Many people who've never set foot in Germany have this image of Germans drinking beer and eating sausage, while wearing traditional costumes — Lederhosen for men and Dirndl for women — and performing the Schuhplatter stomp dance (picture). Though these clichés often serve to depict Germany as a whole, the traditions actually come from Bavaria, a German state with a very distinct culture.

The current disputes between Chancellor Angela Merkel and Horst Seehofer have exposed to the world that Bavaria has its own party within the German government. While Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) operates in 15 states of Germany, Bavaria is the only state with its own counterpart, the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), led by Seehofer.

Bavaria's official name, Free State of Bavaria, was adopted after monarchy was abolished in several German states in the aftermath of World War I. While most Bavarians do not want to separate from Germany, many of them identify as "Bavarians" first. Actually, the state also includes the Franconians in the north, the Swabians in the south west, while Altbayern (Old Bavaria) makes up the south east.

One of the main historical differences giving Bavaria its distinct identity was that while many German territories that joined the German Empire in 1871 were Protestant, Bavaria was one of the few major German powers to remain Catholic. Incidentally, Pope Benedict XVI was born in Bavaria.

The number of Catholics in Bavaria is on the decline, but the state's politicians still see it as a predominant aspect of its culture. The recent law requiring a Christian cross to be displayed in the lobby of every public building in Bavaria made international headlines. "This is about culture, not religion," explained one Bavarian mayor, Christian Moser.

Foreigners who've spent years learning German might not understand a simple breakfast conversation in Bavaria, as many Bavarians speak with a strong dialect. This is also related to religion. High German started spreading through Luther's Bible in Protestant regions, while Bavarians took pride in their dialects, which includes Bairisch (Bavarian Austrian), East Franconian and Swabian German.

One of Germany's most famous events, Oktoberfest, is also Bavarian. Over 6 million visitors head to the Munich-based event every year, and it inspires similar festivals around the world. Germany's influential Beer Purity Law, which prescribes that only hop, malt, yeast and water be used in the brewing process, was also issued there, by the Duke of Bavaria in 1516.

Along with the beer purity law, Bavaria has its own beer garden decree from 1812 that allows guests to bring their own picnic — pretzels, sausages and other appetizers — to the beer garden. The tradition has remained part of Bavaria's convivial charm to this day.

If you are lucky enough to have a Bavarian friend who likes to cook, you will discover that Bavaria is not only the home of the popular Weisswurst sausage and Brezen (Pretzel), but also of a number of delicious regional specialties, including Flädlesuppe (pancake soup), Maultaschen (which look like large raviolis) and Spätzle (a kind of soft egg noodle, pictured).

Bavaria's football team, FC Bayern München, is the most successful club in German football history and one of the best in Europe. It has won a record of 28 national titles and 18 national cups. The club has nearly 300,000 members worldwide. At the center of this picture is vice-captain Thomas Müller, who also plays for the German national team.

One of the world's most legendary auto brands is also Bavarian. BMW stands for "Bayerische Motoren Werke," or Bavarian Motor Works. The headquarters of the company founded in 1916 are in Munich.

Connected with the Bohemian Forest on the Czech side of the border, the Bavarian Forest makes up the largest continuous woodland area in Europe. The protected national park is home to many endangered species of animals, including the European wildcat (picture), which has been named animal of the year 2018 in Germany.

Bavaria's medieval buildings are a must-see attraction for many people visiting Germany. Its most photographed castle is Neuschwanstein, which is visited by over 1.3 million people every year. The fairy tale look of this castle inspired Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom castle.

Bavarian culture also became synonymous with Germany through the fact that after World War II, many American army bases were in the south of Germany, where Bavaria is located. The strong traditions of the region left a lasting impression on the US occupiers, and American pop culture contributed to spreading this image throughout the world.

Bavaria gets to top it all by being home to Germany's highest peak. The Zugspitze in the Bavarian Alps reaches 2,962 meters (9,718 feet) above sea level. Visitors, however, don't need to invest a lot of energy to reach the summit and enjoy the fabulous views. Cable cars and a railway can take you to the top.

The largest folk festival in the world attracts millions of visitors each year and has spawned offshoots around the globe. It's characterized by beer in 1 liter glasses, women wearing dirndl dresses and men in lederhosen, as well as music and dancing in all of its many tents. The original Oktoberfest is found in Munich, which has played host since 1810.

The Bavarian metropolis is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. The first stop for visitors is the Marienplatz square with the Frauenkirche church and the New Town Hall with its antique glockenspiel. Other attractions include the Hofbräuhaus beer hall, Nymphenburg Palace, the English Garden park as well as many museums like the Deutsches Museum — the largest science museum in the world.

Munich is also home to one of Germany's most successful football clubs. Bayern Munich's home games are played at the Allianz Arena. Fortunately, those who don't have tickets to a match can still feel close to the club's stars by taking a guided tour around the stadium.

The Romanesque revival palace is one of Germany's top attractions. In 2022, it was visited by 700,000 people, something reclusive King Ludwig II who commissioned the castle probably would not have enjoyed. He had it built in 1869 as a place where he could escape from public life and indulge in a world of fantasy and fairy tales. His whimsical castle is now admired by people from around the world.

Translated from German it would be the "King's Lake" — an apt title, as it's regarded as the king of Bavaria's roughly 200 lakes. Cutting deep into the Berchtesgaden Alps, the crystal-clear water creates an enchanting atmosphere. Since 1909, the pilgrimage church St. Bartholomew can only be reached by an environmentally friendly electric boat.

The small town in the Franconia region is a medieval gem. Tourists from all over the world love the timber-framed houses and the town wall with its fortifications. Rothenburg was left poor and deserted after the Thirty Years' War, which is why it has remained stuck in time. Today, it's seen a historic jewel that happens to be located on the Romantic Road, a popular tourist route in Germany.

This opera house, commissioned by Margravine Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia in the 18th century, was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 2012. There are several World Heritage Sites in Bavaria, including the old towns of Regensburg and Bamberg, the Würzburg Residence and the pilgrimage church of Die Wies.

Nuremberg is the second-largest city in Bavaria. Most people visit in December to go to the Christkindlesmarkt, or Christ Child Market — one of the world's oldest Christmas markets, which is visited by 2 million people each year. Although you'll find mulled wine and Lebkuchen gingerbread at other Christmas markets, it's only here that you'll encounter the Christkind, a princess-like figure.

It's not a myth, but a way of life in the hundreds of beer gardens across Bavaria. In fact, Bavarians invented the beer garden. Originally, beer was kept cool in cellars that were shaded by large trees, until brewers decided to set up tables and serve it right on the spot! This lead to the birth of the beer garden. Cheers to that!