Until the beginning of the 20th Century, Ottobrunn was just a few houses and a couple of restaurants along the main road on the southern outskirts from Munich towards Innsbruck. Indeed, at that time it didn’t even have a name, let alone anything for you to see.
Its principal claim to fame was that this was the point to which Otto of Greece was accompanied by his father, before he set off to become King of Greece. You can see the commemorative Doric Order Column, sculpted by Anton Ripfel, still standing in the town to mark this point.
As Munich grew, and the railways arrived, so the settlement slowly increased. The first church was built in 1915 as a small wooden structure. It wasn’t until the Second World War, and the mass influx of refugees from the city, that it really came into being as a town in its own right.
If you’re visiting Ottobrunn today, you’ll find a neat, modern, if somewhat bland, place. The town center was purpose built in the 1980’s, including the town hall, a pedestrianized shopping area, and the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus cultural and event center. The latter was named after the German-Italian composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, who lived here whilst he studied music in Munich.
Music still plays a big part in this community, with a music school, ballet, and regular concerts in the ballroom. If you just fancy a night out, try the Canterville Restaurant on Hubertstraße. They have musical evenings, and even free dance lessons every Thursday.
If sport is your thing, then you’ll enjoy the bright and spacious Phoenix-Bad. You can swim in a two indoor pools, or in the outdoor pool set in lush green gardens. The backdrop of the Bavarian Alps makes it a most pleasant place to relax. A sauna, massage, and well-being center, are also available, and you can dine in the top class restaurant.
Despite the lack of historical buildings, there is still an interesting museum to entice you. Focusing mostly on King Otto of Greece, it does also cover the more contemporary past of this district.
Ottobrunn may not be the most scenically attractive town, and the large high-tech industry that surrounds it limits the scope for natural countryside, but you’ll still find a warm and friendly welcome.
Of course, it also makes a good base from which to explore Munich itself. The famous Marienplatz, and St Peters Church, are just a short train ride away.
