Germany’s States and Regional Food Specialties

Explore the history, culture and food of Germany’s Sixteen States

Germany, as a nation, is actually very young. Prior to the national unification in 1871, Germany was divided into many kingdoms and principalities, each with distinct customs and even distinct dialects. Explore the sixteen Bundesländer (states) that today make up the Federal Republic of Germany.

Arms of Baden Württemberg

Baden Württemberg

…home to a quarter of all the Michelin rated restaurants in Germany

Arms of Bavaria

Bavaria

…North and South have different language patterns, dialects, attitudes and foods

Arms of Berlin

Berlin

…Germany’s capital city, known for lively arts and nightlife, and modern lifestyle

Arms of Brandenburg

Brandenburg

…’Prussia’s vegetable garden’, replete with castles, nature preserves, and the asparagus road

Arms of Bremen

Bremen

…Hanseatic port rich with Grimm’s fairytales, coffee roasters, beer, chocolates

Arms of Hamburg

Hamburg

…Hanseatic port, surrounded by apple orchards and organic farms

Arms of Hesse

Hesse

…Weinfests, Rhine Hesse wines, apple cider, mineral water

Arms of Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony

…from the Dutch border to Lunenberg Heath and the North Sea Islands

Arms of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

…a major industrial area, it’s also a prominent agricultural state

Arms of North Rhine Westphalia

North Rhine Westphalia

…a major industrial region, it’s also a prominent agricultural region, especially in the north

Rhineland Palatinate

Rhineland Palatinate

…two thirds of the wine produced in Germany come from this region

Arms of Saarland

Saarland

…coal mining region bordering the Alsatian region of France

Arms of Saxony

Saxony

…Dresden and Leipzig, ‘Land of Christmas’, ‘Florence on the Elbe’

Saxony Anhalt

Saxony Anhalt

…birthplace of Martin Luther and the Bauhaus — think Harz mountain witches in the north and the Saar wine region in the South

Arms of Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein

…rich in produce from land and sea, international trading brought almonds for marzipan

Arms of Thuringia

Thuringia

…the spectacular landscapes of the ‘green heart of Germany’ were home to Luther, Bach, Goethe and Schiller

Stay Connected!

Sign up for the German Foods newsletter

Get the latest recipes, news and special offers...

You have Successfully Subscribed!