Search results
Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of 70,550.19 km 2 (27,239.58 sq mi), it is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total land area of Germany.
- Overview
- Geography
Bavaria, largest Land (state) of Germany, comprising the entire southeastern portion of the country. Bavaria is bounded to the north by the states of Thuringia and Saxony, to the east by the Czech Republic, to the south and southeast by Austria, and to the west by the states of Baden-Württemberg and Hessen. Munich (München) is the capital. Area 27,...
Bavaria is a country of high plateaus and medium-sized mountains. In the north are basalt knolls and high plateaus; in the northwest are the wooded sandstone hills of the Spessart. The northwest is drained by the Main River, which flows into the Rhine. To the southeast the topography varies from the stratified land formations of Swabia-Franconia to shell limestone and red marl, the hill country of the Franconian-Rednitz Basin, and the limestone mountains of the Franconian Jura along the Danube, which divides Bavaria north and south. On the eastern edge of Bavaria are the Bavarian and Bohemian forests, and in the north is the Franconian Forest. South of the Danube is a plateau upon which lies the capital, Munich, and beyond it are the Bavarian Alps. Bavaria’s share of the Alps consists of wooded peaks of several thousand feet, behind which rise steep ridges and high plateaus (in the west, the Allgäuer Alps; in the east, the Alps of Berchtesgaden). They reach their highest point with the 9,718-foot (2,962-metre) Zugspitze, which is also the highest point in Germany. Bavaria has a continental climate that is harsh for middle Europe, although there are some exceptions, such as the Lower Main valley.
Historically, the north has been inhabited by descendants of the Franks, the southeast by residents of old Bavarian stock, and the southwest by people of Bavarian-Swabian descent. The majority of Bavaria’s inhabitants still live in small towns. Only about one-fifth live in cities of 100,000 or more. Munich is the third largest city in Germany and the largest city in Bavaria.
After World War II there was an influx of refugees from the Sudetenland and eastern Europe, where many ethnic Germans had lived for centuries. A significant proportion of Bavaria’s population at the beginning of the 21st century was composed of those refugees and their descendants. Beginning in the 1960s, the industrial areas received large numbers of migrant workers from southern Europe.
Great changes took place in the religious composition of the population after the war, with a heavy influx of Protestants. In the early 21st century, most Bavarians were Roman Catholics, and Evangelical Lutherans were the second largest religious group.
About two-fifths of the state’s gross output in the early 21st century consisted of industrial and handicraft products. Trade, transportation, and services accounted for more than half and agriculture and forestry for only a tiny amount.
Are you a student? Get Britannica Premium for only 24.95 - a 67% discount!
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Fussen. Thanks to its proximity to three castles, Füssen is one for all the castle enthusiasts out there. First of all, there’s Hohenschwangau, a handsomely ‘classic’ castle with turrets and towers, which is where King Ludwig II spent his childhood – possibly why he was so castle crazy.
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the most beautiful towns on the Romantic Road. Meaning “Red Fortress over the river Tauber,” this is the quintessential medieval Bavarian town, the type that comes from storybooks and sparks your imagination.
- Munich. Famous for more than just Oktoberfest – taking place in the urban park of Englischer Garten – Munich is the Bavarian capital that bulges with bountiful beer halls and a beautiful old town to boot.
- Bamberg. Spread across seven hills at the point where the Regnez and Main Rivers meet, Bamberg is a very pretty Bavarian village. It boasts an Old Town that features a number of 11th-century buildings, such as Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral.
Where is Bavaria Located? Bavaria is in southeastern Germany and borders the countries of Czechia, Austria, Switzerland (barely) – see the map below. Where are the German Alps Located? The German Alps are in the southernmost part of Germany in the state of Bavaria along the border with Austria – see the map below. Where do I Get That Map?
Nov 29, 2023 · Bavaria location on the Germany map. This map shows where Bavaria is located on the Germany Map. You may download, print or use the above map for educational, personal and non-commercial purposes. Attribution is required.
Mar 5, 2023 · Bavarian borders can be found along the east side of Germany stretching from Austria to Baden-Wurttemberg in the west and Thuringia in the northeast corner. It is bordered by the Czech Republic to its southeast corner while Hesse lies to its west side.
Highest point is the Zugspitze in the Bavarian Alps at 2962 m. Its capital is Munich. Other major cities in Bavaria are Nuremberg (Nürnberg), Augsburg, Regensburg, Würzburg, Ingolstadt. Bavaria is the most important tourist destination in Germany, due to its diverse recreational features.
