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The steeples of St. Joseph catholic church in Tutzing, Bavaria, Germany
Image: Ulrich Wagner/IMAGOImage: Ulrich Wagner/IMAGO

Bavaria

Bavaria is a federal state of Germany located in the country's southeast. It is the largest state by land mass, making up almost a fifth of the total land area of Germany.

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All Content on this topic

Flowers and candles are placed at the scene, as residents mourn the death of two Ukrainian soldiers in the small southern town of Murnau

Germany: Russian charged over killing of Ukrainian soldiers

The two Ukrainian soldiers had been recovering from war injuries not far from Munich.
CrimeOctober 23, 2024
A damaged guard rail at a sewage treatment pool

Germany: Teenager crashes car into sewage treatment pool

A teenager's attempt to escape the police ended with him crashing his parents' car into a sewage treatment pool Bamberg.
CrimeOctober 15, 2024
Shot from a high vantage point of the crowd at the Theresienwiese Oktoberfest tent in Munich. October 6, 2024.

Germany: Oktoberfest wraps in Munich, 7 million liters later

Roughly 6.7 million people flocked to Oktoberfest in Munich in recent weeks, consuming 7 million 1-liter mugs of beer.
CultureOctober 6, 2024
People hold mugs of beer on the day of the official opening of the 189th Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival in Munich, Germany

Germany: Oktoberfest beer starts flowing amid high security

This year's event saw extra security after a string of security incidents elsewhere in Germany.
SocietySeptember 21, 2024
A Bavarian dumpling in mushroom sauce, garnished with parsley.

What's the secret of Bavaria's Deggendorf dumplings?

Deggendorf, in Bavaria, is famous for its dumplings. How do these fluffy lumps of bread define the town's identity?
LifestyleSeptember 16, 202405:08 min
Police cars in Munich, Germany

Germany: Suspect detained in plot to kill soldiers

Authorities said the man planned to use machetes to kill as many German soldiers as possible during their lunch break.
CrimeSeptember 13, 2024
A shot of a secure entrance to the medical facility in Straubing, Bavaria, on August 18, 2024.

Bavaria: 1 convict of 4 in secure hospital breakout captured

The other three are still on the loose, six days later. The man who was collared was picked up in neighboring Austria.
CrimeAugust 23, 2024
A police cordon tape blocking the secure entry to a closed hospital facility in Straubing, Bavaria, that deals with convicts. Pictured on August 18, 2024. Four prisoners escaped from the facility late at night on August 17, threatening a staff member and forcing him to open the gate.

Convicts injured employee in Bavaria hospital escape

The four fugitives allegedly injured a staff member of the medical facility, forcing him to open its gate.
CrimeAugust 19, 2024
Stock image of the flashing blue light of a police car in Germany. Taken in Bamberg in July, 2024.

Germany: 4 escape criminal psychiatric facility in Bavaria

Police said four convicts escaped from a specialist medical facility in Straubing after threatening a member of staff.
CrimeAugust 17, 2024
Bayern Herrsching am Ammersee Mutmaßliches Gewaltdelikt

Germany: Police search rural Bavaria after dead body found

Police are scouring Herrsching am Ammersee near Munich after finding a pensioner's dead body and suspecting foul play.
CrimeJuly 14, 2024
Hail-covered roads in Bavaria, Germany

Germany: Flooding and hail hit parts of Bavaria

Hail and heavy rain caused hundreds of calls for service in Bavarian cities within hours.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 13, 2024
An AfD flag being waved at Munich's Karlsplatz Stachus

Bavaria court upholds monitoring of state's far-right AfD

A Bavarian court dismisses an objection to the monitoring of the far-right Alternative for Germany in the state.
PoliticsJuly 1, 2024
A man walks near flood damage in Baden-Württemberg

Germany's floods prove costly for farming, industry

Recent floods in southern Germany have hit farming, industry and small businesses hard.
BusinessJune 13, 202403:18 min
Flood damage in Baden-Württemberg

German insured flood damage estimated at €2 billion

Torrential rains in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg damaged homes, infrastructure and large swathes of farmland.
CatastropheJune 7, 2024
Markus Söder shaking hands with rescue workers in Passau

Germany floods: Blame game begins as waters recede

As floodwaters recede in Bavaria, the government is coming under fire for cutting funds for flood prevention.
PoliticsJune 6, 2024
flood protection being installed in Regensburg

