Holidays in Bavaria - More than Beer and Leather Trousers!

Bavaria in southern Germany has a reputation for offering the archetypal image of German holidays - great beer and men dressed in fancy leather trousers! But Germany's most popular holiday destination has a great deal more to offer than this.

Bavaria's capital Munich is well known as the gateway to the Alps - here you are barely an hour's train ride away from the highest mountain in Germany - the Zugspitze - and before you reach these stunning Alpine scenes, there are beautiful forests and lakes, including the fine spa town of Tegernesee. Thus already, we find stunning alpine landscapes, crystal clear lakes, lush forests, relaxing spa resorts and historic towns.

Further north, we can pick out Nuremberg as offering a city steeped in medieval history, being the birthplace of Renaissance artist and engraver Albrecht Durer and a fine example of medieval City-state architecture.

Another great city is Regensburg belongs which is one of an exclusive group now nominated by UNESCO as Mankind's World Heritage. Regensburg's Old Town is a gem, with almost a thousand listed buildings are banded together in a small area. A walk through the narrow streets here, is a walk through history spanning thousands of years, ranging from Roman times, the imperial German emperors and kings and onwards to a the medieval splendour of the Stone Bridge.

More charm and delight is on offer at Füussen. Set in the fabulous surroundings of the Allgäu Alps and nearby to King Ludwig's fairytale castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. This is an ideal place for a romantic getaway. Fussen has 700 years of history, and has typical Bavarian charm of quaint cobbled streets and a pretty medieval centre framed in the distance by the ever-present Alps.

But modern amenities also prevail, of course. For the sports enthusiast, the holiday resort of Oberstaufen offers perfect conditions for golf. Three 18-hole courses offer lessons for beginners and plenty of sport for professional expert golfers. Here again in the Allgau Alps, a guest card gives free cable-car rides, use of the adventure swimming pool Aquaria, entrance to museums and much else besides.

In spring, summer and autumn, 300 kilometres of hiking paths, and there is a wide range of activities from paragliding to surfing on the nearby Alpsee, from tennis to mountain biking and from canoeing to horse riding.

Again for outdoor enthusiasts, Ruhpolding is superb for anyone who loves nature and is looking for active recreation. Here in Upper Bavaria's mountains, Ruhpolding has stunning scenic beauty and plenty of Bavarian hospitality. During the summer months in Ruhpolding, the crystal clear alpine lakes provide a cool, refreshing place to take a dip and the miles of cycling trails and walking paths offer plenty of opportunities to explore the surrounding vistas.

You can take the Traun stream through the broad valley all the way up to the peaks of the Bavarian Alps, and also enjoy a cable-car ride to the summit of the Rauschberg. Or it is possible to take the chair-lift up the Unternberg. In either case, the trip is repaid with superb vistas, and the possibility to join mountain nature trails where friendly mountain inns dotted along these routes allow for plenty of refreshment courtesy of Bavarian specialities.

With spectacular scenery, a great infrastructure for outdoor leisure pursuits, medieval towns and villages, vineyards and farms and a proud history, Bavaria is really much more than its famous beer and lederhosen!

With cheap flights from the UK and other European cities, Bavaria is accessible for short weekend trips and longer stay, multi-centre holidays. It is region which really repays a second look for the holidaymaker looking for plenty of outdoor leisure and sporting activity as well as cultural exploration.