The weather is fine and you want to get some exercise? Then get your bike out and follow in the footsteps of Munich's most famous character: Monaco Franze.

The Bavarian cult series by director Helmut Dietl tells the story of Franz Münchinger, the Monaco Franze, who loves Munich and women. If you open your eyes, you will still pass many of the places that were used as filming locations in the series. The tour begins in the heart of Schwabing, in Agnesstraße, and ends where he still sits today, the Monaco: at Münchner Freiheit.

1st stop: The Monaco apartment

Well, to be honest, this is more likely to be the apartment of Monaco's wife, Annette: a solid old building, an incredible size and close to Elisabethmarkt. At that time there were probably no parking problems, because Monaco always parks his car right in front of the apartment. Incidentally, the apartment is sold at a later point in the series because Annette would like to emigrate. Let's put it this way: we would take it, we just probably couldn't afford it.

Where: Agnesstraße 16 - the apartment to the left of the front door with the "porthole"

For the next stop, we have to change neighborhoods: off to Maxvorstadt.

2nd stop: Max Emanuel Brewery

Carnival is being celebrated at the Max E. Brewery. And in the middle of it all is Monaco, who is actually too ill to celebrate. But as lord of the seven seas, you have to grit your teeth. Besides, Manni doesn't like to go alone. And maybe Lilly, an old flame of Monaco's, is there too. She actually is, but the night turns out a little differently than expected. But: there are things in life, and especially at carnival, that you almost can't believe if you haven't experienced them yourself.

The Max E. Gasthaus is currently being renovated, so you won't get to see much more than scaffolding. So let's quickly move on to Annette's workplace.

Where: Adalbertstraße 33

3rd stop: Annette's antique store

This is where Monaco's "Spatzl", Annette von Soettingen, works. As a lady from a better family, she deals in antiques, which sometimes goes better, sometimes worse. Always at her side is her assistant, Olga. Olga is always complaining and never really happy, but Annette is not particularly impressed by this. Towards the end of the story, the business gets worse and worse, which only encourages Annette to emigrate.

When she actually emigrates, Monaco doesn't come with her. He is still in his beloved Munich, but without his "Spatzl" things don't go well for him. As a result, Annette comes back and looks for him. So it's off to the next stop in the direction of Viktualienmarkt.

Where: Fürstenstraße 10

4th station: Heiliggeist-Stüberl

The Monaco is a real bon vivant, but towards the end of the series he really falls off the wagon. Annette is gone and so is the meaning of his life. Nobody really knows where he is anymore. In their search for him, Annette and Olga also stop by the Heiliggeist-Stüberl, a typical Munich boazn at the Viktualienmarkt.

Where: Heiliggeiststraße 1 at Viktualienmarkt

On the way to the next stop, we pass the State Opera House, which also played an important role in Monaco's life. Albeit rather involuntarily. We'll never forget the scene in which he says to the face of Munich's high society what a naive opera audience they are: "It was a real piece of shit!" Past the opera and back towards the English Garden.

5th stop: "Bei Lisi" - Monaco's ex-wife's pub

The fact that Monaco also had a life before Annette and comes from a very modest background becomes clear when he visits his ex-wife Lisi's pub. She is a completely different, more hands-on character than Annette. But as a landlady, she has to be. And she has long since ceased to be dazzled by Monaco's beautiful, charming façade. Despite their failed relationship, the two still have a reasonably good relationship and know that they can rely on each other if the worst comes to the worst.

Where: Schönfeldstraße 22

6th station: English Garden

At some point, the Monaco imagines he has to learn English. And so he does, surrounded by lots of young ladies. However, his linguistic success is limited. This could also be due to the fact that he focuses less on learning and more on having fun.

At one point, he invites his fellow students to a lavish picnic in the English Garden - with the most expensive delicacies. And all this while the housekeeper Irmgard has to turn over every penny in order to serve the ladies a proper meal. But once again, the Monaco doesn't notice or doesn't want to. We don't know exactly whether the picnic took place behind the university, but we can well imagine it there. And besides, Leopoldstraße is not far away. And that's where Monaco invites the girls for a round of ice cream after the picnic. He just knows how to do it.

Where: English Garden behind the university near the Monopteros

7th station: Werneckhof Altschwabing

He hasn't left many out, the Monaco. Ladies, that is. But at least he always had the decency to say goodbye properly when it was over or should have been over. This was also the case with Elli. He may have had a "really good time" with her, but leaving just like that, without saying goodbye and presenting her with a farewell gift? No, not the Monaco. Everyone got a soap and a portrait of him as a farewell gift. Elli at the Werneckhof in Altschwabing. It still exists and is worth a visit after Corona. At the end, say goodbye or go out for an expensive meal.

Where: Werneckstraße 11

So, now on to the last stop. This is where we finally meet the Monaco himself.

8th station: Münchner Freiheit

And so here he sits, the Monaco. In the middle of Schwabing, in the city he never wanted to leave. And watches the people enjoying life here in summer. And you could actually sit down with the Monaco right now, order a coffee or a beer and see what else the day brings. True to the motto: a little something is always possible.

Where: At the height of Münchner Freiheit 20

As the café at Münchner Freiheit (or any other café) is not open at the moment, you can simply cycle home, make yourself comfortable on the sofa and watch a few episodes of Monaco Franze (available on Netflix). The best and worthy end to this cycle tour.

This content has been machine translated.