Germany Guide
Central Bavaria
"Laptop and Lederhosen" is the expression the Germans use to explain the paradox of Bavaria, a region firmly rooted in tradition that nevertheless manages to reconcile social conservatism with a dynamic and innovative approach to business that makes it one of the powerhouses of the German economy. Nowhere is the contrast sharper than in its capital city. Munich is as cosmopolitan and sophisticated a city as any in Germany, Yet at the same time, it's also the beer- and sausage-obsessed centre of all that is traditionally Bavarian, to its detractors a Millionendorf – a village with a million inhabitants. Beyond Munich but within easy reach of it, the urbanized and industrialized heartlands of Bavarian Swabia and Upper Bavaria display similar contrasts, with perfectly preserved old towns alongside world-beating manufacturing industries. This is not yet the Bavaria of popular cliché: there aren't even any mountains.
It is, above all, a region of urban glories. As capital of the Duchy that Napoleon expanded and raised to the status of a kingdom, West of Munich, the Swabian city of Augsburg has far older claims to urban greatness, which have left their mark in the city's splendid Renaissance core. In the north, comfortably prosperous Ingolstadt balances respect for its historical legacy with pride in its industrial prowess, notably as the home of the car manufacturer Audi.
Munich's efficient public transport network stretches far into the surrounding countryside, making day-trips relatively straightforward. By far the most sombre, but also the best-known destination in the city's hinterland is the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, north of the city. Also to the north, but altogether more light-hearted, is Oberschleissheim, with its palaces and air museum. To the south of the city, the lakes of the Fünf-Seen-Land are an obvious lure in summer, given added lustre by the monastery of Kloster Andechs and by a remarkable art collection at Bernried on Starnberger.
Highlights
1 KZ Dachau A visit to the former Nazi concentration camp is a sombre but thought-provoking experience.
2 Kloster Andechs Carmina Burana and Benedictine beer make a winning combination on the shores of the Ammersee.
3 Augsburg's Altstadt Renaissance architecture meets racy nightlife in Augsburg's beautiful old town.