Bavaria/Bayern

Researching in Bavaria/Bayern

History
Bavaria is divided into seven districts:
Oberpfalz, Niederbayern, Oberbayern, Unterfranken, Mittelfranken, Oberfranken, and Schwaben. Bavaria was ruled by the Wittelsbach family from 1180-1918. The best known is Ludwig II (1864-1886) who built the castles of Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, and Herrenchiemsee.Border Changes
The southern portion of today’s German State of Rheinland-Pfalz was once owned by Bavaria and was referred to as the “Rheinpfalz,” “Rhennish Pfalz,” “Rheinbayern,” or “Palatinate,” but it is no longer a part of modern Bavaria.