Aschaffenburg (IPA: [aˈʃafənbʊʁk]; dialect: [ˈaʒəˌbɜːʃ]) is a large town in northwest Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the right bank of the Main at the foot of the Spessart. The town of Aschaffenburg is not considered part of the district of Aschaffenburg, but is the administrative seat. It is also known as the Tor zum Spessart or "gate to the Spessart." Although it is within Bavaria, the town inhabitants claim to be Franconians, not Bavarians. This is consistent with the attitude of the inhabitants of other parts of Franconia, all of which lies within the state of Bavaria. However, Aschaffenburg was never part of historical Franconia, it belonged to the Archbishopric of Mainz. The inhabitants neither speak Bavarian nor Franconian but rather a type of Hessian dialect.