Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Oxen Roast
&
Flea Circus
(
Memorial
Entire oxen are roast-
ed on a spit right before
your eyes. A portion of
roast oxen or a pork hock
with crackling are just
two of the traditional and
hearty Bavarian treats
served up at the Oktober-
fest. Some 100 oxen are
slaughtered for the
Wiesn every year.
Another old-
time tradition: the
tiny trained crea-
tures and their lord
and master have
entertained spec-
tators for over half
a century. The flea
circus is an abso-
lute must for all
fans of yesteryear.
On 26 September
1980 at about 10:30pm,
a bomb exploded near a
Wiesn exit. Thirteen peo-
ple were killed and more
than 200 were injured.
A stele
(left)
stands as a
reminder of the attack
carried out by a neo-Nazi.
)
Statue of Bavaria
In 1843, Ludwig I
commissioned Leo von
Klenze to build the
Ruhmeshalle (Hall of
Fame) on the Theresien-
höhe; today, it houses the
busts of famous Bavari-
ans. The colossal statue
of Bavaria by Ludwig
Schwanthaler (cast in ore
by Ferdinand von Miller)
rises in front of the hall. A
platform inside the statue's
head offers a spectacular
view of the Wiesn
(below)
.
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Steckerlfisch
The History of the
Oktoberfest
The marriage of Crown
Prince Ludwig and
Therese von Sachsen-
Hildburghausen on 12
October 1810 was cele-
brated with a five-day
festival on Theresien-
wiese, named in honour
of the bride. A horse
race capping the festivi-
ties was slated to be
repeated the following
October. It became an
annual event, quickly
growing into a major fair
with rides and beer stalls.
The first “beer palaces”
appeared in 1896. Today,
the fair attracts millions
of tourists and is
famous worldwide.
The air is not only
filled with the smell of
beer but also with the
tantalizing aroma of grilled
fish -
Steckerlfisch
(fish
on a stick) - prepared on
a charcoal grill
(right)
.
^
Beim Schichtl
*
Rides
Welcome one and all
to this cabaret - a Wiesn
fixture since 1871. Today
you can still watch acts
such as the “beheading”
of a living person on the
guillotine
(below)
.
With traditional
amusement rides such as
the merry-go-round, clay-
pigeon shooting, and the
sedate Crinoline, or the
latest thrilling attractions
such as Euro-Star,
Freefall, and several
roller-coasters - there's
something for everyone,
from children to adrena-
line addicts. The slowly
rotating giant Ferris
wheel offers a spectacu-
lar view of the scenery.
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For information on the Oktoberfest, incuding dates, discounts, and
accommodation, visit
www.muenchen.de
