Heidekreis is a district

Districts of Germany

The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....

 (Landkreis) in Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...

, 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...

. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Harburg

Harburg

Harburg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It takes its name from the town of Harburg upon Elbe, which used to be the capital of the district but is now part of Hamburg...

, Lüneburg

Lüneburg (district)

Lüneburg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Lüchow-Dannenberg, Uelzen, Heidekreis and Harburg, and the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania .-History:The Amt of Lüneburg appeared in 1862...

, Uelzen

Uelzen (district)

Uelzen is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Gifhorn, Celle, Heidekreis, Lüneburg and Lüchow-Dannenberg, and by the state of Saxony-Anhalt...

, Celle

Celle (district)

Celle is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Uelzen, Gifhorn, Hanover and Heidekreis.- Geography :...

, Hanover

Hanover (district)

Hanover Region is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Heidekreis, Celle, Gifhorn, Peine, Hildesheim, Hamelin-Pyrmont, Schaumburg and Nienburg....

, Nienburg

Nienburg (district)

Nienburg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Diepholz, Verden, Heidekreis, Hanover and Schaumburg, and by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia ....

, Verden

Verden (district)

Verden is a Kreis in the centre of Lower Saxony, Germany. Adjoining it are the districts of Osterholz, Rotenburg, Heidekreis, Nienburg and Diepholz, as well as the city of Bremen.-Geography:...

 and Rotenburg

Rotenburg (district)

Rotenburg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Stade, Harburg, Heidekreis, Verden, Osterholz and Cuxhaven.-History:...

.

History

Historically the region belonged to the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg and its successor states. The district was established in 1977 by merging the former districts of Soltau and Fallingbostel as Soltau-Fallingbostel (ˈzɔltaʊ falɪŋˈbɔstəl). On 1 August 2011 it was renamed to Heidekreis.

Geography

The district includes the western half of the Lüneburg Heath

Lüneburg Heath

The Lüneburg Heath is a large area of heath, geest and woodland in northeastern part of the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It forms part of the hinterland for the cities of Hamburg, Hanover, and Bremen and is named after the town of Lüneburg. Most of the area is a nature reserve...

 (Lüneburger Heide). Since this landscape is so characteristic for the district, it calls itself "the Heath District". The capital is Bad Fallingbostel

Bad Fallingbostel

Bad Fallingbostel is the district town of the Heidekreis district in the German state of Lower Saxony. Since 1976 the town has had a state-recognised Kneipp spa and has held the title of Bad since 5 August 2002. It has close ties to Walsrode, a few miles to the west...

, although it has only 11,800 inhabitants and is only the fifth largest town in the district.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays: in the upper half the heraldic Heraldry Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...  lion of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the lower half a megalith Megalith A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient... ic grave

