LMU Gateway events

On September 23, doctoral candidates and postdocs from 14 different faculties celebrated the Oktoberfest 2023 at the Ochsenbraterei festival tent. In total, 24 researchers from 12 countries enjoyed the traditional food and beer from 'Mass' mugs while connecting with fellow colleagues. The reserved seats at the tables were especially accommodating and contributed to a memorable Oktoberfest experience! We are looking forward to Wiesn 2024!

Our well established Oktoberfest event took place also in 2023. LMU professors and their families had the chance not only to experience the 'Wiesn' in one of the most traditional tents 'Ochsenbraterei', but also to learn about its history from our tour guide and historian Georg Reichlmayr.

In August 2023, LMU Gateway's summer event for doctoral candidates was not as summer-like as planned, but instead the researchers experienced a mystical hike through the fog to Schliersbergalm, where they enjoyed some typical Bavarian dishes. After taking the cable car down, the charming Café Milchhäusl next to the lake served some homemade desserts. A short rain break was used to take a walk around the beautiful lake Schliersee.

In April 2023, 10 more international researchers from LMU joined 'Bavaria's Researchers Get Connected' event in Augsburg. A few highlights of our guided tour were the World Heritage Information Center about the Augsburg water management system, the Golden Hall in the City Town Hall and the Fuggerei. A joint lunch after the tour allowed LMU researchers to network with their colleagues from the University of Augsburg.

In January 2023, MunichRe opened the doors to their remarkable art collection exclusively for newly arrived high profile and proactively appointed LMU professors as part of the high-tech agenda. The unique collection comprises more than 3,000 works by international artists – from paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptures, all the way to architectural installations. During the guided tour, we had the chance to learn how various forms of artistic expression can be integrated into the work environment.

On December 16, 2022, our doctoral candidates had the chance to visit the medieval Christmas market at Kaltenberg Castle, which was ispired by the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. In addition to the magical Christmas atmosphere, they enjoyed the traditional carols, the delicious food and hot beverages - much needed in the freezing temperatures.

On October 15, the first networking event with the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg took place. 20 international researchers from LMU and FAU had the opportunity to join the event 'Bavaria's Researchers Get Connected' and explore the new Munich City Hall and its fascinating Law Library. The guided tour was followed by a networking lunch.

In October 2022, we started our pilot event series 'Bavaria's Researchers Get Connected' aiming to promote networking between Bavarian universities and their international researchers. On this occasion, 10 researchers from the University of Augsburg had the chance to visit Munich and also network with 10 fellow researchers from LMU Munich.

In September 2022, we opened our annual Oktoberfest event to international researchers from all Bavarian universities. This was an opportunity for them to connect with colleagues from all over Bavaria and for researchers from outside Munich to experience the 'Wiesn' in the traditional tent 'Ochsebraterei'.

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".

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.

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.

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.