BAVARIA
- Alex P
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Bavaria is like a fairy tale, only real. A little strict, very thorough, but with a huge mug of hospitality.
BAVARIA: ICONIC LANDMARKS
Bavaria (Bayern) occupies the entire southeastern part of Germany. It is the largest federal state in Germany by area and the second most populous. The Bavarian population is composed of three ethnic groups: Franks, Swabians, and Bavarians.
Bavaria is like a fairy tale, only real. Here, the Alps rise like a wall, and cows graze against the backdrop of the castles, as if it had escaped from the pages of a Disney cartoon.
Munich is the heart of Bavaria, where a professor and a backpacker can sit at the same beer hall table, drinking a liter of beer and discussing football. Oktoberfest is not just a holiday, but a state of mind.
Lakes Königsee and Tegernsee – silence, mirror-like surface, and an echo that responds to even a whisper. And the villages with their half-timbered houses look like they came straight out of a postcard. It's not just beautiful here – it's cozy in a truly Bavarian way: a little austere, very substantial, and with a huge mug of hospitality.
BAVARIA : COAT OF ARMS' HISTORY
The origins of Bavaria can be traced back to the 500s AD, when Roman rule was overthrown by Germanic onslaughts. According to one theory, the Bavarians formed from the remaining Romans, ancient Celts, and incoming Germans. Bavaria subsequently underwent various forms of government: duchy, kingdom, electorate, and even such an exotic form as the "Bavarian Soviet Republic." Finally, in 1949, it became part of the Federal Republic of Germany as a Free State.
The blue and white diamonds on the Bavarian coat of arms are perhaps among the most recognizable in the world. In heraldry, it is ornately described as "a small shield, spindle-shaped, divided into argent and azure." The design is borrowed from the Counts of Bogen, who lived near Regensburg until 1242. When the family ceased to exist, their coat of arms and (well, so be it) their possessions were assumed by the related Wittelsbach family.
White and blue diamonds are now considered the symbol of Bavaria and are also officially used as the "lesser coat of arms." Interestingly, the number of diamonds must be at least 21, and the upper left diamond must be white.
The "great coat of arms" depicts the coats of arms of four historical regions: Palatinate, Franconia, "Old" Bavaria and Swabia.
The golden lion on a black field originally served the Counts Palatine of the Rhine. After the Bavarian Duke Ludwig was granted the County of the Palatinate in 1214, it served for centuries as a common symbol of the old Bavarian and Palatine dynasties. Today, the golden lion, or "Palatinate Lion," symbolizes the Upper Palatinate district.
The white and red shield isn't a sunset sky over snow-capped mountains. It's the so-called "Franconian rake." This "rake" appeared around 1350 as the coat of arms of several districts of the Bishopric of Würzburg, and from 1410 onward, it also appeared on the seals of the prince-bishops. Today, the coat of arms symbolizes the districts of Upper, Middle, and Lower Franconia. The local dialect differs markedly from Bavarian. Franconians maintain their own distinct identity and often don't consider themselves Bavarians.
In the lower left corner is a blue panther on a white background. As is often the case, the origin of such an exotic animal on a coat of arms is unknown. Originally, the panther was used in the coat of arms of the Counts Palatine of Ortenburg, who lived in Lower Bavaria. Today, the blue panther represents the old Bavarian counties of Lower Bavaria and Upper Bavaria.
A blue panther can also be found on the coat of arms of the city of Ingolstadt, which is subconsciously beloved for the world's oldest food quality law, the "Beer Purity Law" (Reinheitsgebot), promulgated in 1516: only water, hops, and barley.
The fourth shield depicts three black lions with red claws on a gold background. They are taken from the old coat of arms of the Hohenstaufen, the former Dukes of Swabia. This was ancient family and dynasty of southern German kings and Holy Roman Emperors in the early Middle Ages. Although this glorious line died out in the male generation in 1268, as the saying goes, "our legacy lives on." The Hohenstaufen family coat of arms still serves as a symbol of the Swabian region. Today, the three lions on the coat of arms of Bavaria represent the district of Swabia.
All this historical splendor is crowned by the "People's Crown." It first appeared on the coat of arms in 1923 and symbolizes popular sovereignty after the abolition of the royal crown. After all, a crown is always so desirable...
BAVARIA : FUN FACTS
Of a stability of the three pillars and the last romantic.
Beer labels, football emblems, and car logos can be seen as a kind of coat of arms. In this case, the blue and white diamonds have become a sort of quality mark.
Everyone knows about Oktoberfest. Despite of the Weihenstephaner brewery isn't listed among the participating suppliers, it claims to be the oldest brewery in the world. It proudly claims a founding date of 1040 (just a second!). Skeptics claim the supporting documents are forged.
For decades, Bayern Munich has reigned supreme in Germany, delighting fans around the world and drawing mixed feelings from local German fans. Insider tip: true Munich fans favor TSV 1860 Munich more.
Of course, the logo of the Bavarian Motor Works, also known as BMW, makes many a driver's heart beat faster. And while the official version claims the logo is a stylized image of a spinning propeller because of the company's origins in aviation, we know the true reasons behind.
The resilience of the three lions is indirectly confirmed by an interesting heraldic episode. When the hundred-year-old Kingdom of Bavaria gave way to more progressive forms of government, the coat of arms remained virtually unchanged. With one small exception: the coat of arms of the County of Burgau was replaced by three Swabian lions.
Burgau was a tiny county in Swabia, and one could simply say it was a matter of applying more general symbolism. But in the 17th century, one of its rulers, Marquis Karl, became widely known for his conflicts with the locals and his ban on wheat beer. What Bavarian heart could remain indifferent after such a thing? So, the Burgau coat of arms was decided to be removed, as a painful historical memory.
But Bavaria is not only about pragmatism, well-considered decisions, and a reputation for doing things as they should. A quiet inclination toward dreams has always been at the core of its character. The most striking embodiment of this side was Ludwig II of Bavaria, "The Last Romantic," a king who treated power as a poetic genre.
The heir to the ancient Wittelsbach family, he inherited not only the throne but also a coat of arms with blue and white diamonds — a symbol of dynastic continuity and order. However, Ludwig himself saw Bavaria differently: as a stage for myth. In Ludwig, dynastic severity suddenly softened: cold heraldry gave way to the music of Wagner, the mists of the Alps, and a belief in beauty as a form of governance. Thus, the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle arose above the Alpine slopes — not for defense, not for court, but for solitude and an endless dialogue with nature and the past.
BAVARIA : ALPINE SKIING
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a resort at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak. Even non-skiers, if they're in no rush but just want to reflect and relax, can take a real train to the summit. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, or "Ga-Pa," as it's affectionately known, hosted the 1936 Winter Olympic Games.
The Kandahar piste is a challenge even for experienced skiers. Overall, the resort boasts a strong Alpine atmosphere, German precision, and the romance of ancient villages. It's a glimpse into the past, framed by high-tech lifts and high-quality service.
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