This is how Upper Bavaria became Germany's flagship region: Local researchers explain what makes the area unique

Created: 05/24/2022, 16:53

By: Cornelia Schramm

Upper Bavaria - always worth a postcard: On the picture you can see our mountains, a woman in a dirndl and the Schliersee.

© imago

Michael Ritter was born in Upper Bavaria, but has been Swabian since the local government reform.

The 61-year-old lives in the Aichach-Friedberg district and works at the regional association for home care.

Michael Ritter appeals to see Bavaria as a cultural and economic unit.

But he cannot deny that Upper Bavaria has had a special position for two centuries.

What makes Upper Bavaria unique?

trick question!

(laughs) We home caretakers are committed to seeing Bavaria as a whole.

Each administrative district has scenic and cultural characteristics.

Because of its area and inhabitants - every third Bavarian lives and works here - Upper Bavaria plays a dominant role economically and politically.

In addition, there is the state capital, which is the hub in many areas.

In the eyes of the outside world, however, a clichéd image of Bavaria has become established: deep blue lakes in front of a majestic mountain backdrop.

This unquestionably beautiful area is only a small part of Bavaria.

Local historian explains: This is what makes Upper Bavaria so unique

Who gave the starting signal for such a flourishing Upper Bavaria?

The administrative districts in today's sense have only existed since the early 19th century.

The empire had died out, the territory of Bavaria was considerably expanded to include Swabian and Franconian areas, and the Wittelsbachs were given spiritual and secular territories.

In 1806 the electorate was elevated to the status of a kingdom.

From then on, the regents developed Munich into a metropolis for science and culture.

Artists, industrialists and other circles benefited from the proximity to the ruling family and the authorities.

In addition, many jobs were created in Munich in administration and in commercial and service sectors.

What course had to be set for this?

The railway was enormously important because it enabled fast connections to all parts of the country for the first time.

Five years after the first German line between Nuremberg and Fürth, Munich and Augsburg were opened in 1840.

From 1857 the Bavarian Maximiliansbahn ran via Holzkirchen to Rosenheim and Salzburg.

The network was expanded in all directions.

One of the pioneers was Joseph Anton von Maffei from Munich, who, as an industrialist on the one hand and a member of the Bavarian state parliament on the other, embodied the close merging of politics and business in an ideal way.

In the course of the 19th century, Munich became a leader in machine and locomotive construction.

The city grew steadily as more industrial companies and workers moved in.

In 1916, for example, BMW began building aircraft engines in Oberwiesenfeld.

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How have these developments affected the surrounding area?

The enormous growth of Munich meant that communities in the surrounding area were increasingly used for structural development and were finally "swallowed".

This process began in the 19th century with villages close to the center such as Giesing, Sendling and Bogenhausen and continued until the last major incorporations in the 1940s.

Since then, growth has not stopped.

Since when has Upper Bavaria been “booming” today?

After the Second World War, many companies settled here because Bavaria was under the liberal economic occupation of the USA.

Siemens, for example, moved its headquarters from Berlin to Munich in 1949 and was the largest employer for a long time with up to 47,000 employees.

Today's metropolitan area extends far beyond the city limits.

Transitions to neighboring communities are fluid.

For example, Ottobrunn, which was founded in 1902, now has over 20,000 residents, and Germering, which had only 1,300 residents 100 years ago, now has 40,000 residents.

The locals quickly understood that they could score not only with the landscape, but also with their tradition.

Local historian Michael Ritter

How big is Munich's “fat belt” today?

Such an unspecific term is difficult to define.

The "belt belt" extends far beyond the city and surrounding districts.

The catchment area for commuters extends from Augsburg to Landshut and from Ingolstadt to Garmisch.

Economic success has now also become a challenge due to traffic problems, high emissions and overpriced rents.

The concentration of millionaires on Lake Starnberg, on Lake Tegernsee or in Garmisch is very high

That also applies to the Alpine regions today...

The south of Bavaria has long benefited from its scenic attractiveness.

Aristocrats, industrialists, artists and wealthy citizens came as early as the 19th century for their summer holidays and bought the most beautiful places from the farmers in order to build their sophisticated villas on them.

To this day, the density of millionaires is very high on Lake Starnberg, on Lake Tegernsee or in Garmisch - oligarchs and sheikhs live there alongside footballers and other stars.

Michael Ritter, National Association for Home Care.

© mm

What makes the Alpine regions so successful?

The locals quickly understood that they could score not only with the landscape, but also with their tradition.

More than 100 years ago, guests were entertained at local evenings with country theater, Schuhplatteln and folk music.

And the dirndl's success story is largely based on the fact that the summer visitors liked it so much.

Tourism has therefore contributed to the fact that the locals in the south appreciate and preserve their traditional costumes, customs, dialects and townscapes more than is the case elsewhere.

How does the world see Upper Bavaria?

The self-image of a tradition-conscious and at the same time cosmopolitan, progressive society has been cultivated in Upper Bavaria for decades - and it still works perfectly today.

The Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 already played with this dualism: Not only was an Olympic dirndl created, in the ultra-modern stadium Schuhplattler and Goaßlschnalzer were also performed.

Is that where the Mia-san-mia self-image comes from?

The economic success of Munich and Upper Bavaria is undisputed.

It was hard earned, but from a historical point of view it is also due to fortunate circumstances.

I don't like the saying "Mia san mia" because it has a certain amount of arrogance in it.

The attraction for skilled workers is great - are they also quickly bayed?

Many who move to Upper Bavaria see great potential for their careers and personal life.

Whether they feel a sense of belonging to their new home is largely up to them. Anyone who wants to get involved in the community has many opportunities to do so, such as local clubs.

And if you want to wear traditional costume as a newcomer, you can and should of course do so.

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other articles from the special supplement "Upper Bavaria - a region on the move" on the anniversary "75 years of the Munich Merkur":

Greeting from publisher Dirk Ippen: The Merkur – the most Bavarian of all newspapers

Interview with Prime Minister Markus Söder: "Mother and son-in-law": Söder remembers Merkel's SMS in difficult times - "with wisdom

When the editor-in-chief grabs the pitchfork: A working visit to the farm of the future

"75 years of Munich Merkur": That's how it all started back then

"It's not done with pencil and meter rule": Crafts President explains why the professions are often underestimated

"75 years of Munich Merkur": Ude and the Merkur - a belated love