Bavaria

When you travel to Germany, one region which stands out on German vacations is Bavaria, located in the southeast of Germany. It borders Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic and consists of 5 regions – Franconia, Bavarian Swabia, Upper Palatinate, Upper Bavaria and Lower Bavaria.   

Munich is the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg and is located in the south of Bavaria. It is famous for its outstanding stunning architecture, its culture and its annual Oktoberfest beer festival. The Marienplatz is a medieval-like square and contains some of Munich’s most important buildings which include the Rathaus (City Hall) with its beautiful stained-glass windows, the Frauenkirche, Munich’s cathedral built in the 15th Century and the Munich Residenz, a former royal palace of the Bavarian Monarchs (the largest city palace in Germany. There are many museums in Munich when you travel to Germany. The 2 most important are the Deutsches Museum (German Museum), the largest and one of the oldest science museums in the World and the Alte Pinakothek with its treasure trove of works by European masters between the 14th and 18th centuries. Munich has numerous parks. The Englischer Garten, close to the city centre, is larger than Central Park in New York and is one of the World's largest urban public parks with jogging tracks, bridle paths and many beer gardens. 

Nuremberg is Bavaria’s second-largest city. It has a long history and more recently, is known for the Nuremberg Trials after the 2nd World War. The heart of the city is the Altstadt (old town) and the main square where there are daily markets and where the very special Christmas Market is held. Also in the square is the Frauenkirche church which has a special clock from which at noon, the clock’s figures enact a spectacle called the Little Men Dancing. The castle in the old town dates back to 1495 with its five-cornered tower. There are excellent views of the town from the castle on German tours. The City Walls, originally built in the 13th Century, stretch for almost 4 kilometres/2.5 miles. St. Sebald Church, built from the 13th to 15th Century and renovated after sustaining heavy damage from bombings of World War II, is Nuremberg's oldest and very impressive church. Its interior contains an organ from the 14th Century and another from the 15th Century. 

The German National Railways Museum relates the story of Germany’s railway system in five periods from the beginning up to today with a view into the future. The German National Museum has a collection spanning from prehistory to the early 20th Century with works by German painters and sculptors as well as armour, musical and scientific instruments and toys.  Regarding the 2nd World War, one can visit the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibit.  

Augsburg is Bavaria’s third-largest city and a delightful one to visit on German vacations. There is much to see here. The City Hall was built in the early 17th Century and is said to be the most significant Renaissance building in Northern Europe. The Golden Hall is famous for its magnificent portals, ceiling and mural paintings. Next to the City Hall is the Perlach Tower which offers spectacular panoramic views of Augsburg. St. Mary’s Cathedral dates back to the 12th Century and is both Romanesque and Gothic in style. Take a walk down Maximilianstrasse, also known as the Imperial Mile, with its splendid fountain monuments and bronze sculptures. The synagogue here has a dome in Art Nouveau style and houses the Museum of Jewish Culture. There is a puppet theatre with a display of marionettes which tells the story of the puppet theatre. 

Regensburg, apart from being the fourth largest city in Bavaria, is the best-preserved medieval city in Germany. Located on the Danube River, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has some authentic and outstanding buildings. Just walking around, one can imagine what it was like in the Middle Ages simply by strolling along the atmospheric narrow lanes and through the historical squares. There are so many interesting and charming sights. Some of the major places to visit on a German tour are the Gothic Cathedral founded in 1275, the Stone Bridge built in the 12th Century and the oldest preserved bridge of its kind in Germany, the Church of St. James, a Romanesque basilica of the 12th Century with some interesting carvings on the main doorway, 

Wurzburg is a city known for its art and architecture. This scenic town is divided by the Main River and has a large student population which, in turn, makes for a lively city. It experienced heavy damage during a 20-minute bombing air raid in 1945 which destroyed some 80% of its city buildings. Much of the city has since been rebuilt. The most impressive building is the Residenz, a splendid palace and one of the finest Baroque buildings in Germany. Built in the 18th Century, it took 60 years to complete. Today, there are 360 rooms of which 40 are open to the public. Some of the interior furnishings etc. are stunning. The complex also houses collections of antiques, paintings and drawings plus a winery in the atmospheric cellar. The Hofgarten on the grounds has the best-preserved Rococo garden in Germany. There is a large artificial lake with fountains and an elaborate sculpture crowned by Pegasus.

Ulm is a quaint city known for the church with the tallest steeple in the world, the Gothic Minster and the birthplace of Albert Einstein. There are some remnants of the old city walls along the river with a 14th Century Metzgerturm (butchers' tower). The old “Fishermen's Quarter” on the river has half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets and picturesque footbridges. The Rathaus (Town Hall) was built in 1370 and features some brilliantly coloured murals dating from the 16th Century. The Krone Inn is a medieval complex of several where German kings and emperors were accommodated during their travels which can now be visited on travel to Germany.