Bavaria's contributions to German culture

Germany's largest state in terms of land mass and second largest in terms of population, Bavaria has played an outsized role in shaping the cultural landscape of the country. When people from outside the country think of Germany and its traditions today, they are often thinking of features unique to Bavaria — like the fairy tale castles of King Ludwig II, which inspired Walt Disney.

The Wittelsbachs ruled Bavaria — and at times, other parts of Europe — for centuries. Although the region has been freed of Wittelsbach dynasty rule for 100 years, at least one family member maintains a legendary influence on the region: King Ludwig II. His immensely private life and untimely drowning death have been the subject of much speculation as well as movies such as "Ludwig II."

One thing that was certain about Ludwig was that he adored Richard Wagner and served as patron to the composer. Although Wagner himself was not Bavarian, he brought his operas to life in the Bayreuth Festspielhaus that he helped designed, and which Ludwig reluctantly funded. The site of the annual Bayreuth Festival, the opera house has recently been restored to its original opulence.

It's not all high culture in Bavaria, where football is life for some locals. With the blue-and-white flag of Bavaria at the center of the team's logo, FC Bayern Munich is Germany's biggest sports club and the fourth highest-earning football club in the world.

One way to annoy a German is to repeat the stereotype that Lederhosen or the dirnd (shown above) are national garb. But this long-running cliche won't be put to rest, especially as the dress is still considered special-occasion wear for many Bavarians who take their costumes very seriously. Over 1.5 million people are currently members of a society dedicated to maintaining the traditional look.

Although traditional costume is still worn by many in the tourism industry, you'll find more people wearing denim nowadays. A favorite brand? Levi Strauss, invented by a Bavarian emigrant to the US, whose contribution to the fashion world hasn't gone out of style — even 170 years after his German departure.

Levi Strauss wasn't the only Bavarian to shake up the fashion industry. Two brother cobblers from Herzogenaurach are credited with the sneaker revolution after they developed spiked running shoes and convinced USA sprinter Jesse Owens to wear their handmade spikes at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. The brothers had a falling out and Adolf put his name to adidas while Rudolf set up shop as Puma.

The mountainous landscape and village living in southern Bavaria has continued to influence German culture throughout the last century. The region has served as backdrop to numerous Heimat films, a uniquely German genre that idealizes the natural world and presents pastoral landscapes that are said to have calmed citizens throughout the stresses of the Cold War era.

Every decade for nearly 400 years, the tiny mountain town of Oberammergau draws crowds from around the world for its reenactment of Jesus's final days before his crucifixion. The Passion Play is the villagers' way of giving thanks for being spared from death from the plague in 1634. A testament to the early period of Christian drama, the play is unique to Bavaria and will be held next in 2020

Living in Germany's wealthiest state, Bavarians are exceptionally proud of their contribution to industry with Bavarian Motor Works the parochial name for one luxury car manufacturer. But the automotive industry isn't the only one in which Bavaria is currently setting the pace. The state, and its capital Munich, is home to a few of the world's best-known businesses like Allianz and Siemens.