Towns and municipalities

Towns	Samtgemeinden
Bad Fallingbostel Bad Fallingbostel Bad Fallingbostel is the district town of the Heidekreis district in the German state of Lower Saxony. Since 1976 the town has had a state-recognised Kneipp spa and has held the title of Bad since 5 August 2002. It has close ties to Walsrode, a few miles to the west... Munster Munster, Lower Saxony Munster, also called Munster , is a small town in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany almost equidistant from Hamburg and Hanover. The town is home to the German Army's largest garrison and is situated between the two training areas of Munster North and Munster South. It is also... Schneverdingen Schneverdingen Schneverdingen is a town in the northern part of the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 15 km north of Soltau, and 50 km south of Hamburg.... Soltau Soltau - Middle Ages :The region of the Lüneburg Heath had already been settled by the start of the New Stone Age about 4,000 years ago. The Soltau area was initially occupied by a few individual farms. The parish of Soltau was probably founded around 830 and the first wooden church Sante Johannis... Walsrode Walsrode -Middle Ages:986 Foundation of Walsrode Abbey by Count Walo. The first recorded mentionof the town is dated May 7, 986.1383 The dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg grant Walsrode a town charter.1479 First recorded instance of Walsrode's coat of arms... Free municipalities Bispingen Bispingen Bispingen is a municipality in the Heidekreis district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the River Luhe and is approximately northeast of Soltau, or south of Hamburg.-Subdivisions:*Bispingen*Hützel*Steinbeck an der Luhe... Bomlitz Bomlitz Bomlitz is a municipality in the Heidekreis district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.- Location :Bomlitz lies on the Lüneburg Heath in a heavily wooded area... Neuenkirchen Wietzendorf Wietzendorf Wietzendorf is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 11 km southeast of Soltau, and 50 km southwest of Lüneburg.... Unincorporated area Unincorporated area In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government... Osterheide Osterheide Osterheide is an unincorporated area in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany.The area has 815 inhabitants . Its administrative seat is the village of Oerbke; other villages are Ostenholz and Wense...	1. Ahlden Ahlden (Samtgemeinde) Ahlden is a Samtgemeinde in the Heidekreis district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Its seat is in the village Hodenhagen.The Samtgemeinde Ahlden consists of the following municipalities:* Ahlden * Eickeloh* Grethem... Ahlden Ahlden Ahlden is a municipality in the Heidekreis district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Aller, approx. 15 km southwest of Bad Fallingbostel, and 30 km southeast of Verden.... Eickeloh Eickeloh Eickeloh is a municipality in the Heidekreis district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Grethem Grethem Grethem is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Hademstorf Hademstorf Hademstorf is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Hodenhagen Hodenhagen Hodenhagen is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town was once the site of Hudemühlen Castle, which is now completely destroyed. The castle was famous as the home of the kobold Hinzelmann. The site of another medieval castle, Hodenhagen Castle on the River... 1 2. Rethem/Aller Rethem/Aller (Samtgemeinde) Rethem/Aller is a Samtgemeinde in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Its seat is in the town Rethem.The Samtgemeinde Rethem/Aller consists of the following municipalities:# Böhme# Frankenfeld... Böhme Böhme, Lower Saxony Böhme is a municipality in the Heidekreis district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.-Subdivisions:The four subdivisions in the municipality are:*Böhme*Bierde*Altenwahlingen*Kirchwahlingen... Frankenfeld Frankenfeld Frankenfeld is a municipality in the Heidekreis district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Häuslingen Häuslingen Häuslingen is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Rethem Rethem Rethem is a town in the Heidekreis in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Aller, approx. 25 km southwest of Bad Fallingbostel, and 18 km southeast of Verden... 1, 2	3. Schwarmstedt Schwarmstedt (Samtgemeinde) Schwarmstedt is a Samtgemeinde in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Its seat is in the village Schwarmstedt.The Samtgemeinde Schwarmstedt consists of the following municipalities:# Buchholz# Essel... Buchholz Buchholz, Soltau-Fallingbostel Buchholz is a municipality in the Heidekreis district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Essel Essel Essel is a municipality in the Heidekreis district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Most of the village is located on the southern bank of the river Aller. The A 7 motorway runs through the village.-Subdivisions:The municipality of Essel comprises 4 subdivisions:... Gilten Gilten, Germany Gilten is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Lindwedel Lindwedel Lindwedel is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Schwarmstedt Schwarmstedt Schwarmstedt is a municipality in the Heidekreis in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the confluence of the rivers Aller and Leine, approx. 20 km south of Bad Fallingbostel, and 30 km east of Nienburg... 1
|colspan=2 align=center|1seat of the Samtgemeinde; 2town

Culture and places of interest

Cultural matters are looked after by the those charged with communal cultural support within the towns and municipalities, the parishes, the banks, the Lüneburg Regional Association

Lüneburg Regional Association

The Lüneburg Regional Association is a registered association in the German state of Lower Saxony and is one of a number of regional associations in the state.- History :...

 and private cultural initiatives.

Museums and collections

• Dat ole Hus
  Dat ole Hus
  Dat ole Hus is a privately run local history museum in the village of Bünzen in the municipality of Aukrug in Schleswig-Holstein. Its interior rooms portray the living quarters of a farmer from this region from the 18th to the early 20th century.- History :The museum is house in a cottage first...
  
   (heath and open-air museum in Wilsede)
• German Tank Museum in Munster
  Munster, Lower Saxony
  Munster, also called Munster , is a small town in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany almost equidistant from Hamburg and Hanover. The town is home to the German Army's largest garrison and is situated between the two training areas of Munster North and Munster South. It is also...
  
   (German military history of the 20th century)
• Düshorn Village Museum (life and work around 100 years ago)
• Hof der Heidmark in Bad Fallingbostel
  Bad Fallingbostel
  Bad Fallingbostel is the district town of the Heidekreis district in the German state of Lower Saxony. Since 1976 the town has had a state-recognised Kneipp spa and has held the title of Bad since 5 August 2002. It has close ties to Walsrode, a few miles to the west...
  
