Bavarian State Association for Homeland Preservation
A Munich-based registered association dedicated to preserving and promoting Bavaria's cultural heritage, traditions, and regional identity.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
The Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatpflege e.V. (Bavarian State Association for Homeland Preservation) is a registered association based in Munich, Germany, dedicated to the care and promotion of Heimatpflege — the preservation and cultivation of regional culture and heritage — across Bavaria. Founded in 1902 as the Verein für Volkskunst und Volkskunde, it has operated under its current name since 1945. The association sees itself as an umbrella organization for both professional and volunteer heritage caretakers in Bavaria, and it has been entrusted by the Free State of Bavaria with the constitutional mandate to protect cultural tradition (Article 141 of the Bavarian Constitution). The association's work spans a wide range of cultural fields: building culture and monument preservation, landscape conservation, customs and traditions, language care and language culture, folk theater, traditional costumes, regional historical research, folk music, folk song, and folk dance. It organizes cultural excursions, podium discussions, conferences, exhibitions, and music courses. With roughly 8,000 members, it is led by a nine-member board and supported by an advisory council of more than 40 members. The association maintains a head office in Munich and branch offices in Krumbach, Burglengenfeld, Bad Berneck, and Eibelstadt, employing around 20 full-time staff. The Landesverein is also active as a publisher and program initiator. It publishes the magazine Schönere Heimat (formerly Volkskunst und Volkskunde and Bayerischer Heimatschutz) and the professional journal Der Bauberater. It runs the pilot funding program Heimat.Engagiert in cooperation with the Bavarian State Ministry of Finance and for Heimat. It awards the Medal for Exemplary Heimatpflege (first awarded in 1977), the negative prize Abriss des Jahres (since 2023), and the Dieter-Wieland-Preis for outstanding journalism in heritage and monument preservation (since 2023). In November 2025, it received the Environmental Prize of the Bavarian State Foundation for a traveling exhibition on eco-acoustics titled "Land schafft Klang." The association's history reflects the broader Heimatschutz (homeland protection) movement that emerged during the German Empire. From its founding in 1902 through its renaming as Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatschutz in 1916, its reorganization as Bayerischer Heimatbund in 1938, and its reestablishment in 1945 under its current name, it has continuously adapted to changing political and cultural contexts. Today it remains a central institution in Bavaria's cultural landscape, bridging state cultural policy, volunteer engagement, and professional heritage work.
History
The Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatpflege has its roots in the Heimatschutz movement that emerged during the German Empire. It was founded in 1902 in Munich as the "Verein für Volkskunst und Volkskunde" (Association for Folk Art and Folklore). From the beginning, it also pursued goals in building and monument preservation. Prof. August Thiersch, an architect, was elected as its first chairman, serving until 1905. In 1903, the association founded the journal "Volkskunst und Volkskunde," which was renamed "Bayerischer Heimatschutz" in 1912. In 1916, the association was renamed "Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatschutz – Verein für Volkskunst und Volkskunde." In 1913, it moved into the so-called "Riederer-Haus," a late-classicist residential building erected in 1823 at what was then Schwabinger Landstraße, today Ludwigstraße 23 (rear building). In 1926, Prof. Dr. Philipp Maria Halm, privy councilor and general director of the Bavarian National Museum, was elected first chairman, serving until 1933. In 1930, the journal "Der Bauberater" was founded. In 1938, the association was renamed "Bayerischer Heimatbund" and a State Office for Folklore in Bavaria was established under its roof. After the end of World War II, the association was banned by the general ban on associations. In 1945, it was re-founded as the Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatpflege, the name it still uses today. The association achieved that the organization of Heimatpflege in the Swabian administrative district was adopted by the other Bavarian administrative districts. Today, alongside seven full-time district heritage caretakers, around 290 volunteer heritage caretakers are active in the rural districts, large district towns, and independent cities. The association provides professional support for volunteer district, city, and local heritage caretakers through regular working and training conferences, courses, and the provision of information and working materials. The Denkmalnetz Bayern, an open alliance of interested citizens with the common goal of "preserving monuments and traditional townscapes in Bavaria," is organizationally based at the association and has the right to file collective lawsuits. The association was a co-founder of Denkmalnetz Bayern in 2011. Renamings of the association: 1902 Verein für Volkskunst und Volkskunde 1904 Bayerischer Verein für Volkskunst und Volkskunde 1916 Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatschutz – Verein für Volkskunst und Volkskunde 1938 Bayerischer Heimatbund 1938 Bayerischer Heimatbund – Landesstelle für Volkskunde 1945 Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatpflege Awards: In the European Year of Monument Protection 1975, the association decided to create an award for citizens or citizens' associations that have made exemplary achievements in the field of Heimatpflege. In 1977, the Medal for Exemplary Heimatpflege was awarded for the first time; it was designed by Robert Lippl. The prize is awarded at irregular intervals. Since 2023, the association annually awards the negative prize Abriss des Jahres to draw attention to the loss of building culture and the waste of resources caused by unnecessary demolition of old and identity-forming buildings. Since 2023, it also annually awards the Dieter-Wieland-Preis, honoring outstanding journalism in heritage and monument preservation. The first prize is endowed with 10,000 euros, the second prizes since 2025 with 5,000 euros each. Winners of the Dieter-Wieland-Preis: 2023: Hans Kratzer (Süddeutsche Zeitung); 2024: Josef Winkler (MUH); 2025: Hannes Hintermeier (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung).
- 2025
Received Environmental Prize of the Bavarian State Foundation for "Land schafft Klang" exhibition.
- 2024
Verfassungsviertelstunde introduced in Bavarian schools on proposal of Heinrich and Neumaier.
- 2023
First awarding of Abriss des Jahres and Dieter-Wieland-Preis.
- 2021
Rudolf Neumaier becomes managing director; Johann Böhm named honorary chairman.
- 2020
Olaf Heinrich becomes chairman in July.
- 2011
Co-founder of Denkmalnetz Bayern.
- 1977
First awarding of the Medal for Exemplary Heimatpflege.
- 1975
Decision to create an award for exemplary Heimatpflege.
- 1945
Re-founded as "Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatpflege".
- 1938
Renamed "Bayerischer Heimatbund"; State Office for Folklore in Bavaria established.
Products and positioning
Umbrella organization for heritage caretakers in Bavaria, bridging state cultural policy, volunteer engagement, and professional heritage work.
Schönere Heimat
Der Bauberater
Heimat.Engagiert
Marketing campaigns
- Heimat.Engagiert
- Land schafft Klang
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