Bayern, Germany
View of the Bavarian Alps
The Free State of Bavaria (in German: Freistaat Bayern) comprises the entire southeast portion of Germany. It is geographically the largest federal state in the country, comprising roughly a fifth of the total land area of Germany.
Bayern shares international borders with Austria and the Czech Republic as well as with Switzerland (across Lake of Constance). Neighbouring federal states within Germany are Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Thuringia (Thüringen) and Saxony (Sachsen).
The landscape of Bavaria consists of four major regions: the Bavarian Alps, with Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany at 2,962m in south; the Alpine foothills, known as the Bavarian Alpine Foreland with its numerous lakes; the Eastern Bavarian central mountains, a wooded low-mountain region with Germany's first national park, the Bavarian Forest National Park; and in west, the plateaus of Swabia and Frankenalb (Jura).
Bavaria is divided in 7 administrative regions: Oberfranken (Upper Franconia), Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia), Unterfranken (Lower Franconia), Bayerisch Schwaben with Allgäu (Bavarian Swabia), Oberpfalz, (Upper Palatinate), Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria), and Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria)
Bayern shares international borders with Austria and the Czech Republic as well as with Switzerland (across Lake of Constance). Neighbouring federal states within Germany are Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Thuringia (Thüringen) and Saxony (Sachsen).
The landscape of Bavaria consists of four major regions: the Bavarian Alps, with Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany at 2,962m in south; the Alpine foothills, known as the Bavarian Alpine Foreland with its numerous lakes; the Eastern Bavarian central mountains, a wooded low-mountain region with Germany's first national park, the Bavarian Forest National Park; and in west, the plateaus of Swabia and Frankenalb (Jura).
Bavaria is divided in 7 administrative regions: Oberfranken (Upper Franconia), Mittelfranken (Middle Franconia), Unterfranken (Lower Franconia), Bayerisch Schwaben with Allgäu (Bavarian Swabia), Oberpfalz, (Upper Palatinate), Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria), and Niederbayern (Lower Bavaria)