Before we head to Bahnwärter Thiel, an alternative cultural center in Munich’s Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt district, we make a detour to Sendling, a district southwest of Munich’s city center. We used to live in this area for more than 20 years. Here, we notice another innovation in Munich. In the past, the vegetation strips were only overgrown with grass. Now, you find bushes and flowers to support insects and bees. Some benches have also been set up so you can enjoy nature.
We meet with our longtime friend Anita, who wants to show us the changed Schlachthofviertel, Munich’s “Slaughterhouse District”. Anita first drives around the area so we can take a look at the newly built Volkstheater that opened in 2021.
Passing the “Alte Utting”, a ship on a bridge, we look for a parking space to continue the tour on foot. The ship turns out to be used as bar, restaurant, party location, and a disco in the former engine room.
Directly opposite is the music bar with electro DJ “Zur Gruam”. Prisoners from Stadelheim Prison once met here to celebrate their release.
Street art and graffiti in the adjacent Tumblinger Straße already give an idea of the change. The Schlachthofviertel has been transformed into Munich’s unofficial party mile.
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More InformationAs a cultural center, the “Bahnwärter Thiel”, named after the novella of the same name by Gerhard Hauptmann, forms the center of a colorful landscape of containers, train sets, boats and hovels that provide accommodation for bars, restaurants, offices, studios and workshops. Everything is painted with graffiti, and many seating areas form the basis for holding conversations or getting to know people.
The names ‘Inventor’s Garden, Railway Garden” or “UPA GYM” already indicate the purpose. However, one should choose the evening hours for a visit to get to know the real life here.
We walk around the Volkstheater and pass the “Wirtshaus am Schlachthof”, which some people may also know from television with its cabaret shows, e.g. “Ottis Schlachthof”.
At a distance of about 1.5 km in southern direction, near the gas and steam turbine power plant Munich South is “Gasteig HP 8”.
The Gasteig is one of the largest cultural centers in Europe. It houses the Munich City Library in addition to the Philharmonic Hall. Opened in 1984, one decided in 2020 to carry out a general renovation due to poor acoustics. “Gasteig HP8″ was chosen as an alternative location. A former transformer hall was converted into a foyer for the Isarphilharmonie concert hall with 1900 seats. The Isarphilharmonie opened in 2021. Part of the headquarters of the Munich City Library is also located in the foyer. This hall also houses a small event hall.
An electronic color wall that reacts to the movements of passing visitors is very well received.
The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra resides in the Isar Philharmonic building, and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra likes to use the location as well.
Hall X, a smaller adjoining building, is used as a multifunctional hall for events. The University of Music and Theater and the Munich Adult Education Center are housed in other outbuildings.
The acoustics of the Isar Philharmonic are so excellent that there is no doubt about its continued existence, especially after no final decision has been made about the future of the Gasteig. Unfortunately, we were not able to film this fantastic hall in person.