Out in the Burbs

The Munich region has approx 2.4 million inhabitants, and 1.1 million live outside the city limits of Munich – out in the burbs. Not surprisingly, Munich, has had 800+ years of “city planning” but due to the fact that it has few natural physical boundaries (the Isar is about the only one as the Alps are well beyond Munich boundaries), urban growth has remained largely unrestricted. Most of the urban growth occurred between 1871 and the turn of the 19th century, growing from 170,000 to 500,000 inhabitants. but unlike many other European centers, the city has avoided endless sprawl. Instead, parks and forests of the Bavarian kings have been incorporated into the urban fabric, making it one of the greener cities in Europe.