Way back in 750, Oberföhring was first documented as “ad feringas”. This makes Oberföhring the earliest mentioned part of Munich. Let’s delve into the story of this unique district. Oberföhring lies northeast of Munich on the Isar’s right bank. It forms part of the Bogenhausen district. Within Bogenhausen, Oberföhring borders Bogenhausen, Englschalking, and Johanneskirchen.
In 903, King Ludwig IV gave the Oberföhring estate to Regensburg’s Bishopric. Even in Roman times, a trade route crossed the Isar in Oberföhring. Caravans transported salt from Salzburg to Augsburg. They could easily cross the river at normal water levels. Names like Salzstraße and Salzsenderweg still attest to this history.
Around the turn of the millennium, the Bishop of Freising built a bridge. He charged a toll for crossing it. This toll made Oberföhring a prosperous village. But in 1156, Bavarian Duke Henry the Lion destroyed the bridge. He built his own bridge a few kilometers upstream to collect the toll himself. Until 1803, Oberföhring belonged to the Hochstift Freising.
In the mid-18th century, Munich was known for its anti-liberal sentiment. People traveled from the city to Oberföhring three days a week. Here, uncensored newspapers were available. They felt safe from spies. Oberföhring belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Freising. Bavarian censorship did not directly affect it. These visits were called Föhringer Tage.
After secularization, Oberföhring became part of the Electorate of Bavaria. The municipal edict of 1818 turned it into an independent political community. This included the district of St. Emmeram.
In 1910, the municipality had 1,056 residents in 215 households. There were also 600 to 800 Italian seasonal workers from 1870 onwards. They worked in the 17 brick factories. These factories were located on the loess loam tongue east of the municipality. The municipality measured 3.63 square kilometers. This area largely corresponds to today’s Oberföhring district. Fritz Meyer was the last mayor of the independent municipality. Oberföhring was incorporated into Munich on July 1, 1913.
The current district part 13.1 Oberföhring has a smaller area of 2.21 square kilometers. In 2015, the population was 13,179. Its location on the high bank of the northern Isar attracts many visitors. They come from the region and Munich. They use the walking paths that lead to the Isar meadows and the Isar Canal.
The nearby weir is also a popular spot. Here, the Middle Isar Canal diverts water from the Isar. You can cross the Isar on foot. You can reach the northern part of the English Garden. The 22-hectare Isarinsel Oberföhring stretches between the Isar and the canal. It runs from the weir to the Herzog-Heinrich Bridge. St. Emmeram with the St. Emmeramsmühle is a few minutes downstream. The Gedächtniskapelle St. Emmeram is nearby.
The Catholic Church of St. Lorenz is in Oberföhring’s old village center. It was built in the early 17th century. It is the center of the parish. The village center has kept a peaceful atmosphere away from the main road. The stately rectory is located here. The former school building and the Bernheimer Schlösschen are also here. The Bernheimer Schlösschen is close to the Isar meadows. It now houses various social facilities.
The graves of sculptor Adolf von Hildebrand and media entrepreneur Leo Kirch are in the cemetery at St. Lorenz. The prominent water tower near the Bernheimerschlössl was demolished in 1962. South of Oberföhring was the Priel. This forest and hunting area belonged to the Freising bishops. In Oberföhring is the Sammlung Goetz. Pierre de Meuron and Jacques Herzog designed the museum building in 1993. Opposite is the Bürgerpark Oberföhring. It is a park-like area with buildings. It is dedicated to cultural purposes and houses several clubs.
Oberföhring offers a blend of history, nature, and culture. It makes it a unique part of Munich.