Welcome to Marienplatz, the beating heart of Munich that has stood as the center of city life since its official founding in 1158. As you stand here today, you are at a historic crossroads where ancient salt trade routes once intersected, bringing the wealth and influence that transformed a small settlement into the powerful Bavarian capital we see today. For centuries, this vast space served as a bustling market square and was originally known as the Grain Market before it was renamed and dedicated to the Virgin Mary in 1854. This change was a spiritual plea for her protection during a severe cholera outbreak that had gripped the city that summer. Today, it remains the geographical and cultural center of Munich, the point from which all distances in the city are traditionally measured.