The Ortenaukreis is a district (Kreis) in the west of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Rastatt, Freudenstadt, Rottweil, Schwarzwald-Baar and Emmendingen. To the west it borders the French Bas-Rhin département.

History

The district was created in 1973 by merging the districts Kehl, Lahr, Offenburg, Wolfach and the southern part of the district Bühl.

Geography

The western part of the district is located in the upper Rhine valley, the east is part of the northern Black Forest. The highest elevation of the district, the 1164 meter high Hornisgrinde, is located in the north-east of the district. The lowest elevation with 124,3 m is in the Rhine valley to the north.

Partnerships

The district has a friendship with the district Altenburger Land in Thuringia. Offenburg already had a city partnership with Altenburg, so after the reunification the district chose this district to help to modernize the administration to west German standard.

France and Germany are negociating the creation of a Eurodistrict straddling the Rhine and combining the Ortenaukreis and the Greater Strasbourg, with an overall population of 860,000.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms are identical with the one of the previous district Offenburg, and are based on the coat of arms of the canton Ortenau of the League of Imperial Knights, which was the largest ruler of the area. It shows an imperial eagle with two heads - which also stands for the free imperial cities Offenburg, Gengenbach and Zell. In an escutcheon on the breast of the eagle is the patron Saint George, depicted killing the dragon.

Towns and municipalities

External links

• Official website (German)