Altbayern
Encyclopedia
Altbayern is a term used to describe the three oldest parts of the Free State of Bavaria
, which were earlier known as Kurbayern. It also describes the people who live in the area (cf. Bavarii
).
Altbayern mainly consists of the following Regierungsbezirk
e:
Since the term Altbayern targets above all the cultural difference compared with Franconia
and Swabia
, the areas surrounding the cities of Wunsiedel
in Oberfranken as well as Aichach
and Friedberg
in the Administrative District of Swabia
are counted as part of Altbayern, because they share the same dialect and culture as the three previously mentioned districts.
Strictly speaking, the now Austrian Innviertel
also belongs to Altbayern, since it belonged to Niederbayern until the Treaty of Teschen
(1779).
The State of "Baiern" has been called "Bayern" since the reign of King Ludwig I
(1825-1848). During the reforms Minister Maximilian Josef Montgelas
the official spelling of Bavaria was changed from "Baiern" to "Bayern" because of the king's love for Ancient Greek
culture.
Ideally, the term "Baiern" would be a logical description for the "Altbayern" Region, but since there is no difference in sound between the words "Baiern" and "Bayern" and there is still a great danger of confusing them in writing, the term "Altbayern" is used.
The other territories of Bavaria, which were united after 1801 into the State of Bavaria and are not part of Altbayern, are:
These last two regions have strong cultural as well as linguistic differences from Altbayern because they have been a part of Bavaria for a relatively short period of time. Austro-Bavarian
dialects are spoken in Altbayern, while East Franconian is spoken in Franconia and a Swabian dialect
is spoken in Swabia.
On Bayerischer Rundfunk
there is a regular program called "Schwaben & Altbayern" for Southern parts of the state, which discusses current political and cultural topics.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, which were earlier known as Kurbayern. It also describes the people who live in the area (cf. Bavarii
Bavarii
The Bavarii were a Germanic tribe whose name emerged late in Teutonic tribal times. The full name originally was the Germanic *baio-warioz. This name has been handed down as Baiwaren, Baioaren, Bioras, latinised Bavarii, Baioarii. or Bavarii, Bavarians, Bajuwaren, Bajuvarii, Bajuwaren and Baiern....
).
Altbayern mainly consists of the following Regierungsbezirk
Regierungsbezirk
In Germany, a Government District, in German: Regierungsbezirk – is a subdivision of certain federal states .They are above the Kreise, Landkreise, and kreisfreie Städte...
e:
- Oberbayern
- Niederbayern
- Oberpfalz
Since the term Altbayern targets above all the cultural difference compared with Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
and Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
, the areas surrounding the cities of Wunsiedel
Wunsiedel
Wunsiedel is the county town of the Upper Franconian district of Wunsiedel in northeast Bavaria, Germany. The town became well known for its annual Luisenburg Festival and the Rudolf Hess Memorial March held by the Neo-Nazis here until 2005.- Geography :...
in Oberfranken as well as Aichach
Aichach
Aichach is a town in Germany, located in the Bundesland of Bavaria and situated just northeast of Augsburg. It is the capital of the district of Aichach-Friedberg. The municipality of Aichach counts some 20,000 inhabitants. It isn't far from the motorway that connects Munich and Stuttgart, the A8....
and Friedberg
Friedberg, Bavaria
Friedberg is a city in the district Aichach-Friedberg, Bavaria, Germany, with some 30,000 inhabitants. It is located next to Augsburg at the Lech river...
in the Administrative District of Swabia
Swabia (administrative region)
Swabia is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany.- Geography :Swabia is located in southwest Bavaria. It was formed out of the part of the historic region of Swabia which was annexed by Bavaria in 1803. It was once formally ruled by dukes of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. During...
are counted as part of Altbayern, because they share the same dialect and culture as the three previously mentioned districts.
Strictly speaking, the now Austrian Innviertel
Innviertel
The Innviertel is a traditional Austrian region south-east of the Inn river. It forms the western part of the state of Upper Austria and borders the German state of Bavaria...
also belongs to Altbayern, since it belonged to Niederbayern until the Treaty of Teschen
Treaty of Teschen
The Treaty of Teschen was signed on May 13, 1779, in Cieszyn , Austrian Silesia, between Austria and Prussia, which officially ended the War of the Bavarian Succession sparked by the death of Elector Maximilian III Joseph...
(1779).
The State of "Baiern" has been called "Bayern" since the reign of King Ludwig I
Ludwig I of Bavaria
Ludwig I was a German king of Bavaria from 1825 until the 1848 revolutions in the German states.-Crown prince:...
(1825-1848). During the reforms Minister Maximilian Josef Montgelas
Maximilian von Montgelas
Maximilian Josef Garnerin, Count von Montgelas was a Bavarian statesman, from a noble family in Savoy. His father John Sigmund Garnerin, Baron Montgelas, entered the military service of Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria, and married the Countess Ursula von Trauner...
the official spelling of Bavaria was changed from "Baiern" to "Bayern" because of the king's love for Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
culture.
Ideally, the term "Baiern" would be a logical description for the "Altbayern" Region, but since there is no difference in sound between the words "Baiern" and "Bayern" and there is still a great danger of confusing them in writing, the term "Altbayern" is used.
The other territories of Bavaria, which were united after 1801 into the State of Bavaria and are not part of Altbayern, are:
- FranconiaFranconiaFranconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
- SwabiaSwabia (administrative region)Swabia is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany.- Geography :Swabia is located in southwest Bavaria. It was formed out of the part of the historic region of Swabia which was annexed by Bavaria in 1803. It was once formally ruled by dukes of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. During...
(German: Schwaben)
These last two regions have strong cultural as well as linguistic differences from Altbayern because they have been a part of Bavaria for a relatively short period of time. Austro-Bavarian
Austro-Bavarian
Bavarian , also Austro-Bavarian, is a major group of Upper German varieties spoken in the south east of the German language area.-History and origin:...
dialects are spoken in Altbayern, while East Franconian is spoken in Franconia and a Swabian dialect
Swabian German
Swabian is one of the Alemannic dialects of High German. It is spoken in Swabia, a region which covers much of Germany's southwestern state Baden-Württemberg, including its capital Stuttgart, the rural area known as the Swabian Alb, and Bavaria...
is spoken in Swabia.
On Bayerischer Rundfunk
Bayerischer Rundfunk
Bayerischer Rundfunk [Bavarian Broadcasting] is the public broadcasting authority for the German Freistaat of Bavaria, with its main offices located in Munich. BR is a member of ARD.- Legal foundation :...
there is a regular program called "Schwaben & Altbayern" for Southern parts of the state, which discusses current political and cultural topics.