The Kyffhäuserkreis is a district in the northern part of Thuringia

Thuringia

The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. Neighboring districts are the districts Mansfeld-Südharz

Mansfeld-Südharz

- History :The district was established by merging the former districts of Sangerhausen and Mansfelder Land as part of the reform of 2007.- Towns and municipalities :The district Mansfeld-Südharz consists of the following subdivisions:-References:...

, Saalekreis

Saalekreis

Saalekreis is a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The district seat is Merseburg. It is bounded by the districts Kyffhäuserkreis , Mansfeld-Südharz, Salzlandkreis, Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Nordsachsen, Leipzig and Burgenlandkreis. The district-free city of Halle is completely surrounded by the...

 und Burgenlandkreis

Burgenlandkreis

The Burgenlandkreis was a district in the south of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Neighboring districts are Merseburg-Querfurt, Weißenfels, Leipziger Land, Aschersleben-Staßfurt, Altenburger Land, Greiz, district-free Gera, Saale-Holzland, Weimarer Land, Sömmerda and the Kyffhäuserkreis.- History :The...

 in Saxony-Anhalt

Saxony-Anhalt

Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...

, and the districts Sömmerda

Sömmerda (district)

Sömmerda is a Kreis in the north of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the districts Kyffhäuserkreis, the Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt, the district Weimarer Land and the district-free city Erfurt, and the districts Gotha and Unstrut-Hainich.-History:The district Sömmerda was...

, Unstrut-Hainich

Unstrut-Hainich

Unstrut-Hainich is a Kreis in the north of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the districts Eichsfeld, Kyffhäuserkreis, Sömmerda, Gotha, Wartburgkreis and the district Werra-Meißner in Hesse.-History:...

 and Eichsfeld

Eichsfeld (district)

Eichsfeld is a district in Thuringia, Germany, and part of the historical region of Eichsfeld. It is bounded by the districts of Nordhausen, Kyffhäuserkreis and Unstrut-Hainich, and by the states of Hesse and Lower Saxony .-History:In medieval times the Eichsfeld, which is larger than the...

.

History

In the 12th century there was a castle on the Kyffhäuser

Kyffhäuser

The Kyffhäuser is a range of hills located on the border of the German state of Thuringia with Saxony-Anhalt. It stands on the southern edge of the Harz. The range has a length of and a width of . It reaches its highest point at the Kulpenberg , situated in Thuringia...

 mountains, which was built during the reign of emperor Frederick I

Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor

Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...

. 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

Saxony

The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....

, and after 1815 it was divided between the Prussia

Prussia

Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...

n Province of Saxony

Province of Saxony

The Province of Saxony was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and later the Free State of Prussia from 1816 until 1945. Its capital was Magdeburg.-History:The province was created in 1816 out of the following territories:...

 and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen

Schwarzburg-Sondershausen was a small principality in Germany, in the present day state of Thuringia, with capital at Sondershausen.-History:...

.

In 1952 the two districts of Artern and Sondershausen were established. These districts were merged in 1994, with only a few municipalities joining other districts.

Partnerships

The district has a partnership with the district Ahrweiler

Ahrweiler

Ahrweiler is a district in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the districts Euskirchen, Rhein-Sieg and the city Bonn in the state North Rhine-Westphalia, and the districts of Neuwied, Mayen-Koblenz and Vulkaneifel.- History :The region was conquered by the Romans under...

 in Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate

Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....

, 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

Unstrut

The Unstrut is a river in Germany and a left tributary of the Saale. It originates in northern Thuringia near Dingelstädt and its catchment area is the whole of the Thuringian Basin...

, which flows through the east of the district.

Coat of arms

The 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 Wipper (Unstrut) The Wipper is a river in Thuringia, Germany, left tributary of the Unstrut. It originates in the Eichsfeld area, northwestern Thuringia, near Leinefelde-Worbis. The total length of the Wipper is 95 km. The Wipper joins the Unstrut near Heldrungen. Towns along the Wipper include Bleicherode and...  river.

