Long time inhabitant of Munich and its most famous resident author, Thomas Mann, once wrote of Munich describing it as a city that sparkles. And even though that city of which he wrote of long ago was destroyed by two world wars, this city shines among the most traveled of German cities. "Munich sparkles."

As the so-called "secret capital of Germany", Munich’s self-imposed, fun-loving and festival-obsessed attitude has developed through the 191 years of the Oktoberfest celebration. Held annually from the second-to-last Saturday of September until the first Sunday of October, Oktoberfest or the "Wies’n", as it is also affectionately named, began on October 12, 1810.

On that day, Crown Prince Ludwig was married to Therese of Saxony-Hildburghhausen and all the residents of Munich were invited to attend the revelry of the wedding celebration in the fields in front of the old city gates. The field, which held the joyous celebration, was thereafter named the Theresienwiese in honor of the Crowned Princess. To this day, the grounds still hold the name of their beloved princess, and her statue watches over the festivities. Weis’n, derived from Theresienweisn, is the name most selected by the Bavarians in referring to Oktoberfest.

In the beginning, the amusements were sparse. By 1818, Munich added a carousel and two swings. Visitors were able to quench their thirst at a number of beer stands, which quickly grew in size to the huge tents presently found on the Oktoberfest fairgrounds. Today, only breweries that brew their beer in Munich are able to set up their tents in the Theresienwiese.

There are 16 different beer tents and breweries represented at Oktoberfest. Of them the most famous and the most visited by Americans and Austrians alike is the Hofbrau-Festzeit. Others include the Hippodrom, the Armbrustschuetzen-Festhalle, the Spatenbrau-Festhalle, Fischer-Vroni, Hacherbrau, Augustiner, Schottenhamel, Lowenbrau, Pschorrbrau, Paulaner, Kaefer’s Wies’nschaenke, the Wein- und Sektzeit, Bodo’s Café, and the Huehner- und Entenbraterei Ammer. These tents are built and torn-down each season. Construction begins at the end of July, beginning of August.

On average, seven million visitors, worldwide, come to celebrate at Oktober-fest. And over 12,000 people are employed to enable visitors to enjoy the world’s largest and most popular festival!

In 2001, Munich will celebrate its 191st annual Oktoberfest celebration and AAA & DER Travel Services would like for you to join in on the excitement!

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