Bavaria (Bayern) is Germany's largest and most diverse state, stretching from the Danube lowlands in the north to the soaring peaks of the Alps in the south. Home to Munich, one of Europe's most livable cities, Bavaria enchants visitors with fairy-tale castles, pristine Alpine lakes, ancient beer halls, and UNESCO World Heritage towns. The state blends rich Catholic traditions, a proud regional identity, and world-class cultural institutions with stunning natural scenery.
Destination Bavaria, Germany, Summary Bavaria has one of Europe's richest and most continuous regional histories, from Roman settlement through a medieval duchy, a Holy Roman Empire power, an independent kingdom, and a central player in the catastrophic 20th-century events that reshaped the world. Bavaria's history is inseparable from the Wittelsbach dynasty, which ruled for 738 years (1180–1918) — one of Europe's longest-ruling dynasties.