is Bavaria’s largest lake, with an area of 80 sq km (31 sq miles). Highlights include the islands Herrenchiemsee, with the Altesand Neues Schloss (see Herrenchiemsee Castle) and Frauenchiemsee, with an 18th-century monastery.

Set in the foothills along the Amper River, some 15 km (9 miles) north of Munich, Dachau is a small town built around a prominent palace – part Renaissance, part Baroque – which has an excellent restaurant. In 1933, the first Nazi concentration camp was set up here, now a place of remembrance – the KZ Gedenkstätte – one of the most frequented in Europe today. Refurbishment of the exhibition at the adjacent museum was completed in 2003.

Older children will be fascinated by many displays in the largest museum of technology in the world – from classic building block sets to full-size jet airplanes. Young children will delight in exploring the Kinderreich section. Devoted entirely to “scientists” aged three and up, children can experience physics first-hand through interactive exhibits. Equally fun for kids of all ages is the Technisches Spielzeug (Technical Toys) exhibit and a “planet walk” from the Sun to Pluto, which takes about an hour to complete.

Looking diagonally across from the Müller’sche Volksbad, the island seen in the Isar is home to the largest museum of technology in the world. Eighty per cent of the Deutsches Museum was destroyed in World War II; however, the doors to the collection were open again by 1948. Plan at least a full day to see the principal exhibits.

Schwabing’s “backyard” is Germany’s largest urban park, offering a host of leisure opportunities – walks, beer gardens (Seehaus, Chinesischer Turm, Hirschau), jogging, boating, and – for the adventurous – surfing in the Eisbach, a small rocky stream with icy waters. The streets to the south of Münchner Freiheit lead almost directly to the Kleinhesseloher See and the Seehaus beer garden in the park.