Recreation
The Bavarian landscape provides all kinds of opportunities for
sports and recreation. Hiking and mountaineering are common in the
Alpine foothills, as is hang-gliding. Winter sports are especially
popular, including downhill and cross-country skiing, tobogganing
and Eisstockschiessen, a sport similar to curling. Soccer is also
highly popular, of course. Five Bavarian clubs play regularly in the
first and second leagues.
Two types of sport that are frequently associated with Bavaria are
Steinheben (stone-lifting) and Fingerhakeln (finger wrestling). Both
feature Bavarian as well as German and international championships.
Music and dancing are also extremely popular. Alongside
international dance forms there are also traditional ones such as
the Schuhplattler, where men stamp their feet and slap their ankles
in an effort to impress their female partners!