OSTERODE (DISTRICT)

'Osterode' () is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the southwest and clockwise) the districts of Göttingen, Northeim and Goslar, and by the state of Thuringia (districts of Nordhausen and Eichsfeld).

Contents

History

Geography

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

External links

History

This part of the Harz mountains was ruled by the Welfen dynasty from the 12th century on. Osterode was the centre of the Principality of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, one of many small states within Brunswick-Lüneburg. Later this principality became part of Hanover, which in turn fell to Prussia in 1866. In 1885 the Prussian administration established districts, among them Osterode.

Geography

More than two thirds of the district's area are occupied by the southwestern part of the Harz mountains, including the southern portion of the Harz National Park.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays two heraldic lions. The lion in the upper part is from the arms of Hanover, the lower lion represents the Welfen dynasty.

Towns and municipalities

Towns	Samtgemeinden
#Bad Lauterberg#Bad Sachsa#Herzberg am Harz#Osterode am Harz	★ '1. Bad Grund (Harz)'# Bad Grund2# Badenhausen # Eisdorf # Gittelde# Windhausen1 ★ '2. Hattorf am Harz' # Elbingerode # Hattorf am Harz1# Hörden am Harz# Wulften am Harz	★ '3. Walkenried' # Walkenried1# Wieda # Zorge
	1seat of the Samtgemeinde

External links

★ Official website (German)

★ Local history