The original Oktoberfest takes place in Munich, Germany, on the ground known as “Theresienwiese”, which is also called “Festwiese” by the locals. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture.

The first Oktoberfest was celebrated in Munich in 1810 in honor of Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began October 12, 1810, and lasted for almost a week, until October 17. The public celebrations ended with an exciting horse race.

Munich, or München (“Home of the Monks”), traces its origins to the Benedictine monastery at Tegernsee, which was probably founded in 750 CE. In 1157 Henry the Lion, duke of Bavaria, granted the monks the right to establish a market where the road from Salzburg met the Isar River. A bridge was built across the Isar the following year, and the marketplace was fortified.

The city has several of the largest breweries in Germany and is famous for its beer and its annual Oktoberfest celebration. Munich is a major tourist destination and a convention center.

With approximately 1.5 million inhabitants, Munich is the third-largest city in Germany and the twelfth-largest in the European Union. Munich is easy to explore on foot, and public transport is cheap and efficient.

The heartbeat of Munich is Marienplatz (St. Mary’s Square), the world-famous center of the state capital, is home to the New Town Hall. No matter the time of year, there’s always something happening near the Mariensäule (Column of St. Mary) – whether it’s people gathering to witness the Glockenspiel (carillion housed in the Town Hall), the Christmas market, championship celebrations for major sports teams or simply visitors from all over the world strolling through the city.

Built in the 15th century, the gothic “Cathedral of Our Lady” or Frauenkirche in German, was and is an unmistakable symbol of the city. But not everyone knows that the Frauenkirche serves as the final resting place of Emperors and Kings . The 500-year-old brick building is the seat of the Archbishop of Munich and Freising. Visitors can climb one of the cathedral’s two 100-meter towers for spectacular views over the city.

Viktualienmarkt is Munich’s largest market and a hub for the city’s foodies. Spread across 22,000 square meters, it features a huge range of fresh produce with much more than just fruit and vegetables: Bakers, butchers, fishmongers, delicatessens and flower stalls have turned Viktualienmarkt into a Munich landmark for more than 200 years.  It also features food stalls and a comfy beer garden, complete with an authentic Bavarian Maibaum (Maypole).

Olympiapark (Olympic Park) is one of the most impressive and popular places in Munich. Created for the 1972 Olympic Games, it is home to some of the state capital’s most important buildings: the Olympic Stadium, with its famous canopy top, Olympic Hall and the 290-meter Olympic Tower, featuring a 190-meter platform that affords spectacular views over the city.

Munich has some outstanding museums and art galleries.

The Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinakothek) a world-class gallery in Munich is home to an outstanding collection of European paintings, stretching from the 14th to the 18th century. More than 700 paintings are displayed in 19 halls and 47 cabinets. Art lovers have been admiring the museum’s impressive exhibitions, spread out over two floors, since 1836, when the building designed by architect Leo von Klenze first opened.

The Nymphenburg Palace : the extensive park with its pavilions, promenades along the palace canals, enormous fountains, magnificent flower gardens and, of course, impressive palace buildings is a source of fascination for Munich natives and tourists alike.

The German Museum of Masterpieces of Science and Technology, as it’s officially called, is both a traditional museum and a modern, hands-on facility. Visitors can get involved with demonstrations, experiments and media stations, where they can press buttons, flip levers and switches and touch many of the exhibits.

BMW Welt is BMW’s very own experience and delivery center – where the company’s future and its history meet. Guests are invited to explore the exhibitions, which feature models from all BMW Group brands, and the facility offers tours, restaurants and souvenir shops.

A visit to the Bavarian National Museum on Prinzregentenstrasse in Munich is a journey through European art and cultural history. Exhibits from two millennia can be admired. These include regional and European paintings, sculptures, crafts, ivory and goldsmith’s work, tapestries, furniture, weapons and exquisite porcelain.

Visit the magical, cosmopolitan Munich, the city that perfectly embodies the “German dream” in the shadow of the Bavarian Alps!