Munich lies in the heart of Schwaben-Bavarian plateau in south-eastern Germany. Close to Austria, Italy and Switzerland, the imposing Alpine barrier forms a spectacular backdrop visible from the city itself only on days when the Fohn blows. This dry wind is precisely the most singular feature of the local climate, which is also characterized by cold winters and warmer summers. The River Isar, a key factor in the foundation of the original urban settlement, runs through Munich from south-west to north-east, creating pleasant nooks and crannies on its pass through the city, and which are particularly popular during the warmer months of the year.
With almost 1,300,000 inhabitants, Munich is Germany’s third-largest city. It is calculated that around one-quarter of the population of the Bavarian capital is foreign in origin, accentuating the cosmopolitan character of its people. But all the inhabitants of the city, whether by birth or by adoption are unanimous in their pride to the Munichers, a feeling to a large extent justified by the leading role the city plays in many different fields.