When Twilight Breaks – Tour of Munich, Part 2
To celebrate the release of When Twilight Breaks, I’m conducting a virtual photo tour of locations in the story. Since COVID-19 led to the cancelation of my research trip to Germany, this is a virtual photo tour, with photos from my family’s 2007 trip, photos donated by friends, and stock photos.
Because it’s virtual, I have virtual travel buddies! These buddies participated in the book’s preorder campaign and donated their personal photos. My lovely daughter, Anna Sundin, came up with the idea of virtual travel buddies AND she Photoshopped all the pictures! I think I’ll keep her.
Please return for more photos!
Tour of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Tour of Munich, Part 2
Today I’ll show photos from some of Peter Lang and Evelyn Brand’s favorite places in Munich.
University of Munich
We first meet graduate student Peter Lang at the University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), where he’s teaching and conducting research for his PhD in German. It was an honor to set the story at this university, because my grandfather studied there in 1935-36 for his junior year abroad—which inspired this novel—and he was instrumental in reinstating the Junior Year in Munich program after the war.
The university is famous for the White Rose, a group of courageous students and professors who published anti-Nazi leaflets in 1942-43 (my novel is set in 1938, well before this). Many members of the White Rose, including brother and sister leaders Hans and Sophie Scholl, paid with their lives. They were caught scattering leaflets in the atrium pictured above. Below is a memorial to the White Rose at the university.
Siegestor
Close to the university stands the Siegestor, or Victory Gate, which is pictured on the cover of When Twilight Breaks. The Siegestor was destroyed during World War II, then rebuilt. The front was rebuilt as before, with the inscription “Dem Bayerischen Heeren” (To the Bavarian Heroes). The back was rebuilt with a bare edifice and the inscription “Dem Sieg geweiht, vom Krieg zerstört, zum Frieden mahnend.” (Dedicated to victory, destroyed by war, urging peace).
Gärtnerplatz
Many scenes in When Twilight Breaks take place on the Gärtnerplatz, a colorful little square which is home to (fictional) Herr Gold’s café.
Viktualienmarkt
In the novel, Peter and Evelyn often go shopping in the Viktualienmarkt, the famous open-air market.
Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more photos of Munich!
[…] Tour of Munich, Part 2 […]
[…] Tour of Munich, Part 2 […]
Sarah,
I am loving being able to participate with you in your Virtual Tour of Munich! Our photo was in front of the Bavarian State Theater. In reality, I have actually been to Munich & seen that!! It is so special that I was included in a photo that was a “blast from my past”!
I love open air markets. The smells, the sights, the sounds! Is that radishes behind us? I’ll have to purchase some for a salad later. Thanks for taking me along on your tour of Munich. I’ve never been to that city, and who knows now if I ever will? So, thanks again, Sarah! Looking forward to the new book.