München (or Munich), the city of the 1972 Summer Olympics, is the capital and the largest city of the German state of Bavaria. Its native name, München, is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Catholic Benedictine order who founded the city in 1158. Today it is the 3rd largest city in Germany. CLICK ON FULLSCREEN BUTTON ON RIGHTSIDE.