| Birkenfeld | |
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  Birkenfeld
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| Administration | |
| Country | Germany |
|---|---|
| State | Rhineland-Palatinate |
| District | Birkenfeld |
| Municipal assoc. | Birkenfeld |
| Mayor | Peter Nauert (CDU) |
| Basic statistics | |
| Area | 13.58 km2 (5.24 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 410 m (1345 ft) |
| Population | 6,814 (31 December 2006) |
| - Density | 502 /km2 (1,300 /sq mi) |
| Other information | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) |
| Licence plate | BIR |
| Postal code | 55765 |
| Area code | 06782 |
| Website | www.stadt-birkenfeld.de |
Birkenfeld is a municipality, capital of the district Birkenfeld, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated in the Hunsrück, approx. 15 km south-west of Idar-Oberstein.
In the 17–18th century Birkenfeld was capital of the Pfalzgrafschaft Birkenfeld, whose heir Maximilian I Joseph inherited the electorates of Palatinate and Bavaria in 1799 and who became king of Bavaria in 1806. From 1816 to 1937 Birkenfeld was capital of the Principality of Birkenfeld which was part of the grand-duchy of Oldenburg. Therefore Birkenfeld is now the centre of the district though Idar-Oberstein is bigger.
Birkenfeld is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde ("collective municipality") Birkenfeld[1].
Close by lie the ruins of the castle of Birkenfeld, dating from the 14th century, which was once the residence of the counts Palatine of Zweibrücken.
References
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition article Birkenfeld.
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