Sightseeing-TIP: Munich Viktualienmarkt

 

 Viktualienmarkt in the heart of Munich's old town

The largest Bavarian village got the first maypole on its Viktualienmarkt in Munich's old town in 1962

International meeting point at the Viktualienmarkt in Munich (GERMAN / French)

Munich. The Viktualienmarkt is located not far from Marienplatz and is therefore in the heart of Munich's old town. Anyone who visits our beautiful city cannot avoid visiting this market for connoisseurs and gourmets. You will find everything here, from white sausage and traditional Bavarian specialties to exotic fruits. This year the Viktualienmarkt is more than just a food market. Characteristic are its market people in the green pavilions, who offer fresh fruit and vegetables from all over the world every day, and the maypole and the cozy beer garden in the heart of the market. There is also a North Sea fishing hall. “A Gaudi on every corner!” is the motto in the so-called living room of the city: the Viktualienmarkt.

Try, buy and feast - for the gourmet palate / Anyone who shops here at the Viktualienmarkt will be advised and pampered by experts, Photo: Helga Waess (press archive)

THE LANDMARK OF THE VIKTUALIENMARKET:

THE MAYPOLE OF MUNICH

The famous maypole towers over all the stalls at the Viktualienmarkt. No Bavarian village without a maypole! ... and the people of Munich often talk about “our village Minga!” The largest Bavarian village got the first maypole of the Viktualienmarkt in 1962 - it is decorated with traditional Munich figure groups: the brewery team, of course the Oktoberfest, the Schäfflertanz, various musicians and dancing couples, a woman at the stall, the beer bar, the Munich city flags and of course the two patron saints of brewers: St. Boniface and St. Florian.

The world-famous maypole on Munich's Viktualienmarkt in the center of the old town, photo: Helga Waess (press archive)

Anyone who strolls through the Viktualienmarkt will not miss its fountain

At the annual fountain festival on the first Friday in August, the fountains are decorated and musicians sing in honor and memory of the originals depicted. They helped shape Munich: the folk singers and comedians to whom a monument was erected here.

Fountain Festival singers at the Ida Schumacher fountain on the Viktualienmarkt in Munich's old town, press photo archive: Andreas Waess

We find bronze fountain figures of famous Munich originals

• Karl Valentin - Munich comedian and folk singer - together with Liesl Karlstadt, the Musäum im Isartor was dedicated to him
• Weiß Ferdl - he is on the beer menu at the Viktualienmarkt - here you immediately think of the tram anthem "Line 8-Lied"
• Liesl Karlstadt - actually Elisabeth Wellano / the cabaret artist formed the famous artist duo together with Karl Valentin
• Ida Schumacher - a Lower Bavarian Ratschkathi with a bucket and broom and also a comedian
• Elise Aulinger - popular actress who appeared as Ratschkathi and Veronika Wurzl
• Roider Jackl - the Bavarian folk singer was known nationwide for his Gstanzl at strong beer festivals - e.g. Nockherberg "Salvatoranstich"
• Potato fountain - runs open all year round and offers drinking water. It was set up at the potato market
• Honey fountain - near the Honigfrau at the Honighäusl stand, it has been around for over 100 years (although it also had other locations before)

Here are the links to our blog posts about the fountain festival - with photos of all the bronze fountain figures:

Feiertipp: Brunnenfest auf dem Viktualienmarkt. Brunnenfest im Wohnzimmer der Stadt München, dem Viktualienmarkt. Auf dem Viktualienmarkt zählen Traditionen: „Münchner Brunnenfestes auf dem Viktualienmarkt" 

English: ... Celebration tip: Fountain Festival at the Viktualienmarkt. Fountain Festival in the living room of the city of Munich, the Viktualienmarkt. Traditions count at the Viktualienmarkt: “Munich Fountain Festival at the Viktualienmarkt”

Brunnenfest: Fest-Tradition am Viktualienmarkt in München - Fünftes Brunnenfest und „An jedem Eck a Gaudi!“ Wie schon zur Faschingszeit mit dem traditionellen Tanz der Marktweiber (Link zu unserem Blogbeitrag zum Tanz der Markfrauen), so haben die Standl-Betreiber am Viktualienmarkt eine weitere Tradition begründet, die bei jedem Wetter Besucher anlockt: DAS BRUNNENFEST. 

English: ... Fountain Festival: Festival tradition at the Viktualienmarkt in Munich - Fifth Fountain Festival and “A Gaudi on every corner!” As with the carnival season with the traditional dance of the market women (link to our blog post on the dance of the market women), the stand operators at the Viktualienmarkt founded another tradition that attracts visitors in all weathers: THE FOUNTAIN FESTIVAL.

Viktualienmarkt – München Richtung „Altes Rathaus – mit Spielzeugmuseum“ und Sparkassenstraße Richtung Hofbräuhaus, Foto: Andreas Waess

We start early in the morning with breakfast at the Viktualienmarkt

... the market people have already set up their market there. Here and there you get an appetite for croissants, coffee or white sausage with pretzels. You can have breakfast directly at the market or visit one of the surrounding cafés. 

• For example, the “Rischart am Viktualienmarkt – Café am Markt”, which was founded by the Munich baker Rischart, invites you to do so. One of the most beautiful of its cafés is located directly on the Viktualienmarkt and has a beautiful terrace with a view of the market. 
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• “Schmalznudel – Café Frischhut” invites you to look out from the window with freshly pulled out drinks and Striezerl and is a must for visitors to Munich.
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• "Café Nymphenburg Sekt" - no, there is more than sparkling wine here, but a sparkling wine breakfast with freshly squeezed juice is not to be underestimated. You can enjoy the breakfast menu here!

Or straight to the beer garden to have your own snack. Yes, it's true: you can bring your own spices here. Bought in the stand, you sit here and order your drinks. However, the beer garden doesn't open that early ... 

No visit to Munich without a traditional white sausage breakfast!

After all, the Weißwurst is the most famous Munich specialty. You eat them in the morning, before twelve, with sweet mustard, pretzels, Obazda and some wheat beer! By the way, white sausages are not allowed to hear the 12 o'clock chime! Inns with tradition only offer the Weißwurst breakfast until 12 p.m. When you order a white sausage, you always get a pair - so never order two, otherwise you'll just have to eat four.

• By the way: you will immediately be recognized as a stranger if you eat the Weißwurst incorrectly. The white sausages are either zipped and alternatively provided with a cross cut or a longitudinal cut

This is where even die-hard Munich residents separate the wheat from the chaff:

•  Traditionally zipped, stylishly cross-cut or classically sliced ​​lengthways.
• The skin of the sausage is never, ever eaten - it is too tough.

View from Sparkassenstrasse to the Viktualienmarkt, press archive - Photo: Helga Waess

Opening times of the stand at the Viktualienmarkt

• Monday to Saturday, open
• from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the latest
• Florists, bakers and restaurateurs have their own opening hours - e.g. also on Sundays

Dance of the market women from Munich's Viktualienmarkt

Dance of the market women from Munich's Viktualienmarkt - always Shrove Tuesday - The dance of the market women has been around for over 100 years. / Photo: Helga Waess (press archive)