Bavaria: Fears that the river Danube might burst its banks

In Bavaria, areas close to the Danube are worried the river might burst its banks.
CatastropheJune 4, 202402:09 min
people piling up sandbags to protect their homes

Floods in southern Germany force thousands from their homes

At least 4 people are confirmed dead as Southern Germany struggles with some of the worst flooding in years.
CatastropheJune 4, 202402:20 min
The Danube river flooding on June 4

Germany floods: Rain eases as fifth death confirmed

Authorities in Bavaria said they recovered a woman's body from a car that sank into floodwater.
CatastropheJune 4, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz talks to journalists during his visit to Reichertshofen, a town affected by the severe flooding in southern Germany.

Amid Germany floods, chancellor urges climate change action

After heavy rainfall led to flooding in southern Germany, residents are overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster.
CatastropheJune 3, 202401:49 min
An overhead view of flooded streets and houses in the village of Nordendorf

Floods in southern Germany: 40 hours of disaster

The flooding in southern Germany has caused dams to burst, thousands of evacuations and left communities inundated.
CatastropheJune 2, 2024
A view of several people clearing out debris in a flooded basement

Germany floods: Amid disaster, cleanup efforts begin

DW reporter Tessa Walther reports from the town of Diedorf in Bavaria.
CatastropheJune 2, 202402:39 min
Many streets are flooded in Babenhausen in the Bavarian-Swabian district of Unterallgäu

Germany: Trains canceled amid southern storms and flooding

Trains between Munich and Stuttgart were canceled again on Sunday, as residents and authorities battled heavy rain.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 2, 2024
Crowds gather at the opening of the Erlangen festival on May 16, 2024

Germany: Racist chants reported in Erlangen after Sylt video

At a Bavarian festival, two visitors were chanting "Foreigners out!" to the tune of "L'amour toujours," police said.
SocietyMay 26, 2024
Von grau zu grün - Gutes Klima für die Stadt

From gray to green - Building a better urban climate

Billions of people in cities around the world are affected by climate change.
ClimateMay 24, 202426:04 min
Flowers, candles, a Ukrainian flag and a placard can be seen near the site in Murnau in Upper Bavaria where the killings took place. April 28, 2024, Murnau am Staffelsee.

Germany: 2 Ukrainians killed over weekend were soldiers

A Russian man is the suspect. But police aren't yet sure if the war was the reason.
CrimeApril 29, 2024
People toasting each other at Oktoberfest with 1 liter glasses of beer

Get drunk, not high at Oktoberfest, Bavaria says

Authorities in Germany's Bavaria say they want to restrict the use of cannabis in festivals and beer gardens.
PoliticsApril 16, 2024
Hannah Hummell dressed in warm clothes, stands on a street in Regenbsurg

Germany: Tips for a day trip to Bavaria's Regensburg

This southern German picture-book city is famous for its well preserved medieval old town.
TravelApril 16, 202403:55 min
The front of a German police van in Berlin on November 23, 2023

Germany: Violent crime reaches 15-year high — report

Germany recorded more than 214,000 criminal acts of violence last year, according to official police statistics.
CrimeApril 6, 2024
Bavaria's police union posted a video featuring pantless officers exiting their cruiser to highlight a lack of uniforms

Bavarian police go pantless in uniform protest

Police union expresses frustration over dearth of uniforms, saying lack of respect leaves cops with their pants down.
Rule of LawApril 3, 2024
Deutschland | Markus Söder | Ministerpräsident von Bayern

Bavaria's Söder gives away Easter egg showing his face

So, what made Bavarian state premier Markus Söder's Easter giveaway egg "special," other than its "delicious" smell?
PoliticsMarch 31, 2024
Firefighters and rescue workers standing on the A3 freeway near Würzburg as crashed vehicles can be seen in the foreground and parked ambulances in the background

Germany: Massive Autobahn pileup leaves 2 dead

Two people were killed and dozens injured in a series of crashes that led to a mass pileup in Bavaria.
Cars and TransportationMarch 24, 2024
A symbol photo of gendered language being crossed out

Germany's Bavaria cracks down on gender-sensitive language

More and more German text is using asterisks, colons and other symbols to make language more inclusive.
SocietyMarch 20, 2024
Bavaria's Markus Söder having fake eyebrows applied in a makeup studio. February 2, 2024.