   (memorial to the Heidmark)
• Klingendes Museum (mechanical musical instruments) in Schwarmstedt
  Schwarmstedt
  Schwarmstedt is a municipality in the Heidekreis in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the confluence of the rivers Aller and Leine, approx. 20 km south of Bad Fallingbostel, and 30 km east of Nienburg...
  
  
• Museum of the Archaeological Working Group in Bad Fallingbostel
• Soltau Museum (local history and archaeological exhibition) in Soltau
  Soltau
  - Middle Ages :The region of the Lüneburg Heath had already been settled by the start of the New Stone Age about 4,000 years ago. The Soltau area was initially occupied by a few individual farms. The parish of Soltau was probably founded around 830 and the first wooden church Sante Johannis...
  
  
• Soltau Toy Museum (toys from four centuries)
• Peetshof (Zeugen Wietzendorfs um 1900) in Wietzendorf
  Wietzendorf
  Wietzendorf is a municipality in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 11 km southeast of Soltau, and 50 km southwest of Lüneburg....
  
  
• Prussian History (Pavillon im Landschaftspark Iserhatsche) in Bispingen
  Bispingen
  Bispingen is a municipality in the Heidekreis district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the River Luhe and is approximately northeast of Soltau, or south of Hamburg.-Subdivisions:*Bispingen*Hützel*Steinbeck an der Luhe...
  
  
• Pult- und Federkielmuseum (Schulmuseum in Insel) in Schneverdingen
• Rischmannshof Heath Museum
  Rischmannshof Heath Museum
  The Rischmannshof Heath Museum is an open-air museum in Walsrode, Germany.- History :Rischmannshof was opened in 1912 as one of the first open-air museums in Germany. The museum consists of a rural farmyard with outbuildings and other exhibits...
  
   (heath and open-air museum) in Walsrode
  Walsrode
  -Middle Ages:986 Foundation of Walsrode Abbey by Count Walo. The first recorded mentionof the town is dated May 7, 986.1383 The dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg grant Walsrode a town charter.1479 First recorded instance of Walsrode's coat of arms...
  
  
• Schäferhof Neuenkirchen (Moorland sheep rearing to preserve the heath and moorlands between Neuenkirchen and Soltau) in Neuenkirchen
• Heimathaus auf dem Schroershof (historic farmstead with many buildings) in Neuenkirchen
• Art Society and Springhornhof Foundation in Neuenkirchen
• Bothmer School Museum (schools in the times of the Emperor) in Schwarmstedt
• Ehrhorn Woodland Museum (woods – heathland – people) in Schneverdingen

Lüneburg Regional Association

The county is a member of the Lüneburg Regional Association

Lüneburg Regional Association

The Lüneburg Regional Association is a registered association in the German state of Lower Saxony and is one of a number of regional associations in the state.- History :...

 (Lüneburgischer Landschaftsverband), which looks after regional, cultural-political tasks.

Nature reserves

There are es 26 nature reserve

Nature reserve

A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...

s in the county of Soltau-Fallingbostel. The largest one (Lüneburg Heath Nature Reserve

Lüneburg Heath Nature Reserve

The Lüneburg Heath Nature Reserve is one of the oldest and largest nature reserves in Germany, and the oldest and largest in Lower Saxony...

) has an area of 13,222 ha

Hectare

The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...

 in the territory of the county of Soltau-Fallingbostel, the smallest (Söhlbruch) has an area of 8 ha.

Jewish cemeteries

There are four Jewish cemeteries

Jewish cemetery

A Jewish cemetery is a cemetery where members of the Jewish faith are buried in keeping with Jewish tradition....

 in Soltau-Fallingbostel : in Ahlden, Rethem, Soltau und Walsrode. There are protected cultural monuments

Cultural Heritage Management

Cultural heritage management is the vocation and practice of managing cultural heritage. It is a branch of cultural resources management , although it also draws on the practices of conservation, restoration, museology, archaeology, history and architecture...

 – stone witnesses to former Jewish communities

Judaism

Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...

and a thriving Jewish parish live into the 1930s. The cemeteries are mainly on the edge of parishes.

External links

• Official website (German)