“Meister Eder und sein Pumuckl“ has been a popular book and audio book series by Ellis Kaut since the 1960s. In the 1980s, Bayerischer Rundfunk then made a series out of it. Since then, the red-haired imp has been one of Munich's most important series characters.
Admittedly, Pumuckl is not a true Munich native, because as a descendant of the Klabaut men, he should actually be up to mischief on the sailing ships in the far north. But then the goblin finds himself in the middle of Munich in Master Eder's workshop, of all places, where he turns the tranquil life of the master carpenter upside down.
The goblin character’s creator, Ellis Kaut, captured the very essence of Munich life as she described the goblin’s escapades – though it isn’t the feeling you might associate with Maximilianstrasse or other similarly exclusive parts of the city. Instead, Pumuckl and his Master Eder frequent the former suburbs of Lehel and Haidhausen, districts which were still chiefly inhabited by labourers and ordinary working people right into the 1980s. The rear courtyards and quaint little “Herbergshäuschen“ – former boarding houses – provided the ideal backdrop for the television series.
That’s where we see the goblin defending his Leberkäse sausage loaf from a cat, and where Master Eder heads to the stammtisch (regulars’ table) to play cards and dine on suckling pig with the other tavern regulars. It’s clear that Pumuckl has a lot in common with the locals of Munich though, especially when it comes to food. He has rather an epicurean lifestyle, and Master Eder even allows him a good swig of beer with his snack from time to time.
It is unfortunately no longer possible to visit Eder’s workshop in the rear courtyard at No. 2 Widenmayerstrasse, as it was torn down in 1985. However, the former “Zum Huterer” inn, the carpenter’s favourite, is nearby in Wiener Platz, on the right-hand side of the Isar river. And you can quite literally follow in Pumuckl’s footsteps just around the corner, recalling the “Der große Krach“ (“The big fight”) episode in which Pumuckl trudges sadly through Haidhausen’s Preysingstrasse after being thrown out by Master Eder.
Of course, there have been a few changes in Lehel and in Haidhausen since the programme was made, but Pumuckl's stomping ground still captivates with an authentic charm of its own. To this day, you can still see Pumuckl at the Pumuckl fountain in Luitpoldpark and at the Kandler restaurant in Oberbiberg – the interior scenes from the inn were filmed here.
And the new edition of Pumuckl will also be set in Munich: The streaming service RTL+ is planning to continue the popular children's series until the end of 2023. Filming for the 13 episodes of “Neue Geschichten vom Pumuckl“ should be completed by summer 2022. The lead role will be played by actor Florian Brückner, who will play Master Eder's nephew. Fitting for Pumuckl's birthday, because he turned a whole 60 years old in February 2022!
