Friedewald (Hesse)

Friedewald
Coat of arms
Friedewald
Location of Friedewald within Hersfeld-Rotenburg district
Coordinates: 50°53′N 09°52′E / 50.883°N 9.867°E / 50.883; 9.867Coordinates: 50°53′N 09°52′E / 50.883°N 9.867°E / 50.883; 9.867
Country	Germany
State	Hesse
Admin. region	Kassel
District	Hersfeld-Rotenburg
Government
• Mayor	Martin Gröll (Ind.)
Area
• Total	39.65 km2 (15.31 sq mi)
Elevation	388 m (1,273 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	2,420
• Density	61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	36289
Dialling codes	06674
Vehicle registration	HEF
Website	www.gemeinde-friedewald.de

Friedewald is a community in Hersfeld-Rotenburg district in eastern Hesse, Germany, directly east of Bad Hersfeld.

The community lies in the boundary zone between the Kuppen Rhön and Seulingswald ranges. Friedewald lies on the watershed between the Fulda and the Werra, and at the foot of the Dreienberg, which is among the northernmost outliers of the Rhön.

Friedewald borders in the north on the communities of Ronshausen and Wildeck, in the east on the town of Heringen and the community of Philippsthal, in the southeast on the community of Hohenroda, in the south on the community of Schenklengsfeld and in the west on the town of Bad Hersfeld and the community of Ludwigsau (all in Hersfeld-Rotenburg).

Friedewald’s Ortsteile, besides the main centre, also called Friedewald, are Lautenhausen, Hillartshausen and Motzfeld.

The Amt of Friedewald (with market rights and jurisdiction) had its first documentary mention in 1392, as did the community itself in 1430. An abbot’s castle stood here as early as 1312, which as a fief of the Hersfeld Abbey was given over to the Landgraves of Hesse. The castle is believed to have been built to watch over the trade road called Kurze Hessen, which ran from Frankfurt to Leipzig.