Bavaria And Belgium: A Tale Of Two Cultures

Bavaria is a state in the southeast of Germany, while Belgium is a country in Western Europe. Therefore, Bavaria is not considered Belgium. However, there is a historical connection between the two places. Elizabeth of Bavaria, also known as Elizabeth of Belgium, was a German-born queen of the Belgians and one of the most admired European sovereigns of the 20th century. She was born in Possenhofen Castle, Bavaria, in 1876 and dedicated her life to humanitarian causes and the alleviation of disease and pain.

Is Bavaria considered Belgium?

Bavaria is a state in the southeast of Germany and is not considered part of Belgium. With an area of 70,550.19 square kilometres, it is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total land area of Germany.

Bavaria has a distinct culture, largely due to its Catholic heritage and conservative traditions, including a language, cuisine, architecture, festivals, and elements of Alpine symbolism. It is also one of the wealthiest regions in Germany, with the second-largest economy among the German states by GDP figures.

On the other hand, Belgium is a country in Western Europe, bordered by Germany to the east. While Belgium is smaller in area than Bavaria at 30,528 square kilometres, it has a higher population density, with around 11.5 million inhabitants.

Historically, there is a connection between the two regions, as Queen Elizabeth of Belgium (1876-1965) was born in Possenhofen Castle, Bavaria, and was the daughter of Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria. However, this does not make Bavaria part of Belgium.

The history of Bavaria

Early Settlements and Roman Raetia

Celtic tribes were the first documented inhabitants of the Bavarian Alps, with archaeological evidence of a large Celtic Iron Age settlement in Feldmoching-Hasenbergl, north of Munich, dating back to 450 BC. The Romans conquered the region around the 1st century BC, incorporating the territory into the provinces of Raetia and Noricum. The Roman Empire under Augustus made the Danube, which runs through Bavaria, its northern boundary.

Migrations and the Early Medieval Period

During the 5th century, the Romans in Raetia and Noricum came under increasing pressure from people north of the Danube, including Suebian groups. The name "Bavarian" (Latin Baiovarii) has its etymological origins from the north of the Danube, derived from the Celtic Boii. By the 5th and 6th centuries, archaeological evidence points to social and cultural influences from various peoples, including the Alamanni, Lombards, Thuringians, Goths, and Bohemian Slavs.

The Stem Duchy of Bavaria

Around 550 AD, the Bavarians came under the dominion of the Franks, who put the region under the administration of a duke, possibly chosen from the local leading families. The first known duke was Garibald I, a member of the powerful Agilolfing family, marking the beginning of a series of Agilolfing dukes that lasted until 788 AD. During this period, the Bavarians resisted inroads from the Slavs on their eastern frontier.

The Duchy During the Carolingian Period

Following the death of Duke Theodo I in 717, the Bavarians achieved complete independence from the Frankish kings. However, when Charles Martel became the virtual ruler of the Frankish realm, he brought the Bavarians back under Frankish control. This dynamic continued under his son and successor, Pepin the Short.

The Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Bavaria

Bavaria became part of the Holy Roman Empire in the 10th century. In 1180, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa gave Bavaria to the count palatine Otto of Wittelsbach, marking the start of the Wittelsbach dynasty, which ruled until 1918. In 1806, Bavaria became an independent kingdom and joined the Confederation of the Rhine. It later joined the Prussian-led German Empire in 1871 while retaining its title of kingdom.

World War I and the End of the Monarchy

During World War I, Bavarian monarch King Ludwig III fled on November 7, 1918, and the Bavarian monarchy was the first to fall. Socialist politician Kurt Eisner proclaimed Bavaria a republic, and the Bamberg Constitution was enacted in 1919, placing Bavaria inside the Weimar Republic.

Bavaria in the Federal Republic of Germany

After World War II, Bavaria became part of the American occupation zone and was reconstituted as a state in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949.

Bavaria's unique culture

Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a state in the southeast of Germany. It has a distinct culture, largely due to its Catholic heritage and conservative traditions, which includes a language, cuisine, architecture, festivals, and elements of Alpine symbolism.

