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MAPS

Seven maps that help explain Bavaria

The largest state in Germany, Bavaria was also its own kingdom for many years. Here's a breakdown of the Bundesland using maps.

Published: 8 November 2019 15:15 CET
Updated: 28 May 2020 14:07 CEST
Seven maps that help explain Bavaria
Munich is Bavaria's capital and the largest city in the state. Depositphotos/tomloel

Bavaria may be the home of all things considered stereotypically German: beer gardens, Lederhosen, Volksmusik and the Nuremberg Christmas Market. Even the famous Reinheitsgebot, or beer purity law that only allows the use of three ingredients (water, barley and hops) has origins in Bavaria.

READ ALSO: Why beer means so much to the Germans

The state's history stretches back well over 2000 years, from Celtic tribes to the Holy Roman Empire, creating a proud and traditional culture that attracts visitors from all over the world. 

Here are the basics. 

Location in Germany

Bavaria is located in the southeast corner of Germany and takes up around a fifth of the country's land mass. Baden-Württemberg forms a border on the west, Hesse to the northwest, and Thuringia and Saxony are in the north. Munich, with a population of nearly 1.5 million, is the state capital and the third-largest in Germany overall.

The state is bordered internationally by the Czech Republic to the east, Austria to the southeast, Lichtenstein to the south and Switzerland to the southwest. 

Source: Depositphotos/artalis

History

This is a look at the kingdom of Bavaria around 900 AD. Numerous families controlled the duchy throughout this time, but the area lost large tracts of land around 975, coinciding with the founding of Austria.

Source: Johann Christoph von Aretin/Alois Senefelder via Wikimedia

Even earlier, Bavaria was controlled by Celtic tribes and then the Roman Empire. After the period of duchy control showed on this map, Bavaria was incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire, then became an independent kingdom, was part of Prussia's German Empire, and was finally incorporated into the Bundesrepublik in 1949. 

Geography

Source: Von Grundkarte TUBS via Wikimedia

The Bavarian alps form the border between Germany and Austria. This mountain range is also home to Germany's tallest mountain, the Zugspitze near the Austrian border. The famous Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski resort is located here as well, although there are many other options for skiing in the state. 

Cultural heritage

This map shows a selection of Bavaria's most well-known castles. Neuschwanstein Castle, located far south near the Bavarian Alps, is one of the most famous castles in Europe.

READ ALSO: 10 surprising facts you should know about Neuschwanstein Castle

 
It was built by King Ludwig II, who was sometimes referred to as the Märchenkönig (Fairy Tale King) because of his extravagant palaces. Nymphenburg Palace in Munich and Burghausen Castle (which is longest castle complex in the world, according to Guinness) are among the other famous Bavarian attractions. 
 
Population
 
 
Source: Wikimedia
 
Bavaria's power comes mostly from its land mass. Since it is not densely populated, it is only through its large size that it retains its place as the second most populous German state, behind only NRW. 
 
 
Bavaria has a large number of Catholics and is has the second-lowest population of nonreligious individuals in all of Germany. The state is known as rather conservative and has a CSU majority (the CSU is the Bavarian sister party to Germany's CDU). 
 
 
A wealthy state
 
Source: Statistik und Arbeitsmarktberichterstattung der Bundesagentur für Arbeit 
 
Unlike NRW, which has high unemployment due to the weakening of the coal and steel industry, the western state of Bavaria has retained its wealth, especially in comparison to eastern German states. In 2018, Bavaria contributed the most to poorer eastern states through a yearly process known as the Länderfinanzausgleich, or “state financial equalization.” 
 
Weißwurstäquator
 
Finally, we arrive at the “White Sausage Equator,” a tongue-in-cheek term used to describe the cultural difference between Southern Bavaria and Northern or Central Germany. The border is named after the traditional Bavarian Weißwurst, a staple dish in the region.
 
Source: By NordNordWest via Wikimedia (Screenshot)
 
The most commonly referenced border follows the Danube river. However, others put the border farther north along the Main river, at another famous dialect border called the Speyer line, or at the 49th parallel latitude. Finally, another description of this “cultural border” forms a ring around Munich. 
 

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LIVING IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the ‘die’ and carnival lingo

From the push to reform long-term unemployment benefits to the lingo you need to know as Carnival season kicks off, we look at the highlights of life in Germany.

Published: 14 November 2022 09:54 CET
Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the 'die' and carnival lingo

Deadlock looms as debates over Bürgergeld heat up 

Following a vote in the Bundestag on Thursday, the government’s planned reforms to long-term unemployment benefits are one step closer to becoming reality. Replacing the controversial Hartz IV system, Bürgergeld (or Citizens’ Allowance) is intended to be a fair bit easier on claimants.

Not only will the monthly payment be raised from €449 to €502, but jobseekers will also be given a grace period of two years before checks are carried out on the size of their apartment or savings of up to €60,000. The system will also move away from sanctions with a so-called “trust period” of six months, during which benefits won’t be docked at all – except in very extreme circumstances. 

Speaking in parliament, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said the spirit of the new system was “solidarity, trust and encouragement” and praised the fact that Bürgergeld would help people get back into the job market with funding for training and education. But not everyone is happy about the changes. In particular, politicians from the opposition CDU/CSU parties have responded with outrage at the move away from sanctions.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has even branded the system a step towards “unconditional Basic Income” and argued that nobody will be incentivised to return to work. 

The CDU and CSU are now threatening to block the Bürgergeld legislation when it’s put to a vote in the Bundesrat on Monday. With the conservatives controlling most of the federal states – and thus most of the seats in the upper house – things could get interesting. Be sure to keep an eye out for our coverage in the coming weeks to see how the saga unfolds. 

Tweet of the week

When you first start learning German, picking the right article to use can truly be a roll of the “die” – so we’re entirely on board with this slightly unconventional way to decide whether you’re in a “der”, “die”, or “das” situation. (Warning: this may not improve your German.) 

Where is this?

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Boris Roessler

Residents of Frankfurt am Main and the surrounding area will no doubt recognise this as the charming town of Kronberg, which is nestled at the foot of the Taunus mountains.

This atmospheric scene was snapped on Friday morning, when a drop in temperatures saw Kronberg and surrounding forests shrouded in autumnal fog.

After a decidedly warm start to November, the mercury is expected to drop into single digits over the weekend. 

Did you know?

November 11th marked the start of carnival season in Germany. But did you know that there’s a whole set of lingo to go along with the tradition? And it all depends on where you are. First of all, the celebration isn’t called the same thing everywhere. In the Rhineland, it’s usually called Karneval, while people in Bavaria or Saxony tend to call it Fasching. Those in Hesse and Saarland usually call it Fastnacht. 

And depending on where you are, there are different things to shout. The ‘fools call’ you’ll hear in Cologne is “Alaaf!” If you move away from Cologne, you’ll hear “Helau!” This is the traditional cry in the carnival strongholds of Düsseldorf and Mainz, as well as in some other German cities.

In the Swabian-Alemannic language region in the southwest of the country, people yell “Narri-Narro”, which means “I’m a fool, you’re a fool”. In Saarland at the French border, they shout “Alleh hopp!”, which is said to originate from the French language. 

Lastly, if someone offers you a Fastnachtskrapfe, say yes because it’s a jelly-filled carnival donut. And if you’re offered a Bützchen? It’s your call, but know that it’s a little kiss given to strangers!

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