Haar, which translates to “hair,” sits just east of Munich, living quietly with its secrets amidst the trees and train connections.
To really get a feel for the multiple layers of the place, you should really come here for a day out. You’ll have a chance to enjoy the open secrets, and maybe catch a glimpse of the closed ones.
Let’s start with what you likely won’t see — the spies! Haar is home to a training school for the German secret service. As you walk through the cobbled streets in the downtown zone, or hike through the park lands, you’ll just have to wonder if the nice man jogging there is really training hard for his next fitness exam.
Furthermore, while you will notice all the pharmaceutical offices and clinics, you may not notice the building that is the reason they are all there. Back in 1905, a facility opened that has grown into Germany’s largest mental hospital.
Nearly 25% of the town is connected in one way or another to the hospital, as a patient or a worker. However, while the hospital still operated, like the spy school, they don’t talk about it much! (Who’s wondering…)
What they do talk about is certainly worth seeing, especially if you are traveling with family. Haar has some really fine waterparks and multi-function playgrounds for children and families. You can get day passes for the waterparks quite easily, and if you want to walk the parks with your children they will love the breaks at the unique and colorful play stations.
In the evenings, you will want to take the chance to see a play at the Art Nouveau theater. The locals are very proud of the restored structure, and they run shows all year round. You can see cabarets, community productions, or visiting theater troupes for very reasonable rates.
If it is sports season, you can also reserve an evening for the Haar Disciples, the local baseball club. Both the men’s and women’s groups are considered first tier, so if you are looking to see an international version of the sport this is really the place to do it. Games are quite reasonably priced, and it’s no secret at all that the players are quite fun to watch since the home team usually wins!
