Münchberg

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MÜNCHBERG

State : Bayern
District (Kreis) : Hof (until 1973 Münchberg)
Additions : 1958 Meierhof (partly); 1972 Poppenreuth, Sauerhof, Straas; 1978 Markersreuth (partly), Mechlenreuth, Meierhof (2nd part)

Official blazon

Gespalten; vorne geviert von Schwarz und Silber, in den silbernen Vierteln der schwarze Großbuchstabe M; hinten in Silber auf grünem Dreiberg stehend ein schwarz gekleideter barhäuptiger Mönch mit silbernem Rosenkranz in den Händen.

Origin/meaning

Münchberg received city rights in 1364 from the Counts of Sparneck, but became in 1384 a possession of the Hohenzollern family. The oldest seal dates from the same time, which shows a quartered shield; in the first and fourth quarter the letter M, and in the second and third quarter the black and silver quartered shield of the Hohenzollern family. In 1562 a new seal was made, which showed the above arms. The right half now showed a simplified version of the older arms, with only the quartered Hohenzollern arms and the town's initial. The left half now shows a canting composition, a monk (Mönch) on a mountain (Berg). The arms did not change since and were officially granted on December 13, 1928.

In the 17^th century the arms of the Hohenzollern were not used. The arms thus showed only a monk on a mountain. The colours were also different, showing the monk on a blue field and with a silver mountain.