Upper Franconia

Coordinates: 49°57′N 11°35′E / 49.950°N 11.583°E / 49.950; 11.583
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Template:Infobox German Regierungsbezirk

Coat of arms of Upper Franconia

Upper Franconia (German: Oberfranken) is a Regierungsbezirk (administrative [Regierungs] region [bezirk]) of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia (See also: Middle Franconia and Lower Franconia), all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern (Bavaria).

With more than 200 independent breweries which brew approximately 1000 different types of beer, Upper Franconia has the worlds highest brewery-density per capita. A special Franconian beer route (Fränkische Brauereistraße) leads along popular breweries.

Geography

The administrative region borders on Thuringia (Thüringen) to the north, Lower Franconia (Unterfranken) to the west, Middle Franconia (Mittelfranken) to the south-west, and Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) to the south-east, Saxony (Sachsen) to the north-east and the Czech Republic to the east.

History

After the founding of the Kingdom of Bavaria the state was totally reorganised and, in 1808, divided into 15 administrative government regions (German: Regierungsbezirke (singular Regierungsbezirk)), in Bavaria called Kreise (singular: Kreis). They were created in the fashion of the French departements, quite even in size and population, and named after their main rivers.

In the following years, due to territorial changes (e. g. loss of Tyrol, addition of the Palatinate), the number of Kreise was reduced to 8. One of these was the Mainkreis (Main District). In 1837 king Ludwig I of Bavaria renamed the Kreise after historical territorial names and tribes of the area. This also involved some border changes or territorial swaps. Thus the name Mainkreis changed to Upper Franconia.

Main sights

Next to the former episcopal residence city of Bamberg, the capital Bayreuth, the former residence city of Coburg as well as the towns of Lichtenfels, Kronach, Gößweinstein and Kulmbach, the Weißenstein Palace, Banz Abbey and the Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, the scenic attractions of the River Main and the low mountain ranges of Fichtel Mountains with the town of Wunsiedel and the Franconian Forest belong to the major tourist attractions. There are also numerous spas like Bad Rodach, Bad Steben, Bad Staffelstein, Bad Berneck and Bad Alexandersbad.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays:
  • the heraldic lion of Bamberg in the upper left
  • the black and white pattern of the Hohenzollern family in the upper center
  • the green crown in bend of the Arms of Saxony in the upper right
  • the Arms of Franconia in the lower half

Administrative subdivisions

Oberfranken is subdivided into nine Landkreise (districts) and four Kreisfreie Städte (district-free or independent cities).

Landkreise:

Kreisfreie Städte:

Historical population

Year Population
1900 608,116
1910 661,862
1939 790,151
1950 1,088,721
1961 1,056,087
1970 1,079,131
1987 1,036,576
2002 1,112,655
2005 1,101,390
2006 1,094,525
2008 1,085,770
2010 1,071,984

See also

References

External links

49°57′N 11°35′E / 49.950°N 11.583°E / 49.950; 11.583

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