Seven maps that help explain Bavaria

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

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.