Lichtenfels District

Lichtenfels District is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Coburg, Kronach, Kulmbach, Bayreuth and Bamberg.

History
In medieval times the Main river was a border between the two main states possessing lands in this territory: the bishopric of Bamberg, and the county of Andechs. The castle of Lichtenfels was property of Andechs, which later fell under the duchy of Merania. In 1248 the dukes of Merania became extinct, and the entire region was annexed by the clerical state of Bamberg. In 1803 the clerical states of Germany were dissolved, and the bishopric of Bamberg fell to Bavaria.

The district was established in 1972 by merging the former districts of Lichtenfels and Staffelstein.

Geography
The district is situated on both banks of the Main River in the hills of the Frankish Alb (Fränkische Alb).