Munich: Capital of beer and football

May 17, 2006, 15:52 GMT

Munich - Only in Munich could an Olympic stadium be deemed insufficient to the city`s footballing needs, which has resulted in the construction of the awe-inspiring Allianz Arena, home to 1860 Munich and world famous Bayern Munich, Germany`s top club.

A milestone in modern architecture, construction of the stadium, which seats 66,000, was begun in October 2002 and finished last summer at a cost of 340 million euros. The city will host the tournament`s opening match on June 9, which will involves hosts Germany.

Bayern Munich have accumulated 19 German titles and have also contributed to German football`s list of honour such names as Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Mueller.

Munich`s most famous export, however, is its beer. It`s the first thing every tourist should try out upon arrival in the city, capital of the state of Bavaria, proudly nestling in the foothills of the Alps.

Probably the most well-known brewery in the world is the Hofbrauehaus, a location with much character where locals and tourists alike share long tables and quaff from one-litre glasses - the so-called 'mass' - and savour the famous Bavarian 'Weisswurst' - white meat sausages, with or without the normal accompaniment of sweet mustard.

The premises are visited daily by more than 3,500 beer drinkers from all over the world.

In addition to the Hofbraeuhaus, there are six other local producers of the beverage to which the people of Munich dedicate a great popular celebration, the Oktoberfest.

Both Catholic and conservative, the Bavarian capital boasts of its firm attachment to its traditions. It is the only German metropolis where the men and women are regularly to be seen clad in traditional dress - he in his leather trousers (Lederhosen) and felt hat, ornamented with either feathers or the shaving brush Gamsbart (mountain goat's beard), she in the dirndl, a cotton dress with a pronounced cleavage.

The city has some 1.3 million inhabitants and is the third largest in Germany, although many dismiss the capital as somewhat provincial.

Group games:

June 9: Germany v Costa Rica 
June 14: Tunisia v South Korea 
June 18: Brazil v Australia 
June 21: Ivory Coast v Serbia and Montenegro

Round of 16:

June 24: WA v RB

Semi-final:

July 5: W59 v W60