Rotenburg (district)
# Rotenburg (district)

Rotenburg is a district (Landkreis) in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is landlocked by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Stade, Harburg, Heidekreis, Verden, Osterholz and Cuxhaven.

## History

In medieval times the region was part of the bishoprics of Bremen and Verden. After the Protestant Reformation the bishoprics became secular principalities, colloquially called Bremen-Verden, and finally parts of the Kingdom of Hanover.

The present district was established in 1977 by merging the former districts of Rotenburg and Bremervörde.

## Geography

The Wümme River runs through the district from east to west. The marshy area to both sides of the river is called the Wümmeniederung (Wümme Depression).

## Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays:

* a lion carrying a cross; the lion was the heraldic animal of Hanover, the cross is symbolising the Prince-Bishopric of Verden
* two criss-crossed keys from the arms of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen

## Towns and municipalities

| Towns | Samtgemeinden | Samtgemeinden | Samtgemeinden |
| - | - | - | - |
| Bremervörde Rotenburg Visselhövede Free municipalities Gnarrenburg Scheeßel | 1. Bothel $Bothel^1$ Brockel Hemsbünde Hemslingen Kirchwalsede Westerwalsede 2. Fintel Fintel Helvesiek $Lauenbrück^1$ Stemmen Vahlde 3. Geestequelle Alfstedt Basdahl Ebersdorf Hipstedt $Oerel^1$ | 4. Selsingen Anderlingen Deinstedt Farven Ostereistedt Rhade Sandbostel Seedorf $Selsingen^1$ 5. Sittensen Groß Meckelsen Hamersen Kalbe Klein Meckelsen Lengenbostel $Sittensen^1$ Tiste Vierden Wohnste | 6. Sottrum Ahausen Bötersen Hassendorf Hellwege Horstedt Reeßum $Sottrum^1$ 7. Tarmstedt Breddorf Bülstedt Hepstedt Kirchtimke $Tarmstedt^1$ Vorwerk Westertimke Wilstedt 8. Zeven Elsdorf Gyhum Heeslingen $Zeven^{1,2}$ |
| | $^1seat$ of the Samtgemeinde; $^2town$ | $^1seat$ of the Samtgemeinde; $^2town$ | $^1seat$ of the Samtgemeinde; $^2town$ |
