Hochsauerlandkreis (meaning “High Sauerland District” in German) is a Kreis (district) in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Soest, Paderborn, Höxter, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Olpe, Märkischer Kreis.
Hochsauerlandkreis | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Adm. region | Arnsberg |
| Capital | Meschede |
| Government | |
| • District admin. | Karl Schneider (CDU) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,958.71 km2 (756.26 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2023)[1] | |
| • Total | 261,774 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (350/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Vehicle registration | HSK |
| Website | http://www.hochsauerlandkreis.de |
The district is named “High Sauerland” because two of the highest mountains of the Sauerland mountainous landscape, Langenberg and Kahler Asten are in its territory. With 2,766 ft / 843 m (Langenberg) and 2,762 ft / 842 m (Kahler Asten) these are also the highest mountains of North Rhine-Westphalia.
History
editThe district was established in 1975 in the reorganization of the districts in North Rhine-Westphalia by merging the previous districts Arnsberg, Brilon and Meschede.
Geography
editGeographically the district covers a big part of the Sauerland mountains, including the highest and third highest elevation – the Langenberg near Olsberg with 2,766 ft / 843 m, and the better known Kahler Asten with 2,762 ft / 842 m near Winterberg. These are also the two highest mountains of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Coat of arms
editThe coat of arms was inherited from the former district Arnsberg. It shows the eagle as the symbol of the Earls of Arnsberg. When their county lost independence in 1368 it fell to the bishops of Cologne, thus the sign on the breast of the eagle shows the Cologne cross.
Towns and municipalities
edit| Towns | Municipalities | |
|---|---|---|
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Town twinnings
editHochsauerland is twinned with the following areas:
Notable persons
edit- Franz Hoffmeister (died 1943), Roman Catholic priest
- Friedrich Merz, current leader of the CDU
Notable places
edit- Abbey Bergkloster, Bestwig [2]
- Abbey Grafschaft, Schmallenberg
- Abbey Königsmünster, Meschede [3]
References
edit- ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ Herzlich willkommen Bergkloster Bestwig im Hochsauerlandkreis/Nordrhein-Westfalen Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Anfahrt mit der Bahn". Archived from the original on 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
External links
edit Media related to Hochsauerlandkreis at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (in German)
- Touristic website (in German)