Ansbach district

The district of Ansbach is one of the 71 districts into which the German state of Bavaria is administratively divided. It is the district with the largest area in Bavaria. It is adjacent (clockwise, starting from the West) with the districts of Ostalb, Schwäbisch Hall, Main-Tauber (all of them in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg) and the Bavarian districts of Neustadt an der Aisch -Bad Windsheim, Fürth, Roth, Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen and Danube-Ries. The city of Ansbach is surrounded by the district, but does not belong to it. Despite this, it is the administrative capital of the same.

History

Some of the towns in the district were already in existence at the time of Charlemagne, who visited Feuchtwangen around the year 800. In the 13th century the towns of Rothenburg, Dinkelsbühl and Feuchtwange were elevated to the status of Free Imperial Cities, thus becoming to report directly to the Holy Roman Emperor. The city of Ansbach became linked to the Hohenzollern family, which established the state of Ansbach (later Brandenburg-Ansbach) in the region.

The district of Ansbach as it is today was established in 1972, when the former districts of Ansbach, Dinkelsbühl, Feuchtwagen and Rottenburg were merged. The city of Rottenburg lost its urban district status and was incorporated into the district.

Geography

Ansbach is the largest area district in Bavaria. The northern half is the enclave of the Frankenhöhe, a slightly mountainous area. The southern part is covered with forests and scrub. The source of the Altmühl river, one of the tributaries of the Danube, is located in the district, near the city of Ansbach.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms shows:

• On the upper left, the white and black paintings of the Hohenzollern Dynasty's blazon, which ruled the old state of Brandenburg-Ansbach;
• At the top right, the silver pattern and steaks of Franconia's blazon;
• At the bottom, the heraldic eagle of the Holy German Roman Empire, which symbolizes the ancient Free Imperial Cities of Rottemburg, Dinkelsbühl and Feuchtwangen.

Cities and municipalities