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Kulmbach (district)
Encyclopedia
Kulmbach is a district in Bavaria
, Germany
. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Kronach
, Hof
, Bayreuth
and Lichtenfels
.
in the city of Kulmbach. In 1135 this castle was first mentioned. The rulers of the castle and the surrounding lands were the counts of Andechs (1135–1248, from 1135 to 1180 Dießen-Andechs, from 1180 to 1248 Andechs-Meranien) and the Thuringian counts of Orlamünde (1260–1340). After the death of the last count of Orlamünde the region fell to the Hohenzollern state.
In 1398 the Hohenzollern state was divided, and in the Franconian area the two states of Ansbach
and Kulmbach were founded. When the Hohenzollern family was awarded the margravate of Brandenburg
, these states were called Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Kulmbach, but not united with Brandenburg proper. In 1603 the castle of Plassenburg was abandoned, and the capital was moved to the city of Bayreuth. The importance of the city of Kulmbach declined hereafter, although the margraves (and sometimes the population of Kulmbach) often used to take shelter on the castle during the years of the Thirty Years' War
.
The last margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (as Brandenburg-Kulmbach was called now) abdicated in 1792 in order to cede his property to his cousin, the king of Prussia
. However, this was a short episode. In 1806 Kulmbach surrendered to Napoleon
, who ordered the razing of Plassenburg castle. In 1810 the region fell to Bavaria and remained so to date.
The district of Kulmbach was founded soon after. The city of Kulmbach did not belong to the district until 1972, when city and district were merged.
According to a tour guide in Kulmbach, the castle Plassenburg was used by Adolf Hitler as the headquarters for his Highway Department. The highway "A9" was built under Nazi rule, connecting Berlin and Munich, and running past Kulmbach.
After the Second World War, the castle was used as a camp for German prisoners of war under the US military control. One of those stayed employed later as a keeper of natural and biological resources of the castle.
The city is also known for a brewery, producing the strongest beer (11.8% alcohol) available in Germany.
. The two headstreams of the Main River
, White Main and Red Main, meet in the centre of the district.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Kronach
Kronach (district)
Kronach is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Hof, Kulmbach, Lichtenfels and Coburg, and the state of Thuringia .-History:...
, Hof
Hof (district)
Hof is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Wunsiedel, Bayreuth, Kulmbach and Kronach, the states of Thuringia and Saxony , and the Czech Republic...
, Bayreuth
Bayreuth (district)
Bayreuth is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It surrounds, but does not include the city of Bayreuth. The district is bounded by the districts of Kulmbach, Hof, Wunsiedel, Tirschenreuth, Neustadt/Waldnaab, Amberg-Sulzbach, Nürnberger Land, Forchheim and Bamberg.-History:The district was established...
and Lichtenfels
Lichtenfels (district)
Lichtenfels is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Coburg, Kronach, Kulmbach, Bayreuth and Bamberg.-History:...
.
History
The historical centre of the region was the castle of PlassenburgPlassenburg
Plassenburg is a castle in the city of Kulmbach in Bavaria. It is one of the most impressive castles in Germany and a symbol of the city. It was first mentioned in 1135. The Plassenberg family were ministerial of the counts of Andechs and used as their seat the Plassenburg...
in the city of Kulmbach. In 1135 this castle was first mentioned. The rulers of the castle and the surrounding lands were the counts of Andechs (1135–1248, from 1135 to 1180 Dießen-Andechs, from 1180 to 1248 Andechs-Meranien) and the Thuringian counts of Orlamünde (1260–1340). After the death of the last count of Orlamünde the region fell to the Hohenzollern state.
In 1398 the Hohenzollern state was divided, and in the Franconian area the two states of Ansbach
Ansbach
Ansbach, originally Onolzbach, is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Ansbach is situated southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the Fränkische Rezat, a tributary of the Main river. As of 2004, its population was 40,723.Ansbach...
and Kulmbach were founded. When the Hohenzollern family was awarded the margravate of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, these states were called Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Kulmbach, but not united with Brandenburg proper. In 1603 the castle of Plassenburg was abandoned, and the capital was moved to the city of Bayreuth. The importance of the city of Kulmbach declined hereafter, although the margraves (and sometimes the population of Kulmbach) often used to take shelter on the castle during the years of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
The last margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (as Brandenburg-Kulmbach was called now) abdicated in 1792 in order to cede his property to his cousin, the king of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. However, this was a short episode. In 1806 Kulmbach surrendered to Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, who ordered the razing of Plassenburg castle. In 1810 the region fell to Bavaria and remained so to date.
The district of Kulmbach was founded soon after. The city of Kulmbach did not belong to the district until 1972, when city and district were merged.
According to a tour guide in Kulmbach, the castle Plassenburg was used by Adolf Hitler as the headquarters for his Highway Department. The highway "A9" was built under Nazi rule, connecting Berlin and Munich, and running past Kulmbach.
After the Second World War, the castle was used as a camp for German prisoners of war under the US military control. One of those stayed employed later as a keeper of natural and biological resources of the castle.
The city is also known for a brewery, producing the strongest beer (11.8% alcohol) available in Germany.
Geography
The district, surrounding the ancient city of Kulmbach, is located on the southern edge of Franconian Forest (Frankenwald) and FichtelgebirgeFichtelgebirge
The Fichtelgebirge is a mountain range in northeastern Bavaria, Germany. It extends from the valley of the Red Main River to the Czech border, a few foothills spilling over into the Czech Republic. It continues in a northeastern direction as the Ore Mountains, and in a southeastern direction as...
. The two headstreams of the Main River
Main river
Main rivers are a statutory type of watercourse in England and Wales, usually larger streams and rivers, but also include some smaller watercourses. A main river is defined as a watercourse marked as such on a main river map, and can include any structure or appliance for controlling or regulating...
, White Main and Red Main, meet in the centre of the district.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms displays:
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Towns and municipalities
| Towns | Municipalities | |
|---|---|---|
|
Grafengehaig Grafengehaig is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany.It is a part of the Franconian Forest nature park.-City arrangement:Grafengehaig is arranged in the following boroughs:... Guttenberg, Bavaria Guttenberg is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany. The town is closely tied to the aristocratic family by the same name, the House of Guttenberg, which owns most of the land in the area... Harsdorf Harsdorf is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany.-City arrangement:Harsdorf is arranged in the following boroughs:... Himmelkron Himmelkron is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany.-City arrangement:Himmelkron is arranged in the following boroughs:* Gössenreuth* Himmelkron* Lanzendorf... Kasendorf Kasendorf is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany.-City arrangement:Kasendorf is arranged in the following boroughs:... Ködnitz Ködnitz is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany.-City arrangement:Ködnitz is arranged in the following boroughs:... Ludwigschorgast Ludwigschorgast is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany.-City arrangement:Ludwigschorgast is arranged in the following boroughs:* Drahtmühle* Erlenmühle* Lindenhof* Ludwigschorgast... Mainleus Mainleus is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany, the site of a post World War II American sector displaced person camp.-City arrangement:Mainleus is arranged in the following boroughs:... Marktleugast Marktleugast is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany.-City arrangement:Marktleugast is arranged in the following boroughs:... Marktschorgast Marktschorgast is a municipality in the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany.-City arrangement:Marktschorgast is arranged in the following boroughs:... |
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External links
- Official website (German)