Bavaria

Bavaria (Freistaat Bayern) is the southernmost state in Germany. The capital of Bavaria is Münich (München). Bavaria is the largest state in Germany in terms of area, while the capital city, Münich, with 1.3 million residents is the third largest city in Germany. The Bavarian people have lived in this area of Europe since the 6th century, and are very proud of their age-old traditions and customs. Bavaria has had a long and stable history, and was the nation with the longest ruling family in all of Europe, the Wittelsbachs. During the Nazi Era, the history of Bavaria became more turbulent, as it held many important locations for Adolf Hitler and the leaders of the Third Reich.

Geography

Bavaria is located in Southeastern Germany and borders Austria, The Czech Republic, and Switzerland (across the Bodensee), as well as the states of Baden-Württemburg, Hesse, Thuringia, and Saxony.

History

The history of Bavaria as a nation began in the early 6th century AD when the Germanic Tribes displaced the withdrawing Roman forces. Bavaria was an important location in provincial Rome, as it lies just to the north of Brenner Pass, which is one of the only passes through the Alps in the area. Two Roman roads, the Via Claudia Augusta, and Via Raetia linked the city of Augsburg with the Italian pennensula.

References

• (1997-98) Arno Kappler: Facts About Germany. Frankfurter Societats-Druckerei GmbH. ISBN 3797306598.