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Introducing Bavaria
The largest state in Germany, Bavaria (Bayern) is well endowed with natural riches: snowy Alpine peaks, rushing streams and velvety forests that stir the romantic soul. Bolstering Bavarian pride yet more is a wealth of historic buildings, arguably Germany’s best art museums, and an economy bigger than Sweden’s.
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The old banking powerhouse, Augsburg, lies in Swabia. To the north the fabulous bishops’ cities of Nuremberg, Bamberg and Würzburg are part of Franconia, where locals don’t regard themselves as Bavarian. In the east, the Danube flows past the medieval stronghold of Regensburg towards the Italianate Passau, close to the rugged wilderness of the Bavarian Forest. The most popular route through Bavaria is the Romantic Road, a trail of walled towns and ancient watchtowers culminating in the world’s most famous castle, the sugary Neuschwanstein, near Füssen in the Bavarian Alps. The mountains have first-class resorts for hiking and skiing, incredible scenery and a wealth of beautiful frescoed villages. But Munich is Bavaria’s real heart and soul. It’s a stylish metropolis, a vortex of art and culture, yet a relaxed place that manages to combine Alpine air with Mediterranean joie de vivre. Wherever you go, be prepared for oceans of beer served with legendary, thigh-slapping hospitality.
Staunchly conservative, but with a flair for innovation, Bavarians see themselves as separate from the rest of Germany although, Bavaria actually embraces three peoples – the Bavarians, Franconians and Swabians. They still pine for an odd 19th-century monarch, Ludwig II, whose opulent palaces draw millions of visitors each year. Traditions are relished and earthy, and lederhosen-clad men still exist, quaffing frothy steins of beer to the strains of an oompah band.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
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O Tannenbaum: Germany’s Christmas Markets
25 November 2009
If you like your Christmas shopping with a generous side of tradition (and a cup of mulled wine), take...
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Bavaria destination essentials
4 August 2009
A long checklist of castles, churches and natural wonders will lure you to Germany’s largest state,...
Bavaria
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Bavaria Overview
- Places in Bavaria
- Getting there & around
- History
- Tips & articles
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Recommended things to do & see
Our Top Picks For Bavaria
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1 Bamberg
Sample smoked beer in atmospheric breweries tucked into the cobbled backstreets of this breathtaking city
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2 Naturpark Altmühltal
Unearth this protected park's ancient ruins along the Romans' newly Unesco-listed northern boundary, the Limes
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3 Bavarian Forest
Find out about the forest's traditional art of glassmaking in Frauenau's sparkling new Glass Museum
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4 Munich
Make friends out of strangers over a mug of beer in a classic beer hall
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5 Schloss Linderhof
Approach Ludwig II's whimsical palace on foot and don't forget to savour the garden's magic
Related Groups
Our favourite Bavaria Blogs (beta)
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Nuremberg Christmas Market, Germany
Blog: An American in London - 13 December 2009
I have to be in Munich for a few days this week, so I took a daytrip today to visit the Nuremberg Christmas Market, which is just an hour and 45 minutes away on a regular (non-fancy) Deutsche Bahn train. I’m not a huge fan of Christmas ornaments or freezing cold weather, but things I *can* [...]
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Lady and the Little Bear
Blog: A Lady in London - 7 November 2009
Last year a small polar bear named Knut was born at the Berlin Zoo. Cute and cuddly, the bear stole the hearts of people all over the world when its mother rejected it and the zoo raised it by hand. Fast forward a year and Knut is no longer the adorable ball of fur that the world knew him to be. He grew up to be a regular polar bear, still cute, but not that cute.
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Back in Munich
Blog: thebeergeek.com - 23 July 2009
Another long (and fortunately) uneventful day of travel landed us in our favorite beer city, Munich. We used our two days in the Bavarian capitol to recover from jet lag before starting our beer adventures. We arrived at our hotel in the city center and had just enough time to take a quick shower before jumping [...]
