Münchner Freiheit

Münchner Freiheit, looking north

The Münchner Freiheit (called Münchener Freiheit until 1998)[1] is a square in Munich's Schwabing, near the English Garden. It is a popular tourist attraction, especially during winter when one of Munich's largest Christmas markets takes place.

A station for the Munich U-Bahn is located at the square and named after it (see Münchner Freiheit (Munich U-Bahn)).

A German pop group, Münchener Freiheit, derived their name from the location, and have retained the original spelling.

Origin of the name

The square at Leopoldstrasse was originally known as Feilitzsch Platz. During World War II various resistance movements against the Nazis had risen up at various times to oppose the regime. In 1945 the resistance group Freiheitsaktion Bayern took control of two Munich radio towers and began broadcasting anti-Nazi propaganda. The square was renamed Münchener Freiheit (Freedom of Munich) in their honor.[2] The alternative spelling Münchner Freiheit was adopted by the city council in 1998 though Münchener Freiheit remains popular.

References

  1. ↑ Harry Luck: Die "Münchener Freiheit" verliert ein "e" (German)
  2. ↑ "Places of Remembrance and Commemoration". Landeshauptstadt München Kulturreferat/NS-Dokumentationszentrum. 2010. pp. 104–105.

Coordinates: 48°09′40″N 11°35′10″E / 48.161°N 11.586°E