Neighbouring districts are (from the south clockwise) Tirschenreuth, Bayreuth, Hof, and to the east the Czech Republic.

The district is located in the Fichtel Mountains, with the highest elevation being the 1,051 m high Schneeberg.

In the Bavarian communal reforms of 1972 the district was merged with the previously district-free cities Marktredwitz and Selb, as well as parts of the dissolved district of Rehau.

The coat of arms shows an eagle in the bottom left as the symbol of the city Marktredwitz, and a deer antler to the right as the symbol of the city Selb.

In the top are the black-and-white symbol of the Zollern dynasty.