Munich Germany’s Beer Capital: Buzzing yet Tranquil
Munich’s largest and most traditional breweries cordially join the festivities.
Drink beer by the litre, eat traditional Bavarian food such as pretzels with a diameter of 15 inches. Listen to live brass bands playing traditional Bavarian music as well as more up-to-date music, and enjoy yourself with hundreds of other people from all over the world, dancing and singing the hours away.
Classic Bavarian fare in the local inns and beer gardens and international specialities at ristorantes, sushi bars, tavernas and bistros are a traditional part of Munich’s gastronomic scene which takes you on a culinary tour of discovery through Munich. Munich’s traditional taverns serve all manner of hearty fare. Munich is also a great place to discover a host of culinary secrets from around the world: this love of ‘exotic’ cuisine comes from the city’s proximity.
Lederhosen are often seen as Germany’s national dress, but they are actually only worn in Bavaria – where locals wear them with pride. Lederhosen are as popular today as they’ve ever been, especially on festive occasions such as Munich’s Oktoberfest. To complete the look you need the side-laced shoes, the traditional regional shirt and the distinctive round-collared jacket.
Romit Theophilus, Director, Sales & Marketing, India said ‘‘Oktoberfest is a byword for beer all over the world. Oktoberfest was held back in 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding; nobody dreamt it would be such a famous event. Since then, the world’s biggest beer festival is held every year in September/October, bringing smiles to people’s faces in classic Bavarian style, beer fresh from the barrel and plenty of good cheer.”
The Costume und Riflemen’s Procession gives an impressive insight into the fascinating diversity of customs rooted in the heart of Bavaria. A varied succession of regional costume groups, “troops” in historical uniforms, marching bands, riflemen, thoroughbred horses, oxen, cows, goats, the decorated drays of the Munich breweries, floats displaying typical local traditions and historic carriages all pass by in a 7-kilometer-long procession through the streets of the city center, on the first Sunday of the Oktoberfest.
The Schottenhamel is the oldest and most traditional tent, with the Schottenhamel family being represented at the Oktoberfest since as far back as 1867. Ever year it sees the traditional tapping of the first keg of beer by the Mayor of Munich. On average the public that attends is very young and student-oriented, making the tent a popular meeting place for young people.