Language and Dialects

Bavaria has three commonly spoken German dialects: Austro-Bavarian in Old Bavaria (Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, and the Upper Palatinate), Swabian German in the Bavarian part of Swabia, and East Franconian German in Franconia. During the 20th century, an increasing number of people began to speak Standard German, mainly in the cities.

Religion

Bavarian culture has a long and predominant tradition of Roman Catholicism. In 1925, 70% of the Bavarian population was Catholic. As of 2020, 46.9% of Bavarians adhered to Catholicism, a decline from 70.4% in 1970.

Traditional Costumes

Traditional costumes collectively known as Tracht are worn on special occasions and include Lederhosen for males and Dirndl for females.

Food and Drink

Bavarians tend to place a great value on food and drink. In addition to their renowned dishes, Bavarians also consume many items of food and drink that are unusual elsewhere in Germany, such as Weißwurst ("white sausage") or a variety of entrails. Beer is traditionally served by the litre (in a Maß) at folk festivals and in many beer gardens. Bavarians are particularly proud of the traditional Reinheitsgebot, or beer purity law, initially established by the Duke of Bavaria for the City of Munich in 1487 and the duchy in 1516. According to this law, only water, barley, and hops were allowed in beer. Bavarians are also known as some of the world's most prolific beer drinkers, with an average annual consumption of 170 litres per person.

Bavaria is also home to the Franconia wine region, which has produced wine (Frankenwein) for over 1,000 years and is famous for its use of the Bocksbeutel wine bottle.

Music and Performing Arts

Internationally renowned orchestras, theatres, operas, museums, and festivals, including the Bayreuth Festival dedicated to Richard Wagner, are based in Bavaria.

Sports

Bavaria is home to several football clubs, including FC Bayern Munich, 1. FC Nürnberg, FC Augsburg, TSV 1860 Munich, FC Ingolstadt 04, and SpVgg Greuther Fürth. It is also home to four professional basketball teams and five Bavarian ice hockey teams playing in the German top-tier league DEL.

Bavaria also has many traditional sports disciplines, such as the Aperschnalzen, or competitive whipcracking.

Bavaria's economy and industry

Bavaria has one of the largest economies of any region in Germany and Europe. It has the second-largest economy among the German states by GDP figures, giving it the status of a wealthy German region. In 2020, its gross domestic product (GDP) was EUR 610 billion, putting it ahead of 22 out of 28 EU member states.

The backbone of Bavaria's economy is its medium-sized enterprises, many of which are acknowledged as world market leaders. The region also has a strong manufacturing sector and is Europe's leading ICT hub, making it ideal for cross-industry digital innovation.

The most important trade partners for Bavaria are the USA, China, and Austria. The most popular exports are automobiles, chemical products, electronics, and machines.

The region has a vibrant population of medium-sized enterprises, including small and medium-sized businesses in commerce, crafts, trades, the services industry, and freelance professions. These businesses are dynamic and highly productive and provide 3.6 million jobs falling under social security coverage.

Bavaria's advanced and strong manufacturing sector and its role as a leading ICT hub put it at the forefront of cross-industry digital innovation. It is the ideal base for national and international B2B tech leaders and start-ups.

The region also has a strong research and development sector, with several renowned research institutions and facilities like Fraunhofer and Max Planck.

The Bavarian way of life, including its tradition and joie de vivre, also ensures a healthy work-life balance.

Bavaria's royal family

The Kingdom of Bavaria was ruled by the House of Wittelsbach, a former Bavarian dynasty, from 1805 until 1918. The first King of Bavaria was Maximilian I Joseph, who was a member of the Wittelsbach branch Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken. He was followed by:

• Ludwig I (1825-1848)
• Maximilian II (1848-1864)
• Ludwig II (1864-1886)
• Otto (1886-1913)

Otto was mentally ill throughout his reign, and his functions were carried out by his uncle, Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, who served as Prince Regent from 1886-1912, and then his cousin, Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, who served as Prince Regent from 1912-1913 before becoming King Ludwig III (1913-1918).

The current head of the House of Wittelsbach is Franz, The Duke of Bavaria (born 1933). He is the son of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria (1905-1996), who was the son of Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria (1869-1955). The heir presumptive to the headship of the House of Wittelsbach is Franz's brother, Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria.

Frequently asked questions