Capital of Bavaria is named after Monks. Munich, Germany, is that country’s third largest city. In German, its name is actually München, literally meaning “Monks,” or loosely “Home of the Monks.” The name goes back to the eighth century, and refers to a Benedictine monastery on the shores of Lake Tegernsee. In 1157, Henry “the Lion,” Duke of Bavaria, gave these monks permission to start a marketplace. Thus, the city of München was founded. Apparently the “Benedictine marketplace” was successful, for it has grown into a city of over a million inhabitants. Munich’s oldest church (Catholic, of course), the Peterskirche (Saint Peter’s Church), was built in 1169, twelve years after the city was founded. It can still be seen today.
