Theresienwiese

The Theresienwiese in Munich’s Ludwigsvorstadt neighbourhood owes its worldwide fame to the Oktoberfest. With its area of forty-two hectares, it provides the ideal venue for the largest folk festival in the world. However, for a long time the Theresienwiese was nothing more than bleak grassland just outside Munich. The appearance of the Oktoberfest changed over the years and the fairground became the stage for the prevailing mood of the time.

On 17 October 1810, the Munich civilian military organised a horse race on that very meadow in honour of the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig (1786-1868) to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen (1792-1854). Around 50,000 spectators followed the race from a slope at the edge of the meadow. This inaugural race was the starting point for the Oktoberfest tradition. The venue was named "Theresens Wiese" in honour of the bride and with royal permission as early as 1810. In the 1820s, the name changed to the more genteel "Theresien-Wiese".

Julia Misamer

To chapter: Oktoberfest Attack