Bavaria's costume veteran Söder unveils 2024 Carnival outfit

One of Germany's more colorful, if less significant, recurring political questions has its annual answer.
PoliticsFebruary 2, 2024
Fokus Europa Deutschland Migration

Focus on Europe - Spotlight on People

The mayor of Hebertshausen in Bavaria welcomes migrants and refugees with open arms.
SocietyJanuary 25, 202426:05 min
The 24-year-old accused woman appearing in court in Ingolstadt, accompanied by custody staff

German 'doppelganger' fake death murder trial moves ahead

The defendant had allegedly hunted for her victim online as part of an elaborate deception plot.
CrimeJanuary 22, 2024
Police and the female defendant in a murder trial at Ingolstadt District Court

Germany: Couple on trial in doppelganger murder

A woman is accused orchestrating the brutal kiling a lookalike as a way to fake her own death and start a new life.
CrimeJanuary 16, 2024
State Premier Markus Söder hangs a cross in Bavaria's state chancellery

Germany: Bavaria can hang crosses in state buildings

A challenge to Bavaria's controversial decree about hanging crosses in state buildings has been overruled.
Law and JusticeDecember 19, 2023
Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov speaking into a microphone

Russian billionaire Usmanov: German justice's legal dilemma

Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov is suspected of various financial crimes, but investigations are proving tricky.
CorruptionDecember 16, 2023
A towable passenger staircase covered with a thick blanket of snow

Let it snow: Happy kids and frustrated commuters in southern Germany

On Tuesday morning, icy rain meant travelers to and from southern Germanys faced considerable delays.
TravelDecember 5, 20237 images
An airplane covered in snow sits on runway at Munich Airport amid a heavy snow storm.

Germany: Munich Airport resumes flights after heavy snowfall

Although operations have resumed at Germany's second-busiest airport, over 500 planned flights have been canceled.
Cars and TransportationDecember 3, 2023
Henry Kissinger pointing forward, standing in front of some microphones, in a black and white photo

Henry Kissinger: A US secretary of state from Bavaria

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate wasn't only the US' most famous top diplomat, he was also the only one born in Germany.
PoliticsNovember 30, 2023
A large protest in support of Palestinians in Berlin on November 11, 2023.

Germany: Faeser seeks Hamas condemnation at Islam conference

The interior minister is seeking clear positions on Hamas from faith groups at the government's Islam conference.
PoliticsNovember 21, 2023
Die 16 deutschen Bundesländer als Navigation-Pins auf der Deutschlandkarte

Meet Germany's 16 state leaders

Germany's 16 federal states range from 600,000 to 18 million in population size, and have diverse coalition governments.
PoliticsNovember 14, 202316 images
Hoffenheim fans at Augsburg-Hoffenheim match as smoke from firecracker spreads

Stadium unrest clouds several weekend Bundesliga games

Police say at least 11 people were injured after a firecracker was thrown from the Hoffenheim fan block.
SportsNovember 12, 2023
A flag with the logo of the far-right Alternative for Germany Party is on show at Munich's Karlsplatz Stachus on September 22, 2018

Germany: Arrest warrant issued for far-right politician

Daniel Halemba, who recently won a seat in Bavaria's state parliament, is being sought for an undisclosed reason.
PoliticsOctober 28, 2023
The Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

Germany: US man charged with murder in Neuschwanstein attack

A 31-year-old man has been charged for attacking two women at Neuschwanstein Castle, a popular tourist spot.
CrimeOctober 26, 2023
A young woman smiles at a beer garden, holding a pretzel and a beer

Touring Germany: Exploring the distinct southern identity

Euromaxx reporter Rachel Stewart is on a mission to discover Germany's diversity. This time she visits southern Germany.
TravelOctober 20, 202304:33 min
DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo Composite)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe

Piobbico, where ugly is beautiful, Belgian fries and an average German evening.
LifestyleOctober 13, 202326:06 min
Officials investigating a road accident site

Germany: 7 dead in suspected migrant smuggling car crash

The van carrying more than 20 people overturned near the Austrian border when it sped up to escape the police.
MigrationOctober 13, 2023
Robert Lambrou, Alice Weidel and other AfD members jubilant on Sunday, October 8, 2023, in Bavaria

German voters move further to the right

After electoral setbacks in two state elections, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his center-left alliance are under pressure.
PoliticsOctober 9, 2023