VECHTA (DISTRICT)

'Vechta' () is a district (''Landkreis'') in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Oldenburg, Diepholz, Osnabrück and Cloppenburg.

Contents

History

Geography

Coat of arms

Cities and municipalities

External links

History

In the 13th century the region was acquired by the bishop of Münster and became a part of his clerical state. When the clerical states of Germany were dissolved in 1803, Vechta was given to Oldenburg, while clerically still belonging to Münster, hence the name Oldenburger Münsterland is also used for the region (together with Cloppenburg district). The present district was established in 1945 and became a part of the newly founded state of Lower Saxony.

Geography

The countryside is generally flat. Only in the very south there is a hill chain close to the town of Damme, called the 'Dammer Berge'. The western shore of Lake Dümmer with its adjoining fens is also part of the district.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays: ★ the arms of Oldenburg ★ the arms of the County of Calvelage-Ravensberg (which ruled over the region before the 13th century) ★ the arms of the counts of Galen (who were vassals of the bishops of Münster)

Cities and municipalities

Cities	Free municipalities
#Damme#Dinklage#Lohne#Vechta	#Bakum#Goldenstedt#Holdorf#Neuenkirchen-Vörden#Steinfeld#Visbek

External links

★ Official website