Munich Overview
By Roz Andrews
Munich (München), the capital of the Bavaria region in southern Germany, hosts the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, described as the largest public festival in the world with around six million visitors. On the Theresenwiese meadow, the festivities last for sixteen days from late September to the first Sunday of October.
The Oktoberfest tradition dates back to 1810, when a horse race took place on the Theresenwiese to celebrate the marriage of the Bavarian Prince Ludwig to Thérèse von Saxe-Hildburghausen. Between 1811 and 1818, various October fairs were held until the city of Munich took over the organization of the Oktoberfest and made it an annual event in 1819.
The modern festival begins with a procession through the city and the ceremonial opening of the first beer barrel by the city’s mayor.
The festivities continue inside and outside fourteen large marquees, each with its own style of food, drink, music and ambience. Around five million tankards of Wiesnbier, a beer brewed especially for the event, are served by waiters and waitresses in traditional German costumes.
The tall bronze statue of the symbol of Bavaria, erected on the Theresenwiese in 1850, watches over the festivities. It is possible to climb up the internal staircase to the viewing platform at the top of the statue’s head for a panoramic view of the Oktoberfest. Go!
