Huge vegetable gardens in the middle of the city, a square that turns into an open-air bar in summer, a housing estate that loves graffiti, the oldest pub in the world, wine glasses that bob to the beat of electrobeats and buildings steeped in history that attract female rappers: Bavaria's cities are often surprisingly different. Here, insiders give tips and show you what Bavaria has to offer.
Table of contents
1st graffiti bike tour with artist Thomas Neumann in Munich
2. enjoy flair with innkeeper Muk Röhrl in Regensburg
3rd open air bar vibes with brewer Stefan Stretz in Nuremberg
4. beer garden atmosphere with organic gardener Sebastian Niedermaier in Bamberg
5. german history with rapper Ria from Kelheim
6th Elektrobeats and wine with young winemaker Teresa Deufel in Lindau
Thomas Neumann is a Bavarian 3-in-1 package - he is a graphic designer, illustrator and photographer. And he does so with heart and soul. He loves to express his creative ideas on canvases. These often have to do with traditional costumes, mountains or cows. Because the Munich native loves the typically Bavarian.
He finds inspiration for it, how could it be otherwise, everywhere in his hometown. On the walls of houses and bridge pillars. The Bavarian capital is a real street art hotspot, where artists from all over the world have immortalized themselves in public spaces. The best way to discover the open-air works of art is to go on a Street Art Bike Tourwhich begins in the student settlement in the former Olympic Village.
Wo 1972 800 kleine Häuser als Athleten-Unterkünfte gebaut wurden, stehen heute – 50 Jahre später – 1.052 Bungalows, die Studierenden der Stadt Munich als Wohn-Unterkünfte dienen. Wer einen der begehrten kleinen Bungalows ergattert, darf die Fassade selbst bemalen, was zu einem Sammelsurium an kunterbunten Hauswänden führt. Und mit jedem Aus- und Einzug kommen neue dazu.
Eight more street art highlights await along the route, each more colorful than the next - and definitely inspiring.
It is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest inn in the world, the "Restaurant Röhrl" in Eilsbrunn in the district of Regensburg. Innkeeper Muk Röhrl and his wife Karin are already running it in the eleventh generation. Their greatest concern is to preserve this beautiful piece of history and to carry on the centuries-old tradition. And they are very successful at it. Almost every day, the beer garden of the historic house is filled with the clinking of beer mugs, the buzz of voices of the many guests and the smell of delicious typical Bavarian food.
And when Muk himself is looking for some time out and relaxation? Then he strolls through the small, narrow streets of Regensburg, stops at one of the many cafés and restaurants and enjoys himself. What makes Regensburg so special? "The medieval charm of the city combined with the many young, cool stores is an exciting mix," explains Muk.
There are young and old, but above all many people who have gathered on the historic Tiergärtnerplatz below Nuremberg Castle. They come here to play cards, eat and drink beer, either in the square or at one of the tables. Because that's what the beer pub 'Beer OfficeThe name 'Nuremberg Beer' is now well known. Only beer from Nuremberg can be drunk here - 18 to 20 fixed varieties and two changing beers on tap every week. Also the beer from brewer Stefan Stretzwho, together with a few other creative minds, has brought a real scene quarter to life in the neighboring district of Gostenhof, is available to drink here. In 2006, the trained brewer and graduate engineer for brewing technology opened a brewery here in a vacant pub. In the beginning, he brewed in old barrels and used valves, flaps and piping in the cellar. That's how scrap metal became a brewing system in which he now produces red beer, Kehlengold and Rotes Weizen. Beer that has already wandered over many counters.
Where does he prefer to drink his own? In the 'Bieramt' or the 'Café Wanderer' right next door, of course. After all, it's not just local beer culture that's promoted here. The square around the Tiergärtnertor is also one of the most beautiful places in Nuremberg - a meeting place with centuries of tradition where Franconian identity can be experienced.
Bereits seit dem Mittelalter wird in Bamberg Gemüse angebaut und schon von Jahrhunderten exportierten die Bamberger Gärtner Gemüse und Samen eigener Sorten weit über die Stadtgrenzen hinaus. Sebastian Niedermaiers family is one of these traditional gardening families. Sebastian is already the 13th generation to run the old family nursery in the center of the city, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Garden City of Bamberg. He grows yellow, red, striped tomatoes and savoy cabbage, as well as ginger and watermelon, for example, and sells his harvest in the farm store.
When the work is done, the 32-year-old often heads to the special cellar. "The beer garden is not far from the old town and offers a great view of the city. In summer, you sit under old plane trees and enjoy smoked beer and local cuisine," Sebastian enthuses. You can see as far as the imperial cathedral and the Michaelsberg monastery from here, while the aroma of Franconian cuisine wafts into your nose.
It can be seen from afar. The bright, high dome of the Liberation Hall. This is because the landmark of the Altmühl Valley is enthroned on the Michelsberg, high above the town of Kelheim, the Altmühl River and the Danube. The 45-meter-high and 29-meter-wide rotunda is a memento of the wars of liberation against Napoleon, which raged from 1813 to 1815. To this day, a motto by the client King Ludwig I, which is embedded in the marble floor, recalls the reason for the erection of the mighty building: "May the Germans never forget what made the liberation struggle necessary and by what they were victorious."
This piece of German history finds the Rapper RiAwho is at home in the Altmühltal, is particularly impressive. She started her career as a yodel queen, over the years she completely reinvented herself. Today, there is hardly a musical style that she does not incorporate into her sound: Afrobeats, reggae, rock, pop, funk, hip-hop. But RiA has remained true to one thing: her Lower Bavarian roots. "I like the small towns in my homeland, like Kelheim with the Befreiungshalle. By the way, the acoustics in it are breathtaking!" she enthuses.
In the middle of the rolling hills above Lindau lies the 200 year old white and blue farmhouse in which Teresa Deufel lives. But she doesn't just live here. She also works here. The young winemaker produces organic wines on her family's farm, which is located in the southernmost wine-growing region of Bavaria. She does not use weed killers at all, relies on natural beneficial insects, still works with wooden barrels and lets the wines ferment spontaneously instead of interfering with the natural process with additives.
An absolute highlight of the year for them is the wine festival 'Come and see‘, das sie gemeinsam mit zwölf Winzerkollegen organisiert. Dabei öffnen alle Betriebe für zwei Tage ihre Türen, die Gäste werden bei jedem Winzer individuell empfangen und können sich über Musik, Essen und besondere Führungen freuen. „Man sitzt mit den Füßen im See, tanzt zu Elektro-Beats oder genießt den Bodensee-Blick – ein echtes Erlebnis“, schwärmt sie. Die Vorfreude auf das nächste Festival ist groß, das 2022 am 1. und 2. Juli stattfinden wird. Mehr Genuss-Tipps für Bayern: Bayerns Bierkultur in der Hallertau and Frankens Weinregionen laden zum Erkunden ein.
The Bavarian Alps, lots of nature, living tradition and lively cities: for your Vacation in Bavaria there are many reasons.
