Sunday, September 07, 2008
Life, Travel, In this Issue...

Bavaria—more than pretzels and beer

From Roman ruins to contemporary car factories and from pretty palaces to Papal playgrounds...

Photos/Bavaria Tourism
Castle Trausnitz in Landshut

By Matt Robinson
 
From Roman ruins to contemporary car factories and from pretty palaces to Papal playgrounds, Bavaria is a lot more than just oompah bands and beer gardens (though there are always plenty of those as well- and not just during world-famous Oktoberfest). In fact, whether you want to put on your lederhosen and dance along during the annual celebration of what is admittedly the region’s largest and most famous (culinary) import, or you'd rather find charming handicrafts to take home for the holidays or even the latest sports car of your dreams, Bavaria has something for you in every part of the country and at every time of year.
 

WILLKOMMEN IN BAYERN

 As soon as you arrive at Munich airport, the fun and adventure begins. Not only is this contemporary two-terminal international destination easy to navigate, it can actually be fun. From an ice skating rink and one of the region’s many Christmas markets to the world’s only airport brewery, Munich Airport offers ease of access, as well as great dining and shopping and, in coming months, a high-speed rail system that will whisk you into the city and many other destinations. As you approach, be sure to keep an eye out for the tire-shaped Allianz Centre, which glows blue or red depending on who is playing within.
 
As the capital of the Free State of Bavaria and the third largest city in Germany, Munich (which celebrates its 850th anniversary this year) is a must-see during any visit, especially during the fall celebration of hops-based beverages. If your itinerary brings you to town during another season, however (such as the carnival season that preceeds Ash Wednesday or during the alternative-minded Tollwood Festival), do not despair, as the famed Hofbrauhaus restaurant offers a taste of Oktoberfest every day of the year. 

You can also enjoy great local flavors at the Ratskeller, located in the basement of the Mayor’s residence. With its 45 museums, 58 theaters, three orchestras and an opera house that once hosted premieres by Wagner himself, Munich is a beautiful and easygoing city that is bicycle-friendly (be sure to watch for them as you cross the street), English-friendly (especially relative to the smaller towns of the region) and, as of 2008, no longer smoking-friendly.
 

BABY, YOU CAN SEHEN MEIN AUTO

Though the architecture and design of Bavaria ranges from Roman to Baroque to ultra-modern (thanks in great part to the rebuilding that has taken place after World War II and the fact that many of Bavaria’s larger cities were greatly untouched), one of the newest attractions and bastions of German engineering is the recently opened BMW World. While Bavaria’s local car maker has been offering new owners the opportunity to come visit and pick up their new babies right off the assembly line for many years, it recently spent more than 50 million Euro on a new museum/conference center/auto-lover’s wonderland. From hands-on explanations of how hydrogen engines work to a complete design center for the next generation of drivers, BMW World has enough things to do and see to keep every member of the family drooling. No longer just a pick-up spot, the factory/museum is now a destination in itself.
 

SNORING THROUGH BAVARIA

During your days in Bavaria, you can visit all sorts of daytime attractions—from ancient castles and breweries to modern museums. At night, you can do much of the same, thanks to a revolutionary program called Sightsleeping. Launched in January of 2007, Sightsleeping offers a diverse collection of juried hotels that represent the best in hospitality. From a castle with a two-star Michelin chef and a fully teched-out business center to the world’s first Feng Shui-certified hotel to a hotel with its own family brewery, Sighsleeping offers visitors to Bavaria a wealth of opportunities to explore the region, while avoiding cookie-cutter big-box hotels and an even more romantic experience. And with help from travel partner Audi, Sightsleeping will also help make it easier to get around.
 
So whether you like Bauhaus or the brauhaus, Roman or Renaissance, cobblestone alleys or the lanes of autobahn, Bavaria has much to offer. SP