Webtext Dr Margot Hamm Imperial Majesty

Forests, Mountains and Royal Dreams – the roots of the Myth of

Mountains, forests, magnificent castles – why is this image of Bavaria so universally recognisable? In her exhibition, Dr Hamm gives the explanation.

It’s dark. All you can see are the silhouettes of thousands of trees. The further the path leads, the brighter it gets. Then, suddenly, a vast mountain panorama opens up before the eyes of the fascinated visitors. In the exhibition “Forests, Mountains and Royal Dreams – the Myth of Bavaria”, visitors to Abbey find themselves delving deep into Bavarian history. To mark the centenary of the Free State Bavaria, project manager Dr Margot Hamm and her team are using this important state exhibition to explore the reasons why the familiar image of Bavaria is known around the world. Visitors are invited to embark on a fascinating journey back in time.

Forged by human hand: From primeval terrain to cultural landscape

Dr Hamm leads visitors into the domain of centuries long ago – and deep into Bavaria’s natural past. The origins of the Free State Bavaria date back to the year 1918, but the magnificent cultural landscape was formed long before – from primeval terrain. People gradually settled in this region; first the Celts, then the Romans. They dug fields and built roads. “They learned to tame the primitive forest – which used to be an extremely hostile environment,” explains Dr Hamm. Through hard work and with plenty of respect for nature, people finally managed to transform that primitive landscape and to leave a permanent mark on it – creating the image that has given Bavaria its familiar identity around the world today.

The concept of Bavaria’s picturesque landscape spread around the globe from the year 1800 onwards, in part as a result of the work of the artists’ colonies located in the foothills of the Bavarian . In hundreds of pictures, they captured the sumptuous mountains, lakes and forests, thus disseminating the Myth of Bavaria throughout the world. In 1858 King Maximilian II travelled on foot from Lindau to Berchtesgaden. He wanted to get to know the landscape and its people. The resulting publication, “Bavaria. Landes – und Volkskunde von Bayern” (“The country and folklore of Bavaria”), described local costumes, dances, music and the life of people in Bavaria. Likewise, regional drama groups such as the Schlierseer Bauerntheater, novels by Ludwig Ganghofer and Ludwig Thoma, and the rustic “beer palaces” that sprang up in Paris or New York all carried the Myth of Bavaria with its characteristic hallmark of mountain scenery.

Even today, the people of Bavaria know how to promote the image of their homeland beyond state borders: In the lively taverns and beer gardens, they live and celebrate their typical Bavarian way of life – relaxed, hospitable and full of “Gemütlichkeit”.

The Myth of Bavaria in Ettal Abbey

With professionally created backdrops, impressive landscape panoramas and Bavarian literature, Dr Hamm leads visitors through “Forests, Mountains and Royal Dreams”. They wander through dark forests and over mountains until they arrive at a pavilion measuring almost five metres in height and 20 metres wide. This gives them a glimpse into the imagination of the Fairy Tale King, Ludwig II. “They can enter into the imagination of King Ludwig II and experience his dreams for themselves,” explains the enthusiastic expert. Her fascination is not unfounded: The castles of Ludwig II are extraordinary. Sometimes dreamy and at other times surprisingly modern, they continue to play a major role in the image of the Free State today.

Leaving the rooms of Ettal Abbey, the exhibition route leads out into an impressive garden with aromatic herbs, various shrubs and an alpine section. There guests can marvel at the imposing mountain forests and the picturesque alpine meadows of the Free State. “It creates the perfect connection: What is shown in an abstract sense in the interior rooms is brought to life in the garden – with views of the Bavarian landscape in all its glory.”

Every single station of the exhibition conveys a piece of history. “And all the stations together give a sense of the Myth of Bavaria,” says Dr Hamm, promising a rich and varied time travel experience full of sensory impressions. “We lead our guests from darkness to light, from noise to peace, from contemplation to astonishment. All these atmospheres are incorporated, so that hopefully at the end of their visit people will say: “Wow, that was fantastic!”

Personal tip from Dr Margot Hamm:

I recommend a visit to Linderhof Castle, which is very close to Ettal Abbey – preferably using the joint ticket for the Regional Exhibition and the Castle – and naturally a detour to see Neuschwanstein Castle. The towns of Mittenwald, Garmisch- Partenkirchen and Murnau are very lovely, as they have all retained parts of their ancient townscapes. We also have many cultural treasures and wonderful walking trails, such as the circuit round Ettal Abbey. You should not miss a visit to – indeed, there’s such a lot that you should see that you will need at least 14 days to do it justice (laughs).

State Exhibition opening hours: Daily from 9am to 6pm (3 May to 4 November 2018)

About BAVARIA TOURISM

BAVARIA TOURISM (by.TM) is the official marketing company for the Bavarian tourism and leisure industry. Under the umbrella brand Bayern®, the company offers the entire range of tourism services in the State of Bavaria. All marketing activities run under the umbrella brand claim “Bavaria – traditionally different”. The main focus here is the communication of authentic stories about Bavarian personalities and their way of life. They show Bavaria in a traditional yet modern light, and embody the distinctiveness of Bavaria as a travel destination. All stories can be found on the main website www.bayern.by/traditionally-different in the style of a travel magazine, and are communicated through all other channels of by.TM. The sub-brands WellVital® in Bavaria, Kinderland® Bavaria and the hotel brand Sightsleeping® also guarantee target-group-specific offers for connoisseurs, families and culture lovers. Through its own initiatives such as “Time for Tranquility”, “Filmkulisse Bayern” (film set Bavaria) and “Aristocratic Bavaria”, it brings tourism together with other industries to create productive partnerships. In this way, the marketing company can work with all the Bavarian tourism partners, offering guests from all over the world a range of attractive and varied travel ideas. With 37.3 million guests and 94.4 million overnight stays in the year 2017, Bavaria was able to reinforce its leading position as the number one travel destination in . More information about the variety of destinations in Bavaria and about BAVARIA TOURISM can be found at: www.bavaria.by.

For more press information:

Stephanie Scheuermann Nicole Berberich Head of Public Relations Junior Manager Public Relations BAVARIA TOURISM BAVARIA TOURISM Tel.: (+49) (0)89/21 23 97 43 Tel.: (+49) (0)89/21 23 97 27 Fax: (+49) (0)89/21 23 97 99 Fax: (+49) (0)89/21 23 97 99 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

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