Bavaria Bayern By Peter Luker Hans-Peter

Bavaria’s Key Facts Bavaria is home to about 12.4 million people. It is 27,241 square miles. Bavaria is the southernmost state in Germany. Bavaria is Germany’s largest state.

History The Bavarians emerged from a region that was originally inhabited by the Celts. The Bavarians seemed to have evolved from the Romans after their withdrawal in the 6 th Century AD. The Bavarians spoke Old High German just like the other Germanic tribes. The name “Bavarian” means “Men of Baia”. The name Baia is believed to coincide with Bohimia, the homeland of the Marcomanni. The Marcomanni are one of the oldest known Germanic tribes. Bavaria was mostly unaffected by the Protestant Reformation in the 8 th century and today the leading religion is Roman Catholic. Bavaria became a kingdom in 1806 under Napoleon. Bavaria’s defeat in the 1866 Austro- Prussian War led to its incorporation into the German Empire. The Nazi Third Reich used Bavaria as a stronghold and a manufacturing center during WW2. Bavaria adopted a new constitution in 1946 and became a state of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949.

Bavaria’s Land & Climate Bavaria is known for its beautiful landscapes. It’s most notable include the Main and Danube rivers and the Bavarian Alps as well as the Bohemian Forest. Bavaria’s highest point belongs to the Zugspitze mountain of the Bavarian Alps. It stands 9,700 feet high. Bavaria’s climate does not differ much in the summer. The northern part of the country is pretty similar to the southern part. In terms of winter however, it is not uncommon for the Germans to have lakes and rivers freeze over.

The Zugspitze Mountain

Culture & Customs Bavaria has a huge tradition of cultural history and it has over 1,100 museums and special collections to prove it. Bavaria’s museums alone attract over 20 million visitors per year. Bavarian’s take much pride in their culture and continue to practice their lasting traditions. During special occasions, special costumes are usually a common sight. Tradition starts young as folk music and poems are recited in nursery school. In Bavaria there is a great value placed on food and drinks. Foods like white sausage are traditionally Bavaria and are uncommon in other parts of Germany. Beer consumption in Bavaria is statistically higher that in the rest of Germany. Bavarians believe that water, barley, and hops are the only true ingredients for beer. The average annual consumption of beer is 170 liters per person.

Customs cont. Oktoberfest is one of the largest events in all of Germany. It is the worlds largest beer festival and it welcomes over 6 million people each year. The festival takes place in Munich and lasts two weeks. The event ends on the first Sunday of October. At the end over 1 million gallons of beer will be consumed. Traditional German gifts include Cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers, and beer steins. Bavaria’s beer gardens are a notable custom. At a beer garden people bring their own food and consume beer that is supplied from a specific brewery.

Economy Bavaria’s economy had underwent an enormous change since WW2. The economy has shifted from an agricultural state to a modern industrial state. It has had the highest rate of industrial growth of all Germany. Today, Bavaria’s GDP is over 385 billion euros. Some of the largest companies in the world are headquartered in Bavaria. They include BMW, Audi, Siemens, Puma, and Adidas. The European Aerospace and Defense Company is also centered in Bavaria. It has the task of building civil and military aircraft.

Government & Politics The Christian Social Union has ruled in Bavaria since 1957 and it does not seek election in any other state of Germany. The head of government is the minister-president. Every minister since 1957 has been a member of the CSU. Bavaria has a unicameral Landtag which means state parliament. Bavaria is divided into seven different administrative regions. They include Upper Franconia, Middle Franconia, Lower Franconia, Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Upper Palatinate, and Swabia.