Kyffhäuserkreis

Kyffhäuserkreis is a rural district in the northern part of Thuringia, Germany.

 History 
In the 12th century there was a castle on the Kyffhäuser mountains, which was built during the reign of emperor Frederick I. According to the local legend, the emperor did not die, but instead went to sleep in this castle.

From 1579 on the region belonged to Saxony, but after 1815 it was divided between the Prussian Province of Saxony and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.

In 1952 the two districts of Artern and Sondershausen were set up by the East German government. These districts were merged in 1994, with only a few municipalities joining other districts.

Partnerships
The district has a partnership with the district Ahrweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate, which was actually established with the district Artern in 1990.

 Geography 
The district is named after the Kyffhäuser mountains. The main river is the Unstrut, which flows through the east of the district.

 Coat of arms 
100px|Coat of armsThe main symbol of the coat of arms is the lion of the counts of Schwarzburg, who historically ruled most of the district. The lion holds a shield which contains the coat of arms of the Counts of Mansfeld, who owned the area around Artern in the 18th century. The three green hills in the bottom symbolize the mountainous landscape with many forest, the big wavy line stands for the river Unstrut, the small one for the Wipper river.

Towns and municipalities
Verwaltungsgemeinschaft-free townsand municipalities Artern
 Bad Frankenhausen
 Ebeleben
 Großenehrich
 Roßleben
 Sondershausen
 Wiehe Abtsbessingen
 Bellstedt
 Donndorf
 Freienbessingen
 Helbedündorf
 Holzsußra
 Rockstedt
 Thüringenhausen
 Wolferschwenda
Verwaltungsgemeinschaften1. An der Schmücke
 Bretleben
 Etzleben
 Gorsleben
 Hauteroda
 Heldrungen1, 2
 Hemleben
 Oberheldrungen
 Oldisleben
2. Greußen
 Clingen2
 Greußen1, 2
 Niederbösa
 Topfstedt
 Trebra
 Wasserthaleben
 Westgreußen3. Kyffhäuser
 Badra
 Bendeleben1
 Göllingen
 Günserode
 Hachelbich
 Oberbösa
 Rottleben
 Seega
 Steinthaleben4. Mittelzentrum Artern[seat: Artern]
 Borxleben
 Gehofen
 Heygendorf
 Ichstedt
 Kalbsrieth
 Mönchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth
 Nausitz
 Reinsdorf
 Ringleben
 Voigtstedt1seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft;2town

References

Other websites
 Official website (German)
 Touristic website  (English, German)

Category:Rural Districts of Thuringia