Bavaria is the largest and most southerly state in the Federal Republic. 12.1 million people live and work in an area of 70,548 square kilometres. To the west and northwest Bavaria borders on the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Hesse, and on Thuringia and Saxony to the north. Bavaria’s eastern neighbour is the Czech Republic, while its southern neighbour is Austria. Munich is the capital city with 1.2 million inhabitants. The CSU party (Christian Social Union) has governed Bavaria with an absolute majority since 1962. Edmund Stoiber (CSU) has been Bavaria’s minister-president since 1993.
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Bavaria’s self-concept and its statehood have evolved over a period of more than a thousand years. The historical epithet ”Free State” reflects the fact that the monarchy was abolished, and the term ”free state” was chosen simply to avoid the term republic. On December 1, 1946 the people of Bavaria accepted a constitution that had been worked out by a constitutional committee at the instigation of the American military government. In 188 articles it regulates the structure and the responsibilities of the state.
No other federal state has experienced such a marked change in its economic structure since the Second World War as Bavaria. It has been transformed from a predominantly agricultural state to a centre of modern industrial and service enterprises. Although Bavaria is still Germany’s main food producer, agriculture contributes only 1 percent to added value. Production industry contributes 32 percent and the service sector totals 67 percent. Today Bavaria means: automobile and aerospace industries (BMW, Audi, EADS), electrical and electronics industry (Siemens), insurance and publishing (Allianz, Burda).
With nine state universities and 17 specialist colleges Bavaria is one of Europe’s scientific centres. 14 institutes and other establishments belonging to the Max Planck Society and the nine institutions of the Fraunhofer Society also contribute significantly to Bavaria’s reputation in the scientific field. In addition to this there are three major research centres: the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching, the National Research Center for Environment and Health (GSF) in Neuherberg and the German Institute for Aviation and Space Travel (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen.
Bavaria looks back on a rich tradition of cultural and intellectual history. Art treasures from around the globe are preserved and cared for in over 1,100 Bavarian museums and collections, and they attract over 20 million visitors each year. A star attraction is the Alte Pinakothek, one of the world’s most significant art galleries. It was complemented last year with the opening of the Pinakothek der Moderne, the gallery of modern art and design. The stages also have a great deal to offer. The 15,000 performances at the 32 theatres, opera and operetta houses, open-air venues, festivals and puppet theatres attract five million visitors each year. The outstanding Richard Wagner festival in Bayreuth is particularly famous. Other highlights include festivals such as ”Orff in Andechs” or the summer theatre festival ”Theatersommer Fränkische Schweiz.”
Folk singing, folk dancing and instrumental folk music are far more alive in Bavaria than in any other federal state. A popular trend has developed with many followers throughout Germany in recent years. People also cultivate the various dialects which include Bavarian, East Franconian and Swabian-Alemannic. The love of traditional costume has also continued to survive. The diversity of traditional dress in Bavaria is as varied as the landscape. And to this day the Bavarian beer purity regulations dating back to 1516 are still religiously observed by brewers in the Free State.
