LMU Gateway events

On Sunday, October 3, 10 international scientists and their families took part in a tour from the Hofgarten to the Surferwelle at the Eisbach and the beer garden Chinesischer Turm. With a lot of charm, wit and professionalism, Georg Reichlmayr, official tour guide of the City of Munich, told interesting facts and anecdotes about the Oktoberfest. Over food and drink, the scientists networked with each other and leisurely ended the beautiful summer day of our "Mini Wiesn 2021".

On the occasion of the European Football Championship in 2016 and of the World Cup Championship in 2018, we organized a VIP Tour of the Allianz Arena, which is one of the finest football stadiums in Germany. Several professors and researchers of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich and their families had the chance to join an exclusive English guided tour which included the stadium, the business club, the changing rooms, the mixed zone and the players‘ tunnel.

In July 2019, we reserved an exclusive space in Chinesischer Turm, the well-known beer garden in the midst of the beautiful Englischer Garten, Munich’s largest public park. In sweltering temperatures, an international team of scientists and their partners came together to discover a real Bavarian tradition in the shade of old chestnut trees.

2015 marked the beginning of our now well-established annual LMU Gateway Oktoberfest Event. Every year since we celebrate together with international researchers the biggest Volksfest worldwide! The traditional tent Ochsenbraterei offers ox-roasting as their specialty since 1881 and provides a fantastic setting for lively exchanges between our guests from different cultures and research backgrounds. This event has given the opportunity to more than 200 participants to learn about Bavarian history and to sing along to Wiesn songs. If you want to immerse yourself in the Bavarian culture, you shouldn’t miss it!

Having originated as a horse race to celebrate the wedding of Ludwig of Bavaria and Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen in 1810, the Oktoberfest evolved across the centuries to become the world-famous Volksfest that we know today. For the 185th Oktoberfest, in 2018, we decided to host a historical tour of the Oktoberfest with tour guide and historian Georg Reichlmayr, who revealed many facets of the Oktoberfest’s past to our tour participants.

Every year we welcome new international researchers and their families with a guided tour of LMU Munich, during which they learn fascinating facts about the origin of our university and the Bavarian State Library from tour guide and historian Georg Reichlmayr. Through the impressive architecture and monuments one can experience the moving history of the past two centuries of one of the oldest German universities. Traditionally the tour ends with a pleasant get-together in the Bavarian restaurant “Atzinger”.

In November 2018, we organized a Bavarian cooking class, where a group of international researchers and their spouses were introduced to delicacies of the Bavarian cuisine. Michelin-star-awarded chef Andi Schweiger not only showed the participants how to create the perfect combination of flavors, but also how to prepare typical Bavarian dishes that are a treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds.

Germany is well known for its Christkindlmärkte and the many Christmas traditions which originated here. Every year since 2015 we plan a get-together around Christmas for our international researchers. This tradition started with a family event in Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps. The following year we booked an exclusive ride on the Christkindltram, where our participants enjoyed the festive atmosphere of the city center from a warm seat. Another highlight was the tour at Munich airport Franz Josef Strauß, which not only attracts around 45 million passengers a year but also spreads some festive cheer with its own Weihnachtsmarkt. Our most recent Christmas event took place at a cozy ceramics studio, where new international researchers created with their little ones very special Christmas presents.