Towns and municipalities

Verwaltungsgemeinschaft-free towns

and municipalities

Artern Artern Artern is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, Thuringia, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Unstrut and Helme, 12 km south of Sangerhausen. It has railway connections to Erfurt and Sangerhausen. The railway connection to Naumburg was cancelled in December 2006. The... Bad Frankenhausen Bad Frankenhausen Bad Frankenhausen is a spa town in the German state of Thuringia. It is located at the southern slope of the Kyffhäuser mountain range, on an artificial arm of the Wipper river, a tributary of the Saale. Because of the nearby Kyffhäuser monument dedicated to Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, it is... Ebeleben Ebeleben Ebeleben is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 13 km southwest of Sondershausen.... Roßleben Roßleben Roßleben is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Unstrut, 22 km southeast of Sangerhausen.... Sondershausen Sondershausen Sondershausen is a town in Thuringia, Germany, capital of the Kyffhäuserkreis district, situated about 50 km north of Erfurt. On 1 December 2007, the former municipality Schernberg was incorporated by Sondershausen.... Wiehe Wiehe Wiehe is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 24 km south of Sangerhausen, and 32 km north of Weimar....

Abtsbessingen Abtsbessingen Abtsbessingen is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Bellstedt Bellstedt Bellstedt is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Donndorf Donndorf Donndorf is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Freienbessingen Freienbessingen Freienbessingen is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Helbedündorf Helbedündorf Helbedündorf is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Holzsußra Holzsußra Holzsußra is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Rockstedt Rockstedt Rockstedt is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Thüringenhausen Thüringenhausen Thüringenhausen is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Wolferschwenda Wolferschwenda Wolferschwenda is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany....

Verwaltungsgemeinschaften
1. An der Schmücke An der Schmücke An der Schmücke is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Heldrungen.... Bretleben Bretleben Bretleben is a municipality in the Kyffhäuserkreis district in Thuringia, Germany. It is located at the right side of the river Unstrut, between the towns of Heldrungen and Artern.... Etzleben Etzleben Etzleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Gorsleben Gorsleben Gorsleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Hauteroda Hauteroda Hauteroda is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Heldrungen Heldrungen Heldrungen is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, Thuringia, Germany.Nearby rivers are the Unstrut and the Wipper.It is known for its fortification with two water ditches, four vauban bastions and five rondells. In the center of the fortification is a renaissance castle, which was built within... 1, 2 Hemleben Hemleben Hemleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Oberheldrungen Oberheldrungen Oberheldrungen is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Oldisleben Oldisleben Oldisleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany....	2. Greußen Greußen (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) Greußen is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Greußen.... Clingen Clingen Clingen is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 16 km southeast of Sondershausen, and 30 km north of Erfurt.... 2 Greußen Greußen Greußen is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 17 km southeast of Sondershausen, and 29 km north of Erfurt.... 1, 2 Großenehrich Großenehrich Großenehrich is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 13 km south of Sondershausen, and 34 km northwest of Erfurt.... 2 Niederbösa Niederbösa Niederbösa is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Topfstedt Topfstedt Topfstedt is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Trebra Trebra Trebra is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Wasserthaleben Wasserthaleben Wasserthaleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Westgreußen Westgreußen Westgreußen is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany....	3. Kyffhäuser Kyffhäuser (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) Kyffhäuser is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Bendeleben.... Badra Badra, Germany Badra is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Bendeleben Bendeleben Bendeleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... 1 Göllingen Göllingen Göllingen is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Günserode Günserode Günserode is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Hachelbich Hachelbich Hachelbich is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Oberbösa Oberbösa Oberbösa is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Rottleben Rottleben Rottleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Seega Seega Seega is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Steinthaleben Steinthaleben Steinthaleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany....	4. Mittelzentrum Artern Mittelzentrum Artern Mittelzentrum Artern is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany. The seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is in Artern, itself not part of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft.... [seat: Artern] Borxleben Borxleben Borxleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Gehofen Gehofen Gehofen is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Heygendorf Heygendorf Heygendorf is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Ichstedt Ichstedt Ichstedt is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Kalbsrieth Kalbsrieth Kalbsrieth is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Mönchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth Mönchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth Mönchpfiffel-Nikolausrieth is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Nausitz Nausitz Nausitz is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Reinsdorf Reinsdorf, Thuringia Reinsdorf is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Ringleben Ringleben, Kyffhäuserkreis Ringleben is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany.... Voigtstedt Voigtstedt Voigtstedt is a municipality in the district Kyffhäuserkreis, in Thuringia, Germany....
1seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft;2town

External links

• Official website (German)
• Touristic website (English, German)