Beschreibung:
Does a border always have to be visible in order to speak of a border area or a border region? The working definitions of border areas and border regions presented in the following article also refer to other approaches. To illustrate this, I analyse the Kahlgrund as a border area neighbouring Franconia and the Low Countries. Additionally, I will analyse two other regions in a comparative but asymmetrical approach. Depending on the example, the temporal focus ranges from the late Middle Ages to about 1650. Initially, Franconia is presented as a region with border areas, but by no means as a border region, on the basis of different boundaries. In a further section, the Kahlgrund is presented as a so-called interface area – without a visible border. Finally, the situation of the Low Countries as a border region is examined.