Max I. Joseph, King of Bavaria by Napoleon’s grace, wanted to upgrade the new royal residence and decided to move the farmers’ market from the so-called Schrannenplatz to the inner courtyard of the Heiliggeist hospital. An eyewitness report from 1797 gives us an idea of the daily chaos: "Last Saturday I saw a large market in Munich that reached to the 'Schöner Turm' (note: now Hettlage next to St. Michael’s church), but at the same time large crowds of wagons, horses and people … It is impossible that terrible accidents can be avoided, and helpless crones and smaller children must pay sharp attention not to be knocked down and have arms and legs cut asunder.“
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"Am letzt verflossenen Samstag sah ich in München eine sehr große Schranne, die bis zum schönen Turm hinaufreichte, aber auch zugleich ein so großes Gedräng an Wagen und Pferden, und vermischtes Gewühl von Menschen . . . Es kann manchmal wohl nicht anders ablaufen, als daß an diesen Schrannentagen große Unglücke entstehen müssen, und unbehülfliche Alte und die kleinere Jugend darf sich an diesen Tagen wohl in Acht nehmen, um nicht niedergefahren zu werden, und sich Arme und Beine entzwei rädern zu lassen."
So when Max I. Joseph’s head aide, Maximilian Joseph Graf von Montgelas, followed his liberal, anti-clerical leanings and decided to secularize church property the King gave his placet.
The market was not always as open as it appears today, it was surrounded by hospital buildings such as the separate tracts for women and men, and an orphanage. Plans called for the church tower to be razed as it rendered the entrance to the market too narrow and the city scales to be set up in the church. Protests from the populace prevented their realization, but not everyone held the church in that much awe: “Hundreds of cooks would march through the Heiliggeist Church with their laden baskets�, states Axel Winterstein in his book “200 Jahre Viktualienmarkt�.
The buildings were razed between 1807 and 1885, by 1890 the Viktualienmarkt had assumed its present-day appearance. The grain market remained on the Schrannenplatz until 1853 when it moved to the modern cast-iron and glass structure known as the Maximilians-Getreidehalle (vulgo Schranne), the original Schrannenplatz was renamed Marienplatz.
The Munich City Council is the official owner of the market and takes its responsibility regarding quality of the merchandise and vendors very seriously, insisting on a wide range of produce to counteract the tendency of grocery store chains to uniformity.
Various celebrations are planned beginning 2 May 2007 with the official birthday party, culinary highlights and band concerts. On 1 June 2007 the fish vendors will celebrate a Fischertag with tips and recipes, music from the North Sea region and attractions for children. Sommerfest is on 4 August 2007 with international attractions, the gardeners and nurseries will have their big day on 7 August 2007 with a parade and band concerts. For those who like it: The Weißwurst is turning 150 and will be honored on 16 September 2007 by the butchers.
The final act is the traditional weighing of celebrities on 20 October 2007, the groceries are donated to charity. This year's featured personality has not yet been named.
Sources:
Süddeutsche Zeitung online subscription edition, 21 April 2007
br-online
muenchen.de
