Small town in the province of Bayern (also known as Bavaria) in southern Germany. Population: 15,000. It is best known for being the home of the first Goethe Institut, a school dedicated to the preservation and propagation of the German language and culture. It is also known as the temporary home of painter Wassily Kandinsky, and was a favorite locale of the Blaue Reiter group. Nowadays, it remains a popular vacation spot for well-to-do Germans due to its proximity to the German Alps.