Viktualienmarkt in Munich Viktualienmarkt in Munich CCO Public Domain

Viktualienmarkt: UNESCO Intangible Heritage and Munich's Living Food Hall

By  Tuesday, 10.11.2015, 12:36    Tourist Sites

From its prominent maypole to its abundant fresh local produce, the centrally located Viktualienmarkt is the embodiment of Munich tradition and culture. Locals swear by it, and many will not buy their produce anywhere else. More than 200 years after its origins, Viktualienmarkt has named as intangible UNESCO heritage in October 2015, recognition of the important part it has held in upholding the trading traditions of the city over the centuries, and if you want to get a flavour of the atmosphere of local Munich in the heart of the city, this is the place to be. And don't forget to buy - the produce on offer here is sensational, with many stall owners allowing you to try before you buy. Take a tour of Viktalienmarkt in the video below.

Founded by decree on May 2, 1807 by King Maximilian I, Viktualienmarkt takes its name from a Latin word for food, the farmer's market covers some 22,000m2, and its 140 stalls sella variety of quality wares, such as flowers, exotic fruit and vegetables, game, poultry, spices, cheese and fish, and despite being in the middle of the city, the market retains a cosy local atmosphere. 

Thirsty after all that food browsing and shopping? A sizeable beer garden takes up a part of the square, allowing you to relax over a trademark Munich beer, while soaking up the very amenable atmosphere. 

Time your visit well, and you could be in time for one of the numerous festivals which take place at Viktualienmarkt to celebrate the produce which has made it famous. Annual events include weighing celebrities, brewers' day, gardeners' day, opening of the asparagus season, summer festival, and the dance of the market women on Shrove Tuesday.

Viktalienmarkt is easily reached, lying just a few metres south of Marienplatz.

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Paul Bradbury

After 12 years living on the most gorgeous island in the world, Hvar in Dalmatia, I have begun to wonder if there is still life beyond its shores. Prior to discovering Paradise in 2002, I was a world traveller, living and working in Japan, Georgia, Somalia, Rwanda, Russia... and Munich.

After 95 countries and some 25 years have passed, the memories of my year in the hotel industry in the Bavarian capital (fired by the Sheraton for losing our pet snake, the first male chambermaid at Hotel Arabella, and a truly eye-watering introduction to five-star living in  my days as a bellboy in luxury Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten) are strong, and the call of Munich has been a constant theme over the last quarter century. 

And so here I am, answering the call some 25 years later. Twelve years of island living have changed me for sure, but also left me curious about life in a big city, and whether or not I could adapt to it after such an insular decade. 

I was surprised to see that for such a magnificent multi-cultural city, English-language blogs and regularly updated information are not that available. Static tourism information, such as that provided by the excellent tourist board website yes, but accounts of daily life delivered daily? Hard to find.

And so I have decided to take a break from my idyllic island and see if I could live in a city again. And what better way to try than to discover modern Munich in all its facets after so many years. It is a journey of discovery which I am relishing, and I hope the site proves to be of interest for Munich residents and its numerous visitors.

About Paul Bradbury

Author of Lebanese Nuns Don't Ski, Lavender, Dormice and a Donkey Named Mercedes and Hvar's first comprehensive guidebook, Hvar: An Insider's Guide to Croatia's Premier Island, as well as co-author of Split: An Insider's Guide with Mila Hvilshoj, I have lived in Dalmatia full time since 2003. In addition to running Total Munich, I also run Total Split (www.croatia-split.com), Total Hvar (www.total-hvar.com) and Total Inland Dalmatia (www.total-inland-dalmatia.com), as well as being an accredited Google News journalist for Digital Journal in Canada.

I also have various blogging clients, including the Central Dalmatia Tourist Board, European Coastal Airlines, Touristar TV and Andro Tomic Wines, and print clients include Qatar Airways inflight magazine, Out! magazine from New York, and Croatian Hotspots. 

In December 2014 I was delighted to receive the Marko Polo 2014 Award from FIJET Croatia (Federation of International Travel Writers and Journalists)  at a ceremony for the Croatian Journalists Society for the best international tourism promotion of Croatia. More here.

Ongoing writing projects:

A History of Hajduk Split, co-author with Frane Grgurevic - in 2015

Around the World in 80 Disasters - out in 2015

Total Hvar in the Media:

Interview of the Month, Croatian Embassy in Washington (May 2013)

Special Feature in Globus Magazine (May 2013)

Featured on Croatian TV show, More (2012) - watch the report here

Interviews in Slobodna Dalmacija, Dalmacijanews, Radio Split

I am available for writing services. Please contact me on [email protected] or visit my main writing website, www.bossandblogger.com 

Website: total-hvar.com Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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