Hessisch Lichtenau (German pronunciation: [ˈhɛsɪʃ ˈlɪçtənaʊ̯] ⓘ is a small town in the Werra-Meißner-Kreis in eastern Hesse, Germany.

Hessisch Lichtenau borders in the northeast on Berkatal and Großalmerode, in the east on Meißner and Waldkappel, in the south on Spangenberg, in the west on Söhrewald and in the northwest on Helsa.

Hessisch Lichtenau’s Stadtteile are Friedrichsbrück, Fürstenhagen, Hausen, Hirschhagen, Hollstein, Hopfelde, Küchen, Quentel, Reichenbach, Retterode, Velmeden, Walburg and Wickersrode The municipal election held on 26 March 2006 yielded the following results: Heading the town council is Franz-Josef Lewe.

In the constituent community of Reichenbach: Kirche der Deutschordensballei Hessen (“Church of the Teutonic Knights’ Bailiwick of Hesse”), formerly the Reichenbach Monastery Church, the Teutonic Knights’ oldest establishment in Germany.

Near the constituent community of Reichenbach is found the aviation beacon LAU on an international air corridor.