Page 233 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

MUNICH  231

. Theresienwiese
Theresienhöhe.  Theresienwiese.
_ Oktoberfest (Sep–Oct).
For most of the year this is
simply a vast oval meadow
encircled by the Bavariaring.
Theresienwiese comes into
its own once a year, however,
during the Oktoberfest. Then it
turns into a gigantic, boisterous
beer-drinking venue, with stalls,
marquees, funfair and loud music.
Submarine used in the film Das Boot, displayed in Bavaria-Filmstadt Towering above the
meadow is a monumental
These include eight variations including Enemy Mine and 18-m (59-ft) high
(1893) on the theme of sin. His Cabaret, can also be seen. statue, symbol of the
Amazon (1897) stands in front You can also peep into the state of Bavaria. Made
of the villa. sub marine that was recon- in 1844–50, the
Franz von Stuck built the structed for Wolfgang Petersen’s statue is the
villa in 1897–98, to his own classic film Das Boot (1981) – work of Ludwig
design, decorating it with his the film follows the voyage Schwanthaler.
own paintings and sculptures. of a submarine during World It incorporates
Since 1968, it has housed War II. The Bullyversum (named an internal
a museum. A permanent after “Bully” Herbig, a German staircase
exhibition of Stuck’s work is comedian, actor and director) leading to the
displayed in the magnificent is an interactive 3D adventure. figure’s head,
music room on the ground VIP tours of the Filmstadt where there is
floor, while the second-floor include fascinating demon- a viewing
rooms are used for temporary strations of many technical platform.
exhibitions devoted mainly film-making tricks and tech- Just behind Bavaria statue
to early 20th-century art. niques. A special attraction is the statue is the in Theresienwiese
the cinema called Showscan, Ruhmeshalle, a
whose seats move according Neo-Classical building
, Bavaria-Filmstadt to the story on the screen, surrounded by a colonnade.
Bavariafilmplatz 7. Tel (089) 64 99 20 giving visitors the sensation Designed by Leo von Klenze
00. v 25. Open Apr–Oct: 9am–6pm of a trip through the universe and built in 1843–53, the
daily; Nov–Mar: 10am–5pm daily. 8 or of flying through the tunnels building contains numerous
only; in English at 1pm daily. & of an old silver mine. busts of eminent Bavarians.
∑ filmstadt.de
Oktoberfest
Commonly known as Holly-
wood on Isar, this vast site Munich’s Oktoberfest is
in the southern suburb of one of the biggest folk fairs
Geiselgasteig covers an area in Europe. In 1810 the site on
of over 3.5 sq km (865 acres). which it is held was the
Since 1919 the world’s great- venue for a horse race, held
est cinema stars have worked to celebrate the marriage of
Ludwig (later King of Bavaria)
here, including Orson Welles and Thérèse von Saxe-
and Billy Wilder. The British film Hildburghausen. A few
director Alfred Hitchcock made years later it became the
his first films here (The Pleasure venue for an autumn fair
Garden, 1925 and The Mountain that has grown into an
Eagle, 1926). Elizabeth Taylor, enormous event over the
Gina Lollobrigida and Romy years. Chief amongst the
Schneider have all stood in attractions is beer, drunk in
front of the cameras here. vast quantities, in marquees
Strolling visitors to the site erected by the breweries.
will often come across some The festival starts in late Revellers at the annual Oktoberfest in
well-known characters who September with a huge Theresienwiese
have appeared in films such procession through the town
as E.T. or The Neverending Story, and the ceremonial opening of the first barrel of beer. It finishes,
which were filmed here. The 16 days later, on the first Sunday of October.
sets of other films made here,

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