Munich has an official date when it has been founded and the City celebrates the date with the two-day Town Foundation Festival. This year the Festival is set to take place Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, at and around the central Munich Marienplatz.

Every year, the city is celebrating its anniversary with many attractions for tourists and locals. The origin of Munich goes back to the 8th century and to a tiny monastic settlement known as "bei den Munichen", which is to say: by the monks. However, the actual founder of Munich is Duke Henry the Lion. He destroyed a toll bridge over the Isar near Föhring and then built another one in "Munichen" where he collected his own tolls. Henry's act was finally publicly recognized, thus giving Munich its official "date of birth": June 14th, 1158.

The City of Munich is celebrating this anniversary with a two-day festival for its citizens and visitors. During the two days Marienplatz will offer many attractions, e.g. a stage with performances of musicians, dancers and other artists, a craftsmen market and a special area for children.

Opening hours: Saturday 10 am - 11 pm and Sunday 10 am - 10 pm

This year there is going to be another festival in downtown Munich due to a very special anniversary for Munich, Bavaria and the whole beer-loving world. The 500th anniversary of the Bavarian Beer Purity Law is going to be celebrated throughout Germany, Bavaria and Munich. At the Bavarian capital a three-day beer festival is set to take place from July 22-24. The festival has been officially branded “Festival of Bavarian Beer Culture".

The Bavarian brewing industry prepared well for the occasion. Some 100 Bavarian breweries will be presenting their best beers in the area of the Feldherrnhalle and the Odeonsplatz in downtown Munich. For three days, thousands of visitors can enjoy the beer diversity of Bavaria at the beer benches between white pagodas and high-class tents.