An emperor in Bavaria – the Bavarian national exhibition in Ingolstadt delves deeper into Napoleonic times

Reformer, powermonger, military commander and warlord – even today, Napoleon is still one of the most prominent and controversial figures in European history. Bavaria is taking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo as an opportunity to take a closer look at the French emperor’s influence on the state. The military museum in Ingolstadt has brought together a multitude of fascinating exhibits to mark the occasion.

The Bavarian national exhibition has been presented at a different location within the state since 1983 and addresses a different aspect every time. This year, the exhibition is moving to the military museum in Ingolstadt. Napoleon and Ingolstadt? This city on the river Danube is known today for its important economic centre for automotive and mechanical engineering. Experts will also know that the German purity law for beer was enacted here in 1516. 

However, Ingolstadt played a particularly important role in Bavaria’s military history, which was the determining criterion for the national exhibition. The Bavarian fortress around Ingolstadt has kept enemies away since the Renaissance period. It was then Napoleon who commanded the fortress to be demolished, however it was rebuilt once again under the rule of King Ludwig I and became the most significant fortress within the state. Today, the fortress’s remains are well-preserved and spread across the whole city, making Germany’s youngest city a unique open air museum. Today, the confines of the New Castle in Ingolstadt where Napoleon once spent the night while moving into the city with the French revolutionary army in tow, have been transformed into a military museum.

Fate and chance – Napoleon’s influence on Bavaria