Osnabrück (district)

Osnabrück () is a district (Landkreis) in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is near the districts of Emsland, Cloppenburg, Vechta and Diepholz, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (districts of Minden-Lübbecke, Herford, Gütersloh, Warendorf and Steinfurt) and the City of Osnabrück.

 History 
The district is almost the same as the Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück which existed until 1803. When the clerical states of Germany were dissolved, Osnabrück became part of the Kingdom of Hanover, which in turn fell to Prussia in 1866. The district was established in 1972 by merging four old districts (Osnabrück, Melle, Bersenbrück, Wittlage).

 Geography 
The landscape is characterised by two mountain chains: the Wiehengebirge in the north and the northern foothills of the Teutoburg Forest in the south. These chains go around the City of Osnabrück.

 Coat of arms 
 100px|Coat of armsThe coat of arms shows the Bennoturm ("Benno's Tower") of Bad Iburg, which served as the fortress of the bishops until 1673. There is also a wheel displayed in the coat of arms, which is the heraldic symbol of the City of Osnabrück.

 Cities and municipalities 
CitiesFree municipalitiesSamtgemeindenBad Iburg
Bramsche
Dissen
Georgsmarienhütte
MelleBad Essen
Bad Laer
Bad Rothenfelde
Belm
Bissendorf
Bohmte
Glandorf
Hagen
Hasbergen
Hilter
Ostercappeln
Wallenhorst1. Artland
 Badbergen 
 Menslage 
 Nortrup 
 Quakenbrück1, 2
2. Bersenbrück
 Alfhausen 
 Ankum 
 Bersenbrück1, 2
 Eggermühlen 
 Gehrde 
 Kettenkamp
 Rieste3. Fürstenau
 Berge 
 Bippen 
 Fürstenau1, 2
4. Neuenkirchen
 Merzen 
 Neuenkirchen1 
 Voltlage 1seat of the Samtgemeinde; 2 town

References

 Other websites 
 Official website