Country Germany Region seat Ansbach | State Bavaria Capital Ansbach | |
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Website regierung.mittelfranken.bayern.de Population 1.714 million (30 Jun 2008) Destinations Nuremberg, Erlangen, Ansbach, Fürth Clubs and Teams 1. FC Nürnberg, SpVgg Greuther Fürth Points of interest Nuremberg Castle, St Lorenz - Nuremberg, Tauber, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nazi party rally grounds Colleges and Universities University of Erlangen‑Nuremberg, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg, Ansbach University of Applie, Lutheran University of Applie, Academy of Fine Arts - Nure | ||
Middle Franconia (German: Mittelfranken) is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg. The administrative seat is Ansbach but the most populated city is Nuremberg.
Contents
Map of Middle Franconia, Germany
Subdivisions
The region is divided into seven Landkreise (districts) and five Kreisfreie Städte ('district-free cities'):
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 Rezatkreis (Rezat 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 district name of Rezatkreis changed to Upper Franconia.