If there is one festival in Germany that absolutely must not be missed, it is Oktoberfest in Munich, because no other event represents German partying tradition and beer drinking culture so completely as this famous folk festival on Munich’s Theresienwiese (Theresa Meadow).
In October 1810, the eventual King Louis I married Princess Theresa of Saxony. There was a week-long festival to celebrate the newlywed couple and the festival grounds were named after the princess. The place is still called Theresienwiese to this day, which is why citizens of Munich lovingly refer to Octoberfest as Wiesn.
Today, Oktoberfest is one of the largest and most beloved folk festivals in the world. Over six million people visit Wiesn every year. Some have even taken the tradition home with them: there are approximately 3000 other Oktoberfests worldwide patterned after the original festival in Munich.
It’s all about the beer…
Among the many attractions, the “liquid gold” is probably the most important thing at the Oktoberfest. As usual, over 6 million liters of beer will be drunk this year.
Serving times:
Beer will be sold in the tents from 10.00 to 22.30 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 22.30 on saturdays, sundays and holidays.
Where to get which beer:
• Augustiner: Augustiner-Festhalle, Fischer-Vroni
• Paulaner: Armbrustschützenzelt, Winzerer Fähndl, Käfer’s Wies’n Schänke
• Spaten-Franziskaner: Hippodrom, Schottenhammel, Ochsenbraterei/Spatenbräu-Festhalle
• Löwenbräu: Schützen-Festzelt, Löwenbräu-Festhalle
• Hacker-Pschorr: Hacker-Festzelt, Bräurosl
• Hofbräu: Hofbräu Festzelt
The Bavarian Purity Requirements:
It’s no coincidence, that Bavaria has the best beer in the world: Since the 16th century there have been strong regulations about brewing beer and how to keep up the high quality of the final product by choosing the ingredients very carefully. One of the oldest laws concerning food and drink are the Bavarian Purity Requirements, decreed by Duke William IV. in 1516: Only water, hops and barley should be used to brew Bavarian beer.