Munich and its spectacular surroundings offer countless places to visit and explore. Based on the suggestions of the German IESE Alumni, we are pleased to offer the following parallel activities on Sunday.

Option A:

10:00 – 19:30 Excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle
Organized by: Christian Bauer (MBA ‘00)

This spectacular castle, which King Ludwig II built on a rugged hill against a backdrop of picturesque mountain scenery, was built upon an existing ruin “in the authentic style of the old German knights' castle,”as he wrote in a letter to Richard Wagner.

Built by Eduard Riedel and Georg Dollmann, it was created from idealized sketches by the landscape painter, Christian Jank. While the building itself imitates the 13th-century Romanesque style, the paintings inside predominantly depict scenes from Wagner's operas such as "Tannhäuser" and "Lohengrin."

Afterwards, we will visit the Wieskirche, which is registered by UNESCO as a cultural site on the World Heritage List.

Option B:

10:00 – 14:00 Nymphenburg Palace
Organized by: Bernhard von Canstein (MBA’98)

With its unique combination of architecture and garden design, Nymphenburg is one of the best examples of a European synthesis of the arts.

Following the birth of the heir to the throne, Max Emanuel, Elector Ferdinand Maria and his consort commissioned the architect Agustino Barelli to build  Nymphenburg Palace, which was begun in 1664.

The Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory, founded in 1747 by Elector Max the III of Bavaria and located since 1761 on the northern lane at the Nymphenburg palace, represents a tradition of over 250 years of uninterrupted porcelain production. Over the centuries, the diamond ornamented crest derived from the crest of the Bavarian royalty, has been the symbol of the manufactory.


For those who will be departing from Munich before 16:00 or those who prefer to stay in the city, IESE alumni have made several recommendations for things to see and do in Munich.

If you can extend your stay to Monday, we encourage you to join one of the professional visits to companies in key sectors in the greater Munich area.

Option A:

High-Tech Oberbayern

Most people associate the beautiful Oberbayern area (pre-Alps) with images of Heidi and the Milka cow. Few people are aware that this region has developed into a hub for high-tech SMEs (small and medium enterprises). This trip will take you to Schleifring, a world-class manufacturer of contact rings. These products are used in many high-tech fields, including for the production of modern CT scanners. The company is located in Fürstenfeldbruck, a beautiful town just outside Munich. Mr. Kurt Dollhofer (AMP'05), Managing Director of Schleifring, will be present to discuss innovation and related issues.
Here's your chance to witness innovation at its finest that literally moves the world!

Option B:

Cars & Dolls - Toys for Kids and Grown-Ups, Too

Gain insights into two very different processes for doll manufacturing: one utilizing cutting edge technology and another employing a high-quality manual approach. This activity includes two different visits: one to the Audi factory in Ingolstadt where Audi manufactures its leading technology cars.

The other visit will be in the beautiful town of Donauworth, where Andrea Christenson (MBA‘83) launched her entrepreneurial project. Christenson bought a traditional doll company Käthe Kruse Pupper, and transformed it into a business that combines traditional and modern processes, and which has factories in Latvia and Belarus.

Options A and B will finish at 18:30h.

Option C:

BMW - Tradition and Innovation

BMW headquarters are located in Munich. Here we are offered two alternatives; the first for enthusiasts and collectors of classic cars who will have the opportunity to learn the history and evolution of the company first hand. The second group will have the opportunity to learn about BMW’s research and innovation center. 

Option C will finish at 13:00h.