Bavaria is the largest of Germany’s 16 states, located in southeast Germany and bordering Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Its capital is Munich, and it has a rich culture dating back to the Middle Ages. Bavaria is traditionally Roman Catholic and has its own political party, the Christian Social Union. Many famous people, including Pope Benedict XVI, hail from the state. Oktoberfest and other Bavarian traditions are often mistakenly considered representative of Germany as a whole.
If you’ve ever heard of Bavarian cuisine, the Bavarian language, or even Bavarian cream, you might have wondered where Bavaria is. Looking at a map of the world or of Europe is unlikely to be enlightening. This is because it is not a country, but rather the largest of Germany’s 16 states.
Located in southeast Germany, Bavaria borders Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. The southern border, adjacent to Austria, is bounded by the Bavarian Alps. The capital is Munich, where Oktoberfest takes place every year. Other major cities in the state include Augsberg, Nuremberg and Regensburg. The Danube and Main rivers flow through the region, as do many other smaller rivers.
Bavaria is considered one of the three “free states” in Germany, even if this term is merely historical. It was a duchy in the Middle Ages, becoming a kingdom in 1808. Bavaria remained an independent entity until 1871, when it became part of a united Germany following its defeat in the Austro-Prussian War.
Unlike much of the rest of Germany, Bavaria is traditionally Roman Catholic. Indeed, Pope Benedict XVI is a native of the state. It also has its own political party, the Christian Social Union, which has been the majority party in the state since 1957. In addition to the Pope, many famous people have hailed from the state, including artist Albrecht Durer, composers Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, author Thomas Mann and director Werner Herzog.
Bavaria has a rich culture, partly due to its long period of independence. Many of its traditions date back to the Middle Ages when the area was a duchy. The natives are very proud of their cultural history and local schools teach medieval songs and poems in the Bavarian dialect to children. Outside of Germany, Bavarian culture is often more visible than other German cultural traditions, and many are often mistakenly considered representative of the country as a whole. For example, Oktoberfest, beer gardens and traditional Bavarian costumes are typically presented as “German” in many contexts.
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