Rhön-Grabfeld is a Landkreis (district) in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the southeast and clockwise) the districts of Hassberge, Schweinfurt and Bad Kissingen, and the states of Hesse (district Fulda) and Thuringia (districts Schmalkalden-Meiningen and Hildburghausen).

Rhön-Grabfeld
Flag of Rhön-Grabfeld
Coat of arms of Rhön-Grabfeld
Map
CountryGermany
StateBavaria
Adm. regionLower Franconia
CapitalBad Neustadt
Government
 • District admin.Thomas Habermann (CSU)
Area
 • Total
1,022 km2 (395 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2023)[1]
 • Total
80,544
 • Density79/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registrationNES, MET
Websitewww.rhoen-grabfeld.de

History

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In medieval times the region was a part of the Bishopric of Würzburg. When the clerical states of Germany were dissolved in 1803, it fell to Bavaria. The district of Rhön-Grabfeld was established in 1972, when the former districts of Bad Neustadt, Königshofen and Mellrichstadt were merged.

Geography

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The district consists of two distinct areas: The eastern parts of the Rhön mountains and the Bavarian portion of Grabfeld.

Grabfeld is a fertile region south of the Rhön mountains. Literally it means "digfield". According to local legend a queen once lost her beloved ring in the Grabfeld. She ordered her servants to dig up the whole area. When the ring was found, she was relieved and ordered a royal estate to be built where it was found. Later this estate became the city of Königshofen.

The source of the Fränkische Saale is located in the district. The river runs through the district from north to south.

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms displays:

  • a crown representing the Grabfeld legend
  • a wavy line representing the Saale River
  • three summit crosses representing the mountains of the Rhön

Towns and municipalities

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 FladungenHausenBundorfer ForstBurgwallbacher ForstForst Schmalwasser-NordForst Schmalwasser-SüdMellrichstadter ForstSteinacher Forst rechts der SaaleSulzfelder ForstWeiglerWillmarsNordheim vor der RhönSondheim vor der RhönStockheimMellrichstadtMellrichstadtOstheimOberelsbachBischofsheim in der RhönBischofsheim in der RhönSandbergSchönau an der BrendHohenrothNiederlauerBurglauerStrahlungenSalzBastheimOberstreuUnslebenWollbachBad Neustadt an der SaaleHeustreuHendungenHollstadtRödelmaierWülfershausenHöchheimSaal an der SaaleAubstadtHerbstadtTrappstadtGroßeibstadtGroßbardorfSulzfeldBad KönigshofenBad KönigshofenSulzdorf an der LederheckeThuringiaHaßberge (district)Schweinfurt (district)HesseBad Kissingen (district)
Clickable map of towns and municipalities in the district
Towns Municipalities
  1. Bad Königshofen
  2. Bad Neustadt
  3. Bischofsheim in der Rhön
  4. Fladungen
  5. Mellrichstadt
  6. Ostheim
  1. Aubstadt
  2. Bastheim
  3. Burglauer
  4. Großbardorf
  5. Großeibstadt
  6. Hausen
  7. Hendungen
  8. Herbstadt
  9. Heustreu
  10. Höchheim
  11. Hohenroth
  12. Hollstadt
  13. Niederlauer
  14. Nordheim vor der Rhön
  15. Oberelsbach
  1. Oberstreu
  2. Rödelmaier
  3. Saal an der Saale
  4. Salz
  5. Sandberg
  6. Schönau an der Brend
  7. Sondheim
  8. Stockheim
  9. Strahlungen
  10. Sulzdorf
  11. Sulzfeld
  12. Trappstadt
  13. Unsleben
  14. Willmars
  15. Wollbach
  16. Wülfershausen

References

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50°20′N 10°15′E / 50.33°N 10.25°E / 50.33; 10.25