Rh n-Grabfeld
Rhön-Grabfeld is a 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).
History
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
The district consists of two distinct areas: The eastern parts of the Rhön mountains and the Grabfeld.
Grabfeld is a fertile region below 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 entire region, dozens of hectares. When the ring was found, she was relieved and ordered to build a royal estate at the place. Later this estate became the city of Königshofen.
The source of the Frankish 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
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Towns and municipalities
