Wartburgkreis

Infobox German district noregbez
name=Wartburgkreis
state=Thuringia
capital=Bad Salzungen
area=1,305
population=142,595
population_as_of=2002
density=109
carsign=WAK
url=http://www.wartburgkreis.de

Wartburgkreis is a "Kreis" (district) in the west of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) the districts Unstrut-Hainich, Gotha, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, and the districts Fulda, Hersfeld-Rotenburg and Werra-Meißner in Hesse. The district-free city Eisenach Is nearly completely surrounded by the district.

History

The district was created in 1994 by merging the previous districts Eisenach and Bad Salzungen, and a few municipalities from the district Bad Langensalza. The city Eisenach left the district in 1998 and became a district-free city.

The district is named after the Wartburg, a castle near Eisenach most famous as Martin Luther refuge in 1521.

Geography

The district is located in the Thuringian Forest, including the Hainich national park. The main river in the district is the Werra.

Coat of arms

External links

* [http://www.wartburgkreis.de Official website] (German)