Wolfenbüttel is a Kreis (district) in the southeastern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) the district-free city Brunswick, the district Helmstedt, the district Halberstadt in Saxony-Anhalt, and the districts Goslar, Hildesheim and Peine. The district-free city Salzgitter cuts the district into two parts.

Geography

The Oker river enters the district in the south, runs through the town of Wolfenbüttel and leaves in the northwest.

History

The district was created in 1832, when the Duchy of Brunswick was subdivided into 6 districts. It stayed in unchanged until 1941, when by the Salzgitter legislation 20 municipalities were removed from the district, and in return received 10 municipalities from the district Marienburg. In 1974 the district boundaries were changed again, when parts of the former district Brunswick were added to the district. Additionally some municipalities, most notably the city Bad Harzburg , were exchanged with the district Goslar.

Partnerships

The district has partnerships with the French city Cachan , the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff in Wales, and the district Wrzesnia in Poland.

Coat of arms

The lion in the top part of the coat of arms is taken from the Welfen family, the ruling family in the area since the 13th century. The dukes of Brunswick also used the lion as their symbol. The ears in the bottom symbolize the mostly agricultural character of the district.

Towns and municipalities

External links

• Official homepage