The Tradition of Tracht

Bavaria is one of the exceptional places in the world that prides itself on its traditions. There is a reason that beer and lederhosen resonate worldwide as symbols of the German state: these are proudly part of the traditional image, and reality, that Bavaria is keen on emulating.

Get your fill of Bavarian traditions by visiting Munich—regardless of where you stay, whether it is the Hilton Munich Park or simply a hostel—you will have plenty of chances to experience and learn about them.

Start off with a trip to the Bavarian National Museum to first see some examples of local folk art and culture as well as some fine examples of traditional costume. After that, try on the traditional dress for yourself—there are many shops throughout the city and is the clothing known generally as ‘Tracht’. These are the costumes consisting of lederhosen for men and dirndls for women; interestingly, the male lederhosen are not formalized traditional dress (though they can be made that way) but rather sturdy work wear that has and continues to be worn by men for hard labour. The short leather pants are ideally suited to physical exertion and are more emblematic of the Bavarian working class. Dirndls are based on Alpine peasant wear of the 19th century. While they are typically worn nowadays for more costumed purposes, they are still worn in some regions by older women in more rural areas. Dirndls can be quite costly depending on the type fabrics used to make the skirting and the tailoring to make the garment. Tracht is often worn to events such as weddings and festivals but is also a major part of producing the Bavarian ‘image’ at tourist sites, Oktoberfest, and traditional-style restaurants.

After finding the dirndl or lederhosen that suits you best, take you finds back to your central hotel, such as Hilton Munich City, and try them on. Experience a little Bavarian tradition for yourself—it might even make everything taste, smell, and feel even more authentic!