756 



BAVARIA. 



noted for its university and other literary institutions ; and Hall, for its salt works, with 7,000 

 inhabitants, are the other principal towns. 



This country was originally governed by counts and dukes. In 1S06 it was erected into a 

 kingdom, and formed a part of the Rhenish confederation. The present constitution was es- 

 tablished in 1 SI 9. 



CHAPTER XCIX. KINGDOM OF BAVARIA. 



1 . Boundaries and Population. Bavaria is bounded N. by Hesse, and the Saxon Duchies ; 

 E. and S. by the Austrian empire ; and W. by Wirtemberg and Baden. The circle of the 

 Rhine is separated from the rest of the kingdom, lying on the western side of the Rhine be- 

 tween Hesse, the Prussia province of the lower Rhine, and France. Area, 28,500 square 

 miles ; population, 4,300,000. 



2. Surface and Rivers. In the northeastern part is the mountainous range, called Fichtel- 

 gebirge, or Pine Mountains, which is neither extensive, nor very lofty ; yet it gives rise to riv- 

 ers, which, flowing into the Elbe, the Rhine, and the Danube, find their way to three different 

 and distant seas. The Schneeberg, or Snowy Mountains, 3,500 feet high-, is the highest sum- 

 mit. In the northwest, on the right bank of the Rhine, is the low mountainous ridge of the 

 Spessart. The Danube traverses Bavaria from west to east ; its principal tributaries in this 

 kingdom are the Isar and the Inn from the southwest. The Mayne or Maine rises in the can 

 tre of Bavaria, and flowing northerly and westerly through Baden and Hesse, empties itself into 

 the Rhine, after a course of 250 miles. It is navigal)le to Bamberg. Much of the soil is un- 

 productive from the rugged or marshy character of the surface, and there are extensive bogs 

 and forests. The chmate is mild and healthy. 



3. Industry. Agriculture is much neglected, but a good deal of wine is produced. Bava- 

 ria is not favorably situated for trade, and its manufactures are not very extensive. In some 

 parts, however, the people are distinguished for mechanical ingenuity ; and philosophical instru- 

 ments, toys, and clocks, besides articles required for domestic consumption, are produced. 



4. Divisions and Towns. The kingdom is divided into eight circles,* bearing the names of 

 the principal rivers which water them. 



Munich (Muenchen) , the capital, is situated on the Isar, and the embellishments and addi- 

 tions, which it has received within the last 20 years, have rendered it one of the handsomest 

 cities in Germany. Its environs are pleasant, being adorned with numerous parks, gardens, and 

 walks, and the streets of the city are in general spacious, with many elegant buildings. The 

 literary institutions, scientific cabinets, collections of art, and the numerous publications issued 

 from its presses, give Munich a high rank among the learned cities of Europe. It is not dis- 

 tinguished for trade or manufactures. The royal palace is one of the largest and most richly 

 furnished royal residences in Europe ; the magnificent glypthothek or sculpture-gallery ; the 

 pinakothek or picture-gallery ; the large and beautiful theatre, called the Odeon ; the New 

 Palace, 680 feet long ; several of the 22 churches, &c. are sumptuous edifices. The univer- 

 sity is one of the most respectable in Germany ; the public hbrary contains 400,000 printed 

 volumes, and 10,000 manuscripts. Population, 80,000. At Schleisheim, in the vicinity, there 

 is a magnificent royal palace, with a rich collection of 1,500 paintings. 



jyuremberg., in German JVurriberg, is an old town, and the antiquated appearance of its 

 streets and buildings reminds the visiter of the Middle Ages, when it was one of the principal 

 commercial and manufacturing cities of Europe, having been the great mart for the trade be- 

 tween Italy and the north of Europe. The inhabitants have been distinguished for their inge- 

 nuity and skill in the fine and useful arts, and philosophical and musical instruments, metallic 

 wares, looking-glasses, toys, &c., are made here. The Nuremberg toys amuse children in all 

 parts of the world ; they are made in great numbers by the peasants of the vicinity, assisted by 

 their children, and sold so cheap as to be exported to all countries. Population, 38,000. 



Augsburg, on the Lech, is a place of some trade and considerable manufactures. The arse- 

 nal, the principal in the kingdom, and its town-hall the finest in Germany, deserve to be men- 

 tioned. Augsburg is interesting in the history of the Reformation as the place in which the 



* Isar, 



I'lipor Danube, 



Lower Danube, 

 Regen, 



Rezat, 



Upper Maiiia^ 



Lower Maine, 

 Rhino. 



