BIRKENFELD

'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 1816-1937 Birkenfeld was capital of the ''Principalty of Birkenfeld'' which was part of the grand-duchy of Oldenburg. Therefore Birkenfeld is now centre of the district though Idar-Oberstein is bigger.
Birkenfeld is the seat of the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' ("collective municipality") Birkenfeld.