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| DEUTSCHLAND | GERMANY |
| Bundesland: Freistaat Bayern | Bavaria |
| Regierungsbezirk: Oberfranken | |
| Landkreis: Bayreuth |
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Fichtelberg is situated at an elevation of 685 m on the southeastern slopes of the Ochsenkopf, the second highest summit of the Fichtelgebirge (Fichtel Mountains), about 18 km east-northeast of the district town Bayreuth. The municipality has a population of about 1,800 (2025). Fichtelberg is a state-recognised climatic spa.
Archeological finds show human presence already in the Neolithic period. However, permanent settlements cannot be ascertained before the 17th century. Mining for iron ore seems to have started in the late 15th century and became the basis of iron industry. The settlement was first mentioned in a document in 1508 as Viechtlperg. From 1808 onwards, the Fichtelberg mining office, as a border region, changed hands several times between the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Margraviate of Bayreuth. Ore mining and smelting were the main economic activities in Fichtelberg, but with the onset of industrialisation, ore mining became increasingly unprofitable. Operations ceased in 1859 and in 1862 the mining office was closed. After the World War II, it was mainly glassblowers from Gablonz (Jablonec nad Nisou) who settled in the area, helping Fichtelberg to flourish once again. It has now largely lost its industrial significance; thanks to its picturesque location on the south-western slope of the Ochsenkopf, it thrives mainly on tourism and is a winter sports centre.
The Catholic 
parish church Mariä Verkündigung (Annunciation of Our Lady) [left, no. 0000:
background centre] was built in 1708–1711. Te high altar dates from that time, the remaining interior decorations were added
later in Baroque revival style.
[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichtelberg_(Oberfranken);
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari%C3%A4_Verk%C3%BCndigung_(Fichtelberg)]
![[scale]](lineal.jpg)