Following in the footsteps of Pumuckl the goblin in Munich & Bavaria
Where Meister Eder lived and Pumuckl now smiles down from traffic lights: we wander through Munich, the city where the cult series “Meister Eder und sein Pumuckl” was created – and we discover what can still be seen today and where the little goblin has immortalized himself. Then we take the train to further Pumuckl highlights in Ohlstadt and Landshut.
The little kobold Pumuckl, created by author Ellis Kaut, first appeared on the radio in 1962 and went on to capture the hearts of goblin fans young and old with books, records, and, from 1982, television. With Gustl Bayrhammer as Master Eder and Hans Clarin's unforgettable voice as Pumuckl, the series became a classic. Munich plays the secret leading role, especially the Lehel and Haidhausen districts with their then still down-to-earth neighborhoods and backyards.
The goblin has been back since 2023 with “Neue Geschichten vom Pumuckl” (New Stories of Pumuckl). Filming takes place in Munich and the surrounding area. The movie “Pumuckl und das große Missverständnis” (Pumuckl and the Big Misunderstanding) will follow in 2025 (planned release: October 30, 2025).
Pumuckl filming locations in Munich: what you can see today (and what you can't)
We start our Pumuckl discovery tour in Lehel. From Munich Central Station, take the U4 or U5 eastbound to the Lehel stop. After a few minutes' walk, you will reach Widenmayerstraße 2. This is where Master Eder's legendary workshop was located in the backyard. The rear building was demolished in 1985 after filming ended. Since 2023, a commemorative plaque has commemorated Gustl Bayrhammer and the filming. And while you're here: the team shot many exterior scenes just around the corner, including at Tattenbachstraße 16.
If you walk from Lehel over the Maximiliansbrücke bridge and past the Maximilianeum towards Wiener Platz, you will see a familiar facade from the series: the former restaurant “Zum Huterer,” Meister Eder's local hangout. The restaurant is no longer in business, but the location remains present as a series backdrop. The interior shots were filmed at Gasthaus Kandler in Oberbiberg: a rustic tavern with furnishings from 1923, a historic bowling alley from 1905, and classic Bavarian cuisine. Kandlerwirt was also the filming location for the movie “Wer früher stirbt, ist länger tot” (Whoever dies first, stays dead longer).
Other locations from the series that are still recognizable today include Hellabrunn Zoo, the Max-Josef-Stiftsgymnasium school, and the cable bridge over the Kleine Isar river. You can still visit these places today and indulge in nostalgia. You can reach the cable bridge from the main station in about 25 minutes by walking east along Bayerstraße and continuing straight through the city center to the Isartor. From there, follow Zweibrückenstraße to the high bank of the Isar and you will reach the cable bridge, which leads across the Isar to the Deutsches Museum.
Pumuckl today in Munich: traffic lights, fountains, sculptures
The popularity of Pumuckl and the cult series from the 1980s remains unbroken to this day. So it's no wonder that Munich is home to numerous affectionate tributes to the little goblin. This is evident not only in street names such as Ellis-Kaut-Straße, Gustl-Bayrhammer-Straße, and Hans-Clarin-Weg, all located next to each other in Munich's Freiham district, but also in small details throughout the cityscape.
In Lehel, Pumuckl indicates when it's time to stop or go at three intersections: at the intersection of Liebigstraße/Triftstraße/Wagmüllerstraße, Robert-Koch-Straße/Sternstraße, and Sternstraße/Widenmayerstraße. If you keep your eyes open, you'll quickly spot the little traffic light figures. There is also a Pumuckl traffic light in Moosach, at the corner of Dachauer Straße and Emmy-Noether-Straße, which can be reached, for example, by taking the U3 to Moosach or the S1 northbound.
The Pumuckl fountain also stands among old trees in the western part of Luitpoldpark, near Brunnerstraße. The small bronze figure sprays water at you at irregular intervals. The playful work by sculptor Claus Nageler from 1985 was donated by Pumuckl's creator Ellis Kaut herself. The best way to reach the fountain is from the main station with the U2 to Scheidplatz, from where it is only a few minutes' walk.
You will also encounter the goblin at Munich Airport: in the passenger area of Terminal 2, Meister Eder and Pumuckl stand as detailed bronze sculptures by the Erdinger artist Harry Seeholzer. A loving homage that travelers pass on their way to their gate and which is ideal for a souvenir photo.
Pumuckl exhibition in Landshut
“Hurray, hurray, Pumuckl is here!” will be the cry in Landshut from October 2025. Until the end of September 2026, the LANDSHUTmuseum and the KASiMiRmuseum will be hosting a large interactive exhibition all about the little goblin. You can marvel at original drawings and props from the series, listen to scenes from radio plays and films, and get creative yourself at interactive stations, for example by doing crafts or repeating well-known goblin sayings. From Landshut Central Station, it's only a few minutes' walk or bus ride to the museums in the old town.
Pumuckl Museum in the Bartlmämühle in Ohlstadt
In Ohlstadt in the Werdenfelser Land region, there is a real insider tip for Pumuckl fans: the Pumuckl-Museum in the Bartlmämühle. Here, Armin Krattenmacher, the “Bartlmäschreiner,” has lovingly built up a collection over many years: from the first sketches of the goblin to book illustrations and props from the series. Admission is free, but it is essential to call ahead to arrange an appointment, as this is a private collection. A particularly charming feature is that you can try your hand at making small items in the original carpenter's workshop. You can reach Ohlstadt by taking the regional train towards Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From Ohlstadt station, it is only a few minutes' walk southwest along Loisachstraße and Partenkirchner Straße to Bartlmämühle.