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Jeseník, the 'Pearl of the Jeseníky', is situated at an altitude of 440 m on the confluence of the Bělá (Biele) and Staříč (Staritz) streams on the northeastern slopes of the Hrubý Jeseník (Altvater, Gesenke) mountain region. The settlement, the called Vriwald, was first mentioned in a document of 1267 and became in possession of the bishops of Wrocław (Breslau) in 1295. During the 13th and 14th centuries it was an important place of gold and iron mining. In 1506 it was awarded the status of a mining town. The wealthy Fugger family from Augsburg bought the estates to exploit the iron mines. When the iron deposits were depleted in 1547 the Fuggers sold the town and neighbouring villages back to the bishops of Wrocław. During the Hussite Wars Frýwaldov (Freiwaldau) was burnt down but was rebuilt after later and obtained the status of a town in 1606. A sad chapter in the history of the town were the witch trials of the mid 17th century (1622–1684). The composer Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739–1799) resided in Frýwaldov/Freiwaldau as administrator until 1794. The name of the town was changed to Jeseník after World War II. The district of Jeseník was joined to that of Šumperk in 1960, but was re-established in 1995.

The village of Gräfenberk (in German: Gräfenberg, altitude 632 m) today is part of the municipality of Jeseník (Lázně Jeseník). The village became a popular spa when the founder of hydropathy, Vinzenz Prießnitz (1799–1851) opened the first establishment for cold-water cures in 1826. The Prießnitz spa treatment complex opened in 1910.