Message of Greeting: Ilse Aigner, MP

Dear users,

Thank you for your interest in the BayernHistoryApp, the go-to interactive app for digital local history and history education in Bavaria. With just a few clicks, you can easily explore and experience Bavaria’s cultural and historical variety on this platform. A travel guide, local history guide, as well as an audio guide that fits in your pocket—what a great idea!

Bavaria has a long and rich history. The BayernHistoryApp allows users to dig deeply into the local and regional history of our home region. Local residents provide authentic insights and guide users on a journey through Bavaria’s historical and cultural heritage. The variety of topics is impressive: from inns and breweries to churches and monasteries, train stations, art, music, crafts, and the landscapes. Different formats, such as authentic eyewitness accounts, interactive tours, and scholarly articles, present the content in a diverse and engaging way, appealing to users of all ages. There’s something for everyone in the BayernHistoryApp!

Especially in times of disinformation and fake news, engaging with our history is essential for fostering democracy and protecting our democratic values. Our democratic history is a journey of progress—not a linear one—and it is not without serious setbacks. Those who engage with our history can contextualize information, critically examine facts, and recognize connections. This makes us strong and resilient as a society!

The BayernHistoryApp also places a special focus on Jewish life in Bavaria. In a dedicated section, the app explores the various aspects of Jewish life in Bavaria. This fosters understanding and visibility that sends a powerful message: Jewish life is an indispensable part of the Free State’s cultural identity—in our past, present, and future!

With its “Sites of Remembrance” section, the BayernHistoryApp has created a digital platform that brings together various participants in remembrance work in Bavaria. Step by step, the app aims to use modern technology to make concentration camp memorials and sites of remembrance of National Socialism in Bavaria accessible in a digital format. In this way, too, the BayernHistoryApp promotes historical understanding and creates a new, participatory form of remembrance work.

Dear users, as you can see, the BayernHistoryApp has a lot to offer. And it continues to grow! I would like to thank all contributors and supporters, especially the founders from the „dieKunstBauStelle” association, local historians, city and municipal archives, teachers, and students for their impressive dedication to digital history education.

Enjoy exploring!

Best wishes,

Ilse Aigner, MP President of the Bavarian State Parliament