Werra-Meißner-Kreis

Werra-Meißner is a Kreis (district) in the north of Hesse, Germany.

 History 
The district was created in 1974 by merging the two district Eschwege and Witzenhausen, which both existed with only slight modifications since 1821.

 Geography 
The main river in the district is the Werra. The Hohe Meißner with  is the highest of the Meißner mountains. The river and the mountain gave the district its name.

The Hohe Meißner was also home to USA military forces up to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Soldiers of the Special Forces guarded the eavesdropping listening post situated on the hilltop.

 Coat of arms 
100px|Coat of armsThe coat of arms show a branch of an aspen tree in the left half, as sign for the former Eschwege district as well as the Eschwege city - the German word for aspen is Esche. The castle in the right half is the castle Ludwigstein, taken from the coat of arms of the Witzenhausen district. The hills below symbolize the landscape, the Meißner, and the wavy line the Werra river.

 Towns and municipalities 
TownsMunicipalities Bad Sooden-Allendorf
 Eschwege
 Großalmerode
 Hessisch Lichtenau
 Sontra
 Waldkappel
 Wanfried
 Witzenhausen Berkatal
 Herleshausen
 Meinhard
 Meißner
 Neu-Eichenberg
 Ringgau
 Wehretal
 Weißenborn

References

 Other websites 
 Official website 

Category:Districts of Hesse