Country Germany Time zone CET (UTC+1) Website kreis-altenkirchen.de Capital Altenkirchen | State Rhineland-Palatinate Vehicle registration AK Population 133,785 (31 Dec 2008) | |
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Clubs and Teams SG Betzdorf, VfL Hamm/Sieg Points of interest Tierpark Niederfischbach, Wasserschloss Crottorf, Druidenstein, Mahlscheid, Ottoturm Destinations Seifen, Niederfischbach, Kirchen, Flammersfeld, Pracht | ||
Altenkirchen ( [ˈaltn̩ˌkɪɐ̯çn̩]) is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the North Rhine-Westphalian districts Rhein-Sieg, Oberbergischer Kreis, Olpe and Siegen-Wittgenstein, and the districts of Westerwaldkreis and Neuwied.
Contents
Map of Altenkirchen (Westerwald), Germany
History
The history of the district is linked with the Westerwald region.
The district was established in 1816 by the Prussian administration. It combined the county of Wildenburg and the two counties of Sayn. The former had been part of Berg, the latter ones had belonged to the duchy of Nassau.
Geography
Altenkirchen is the northernmost district of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is occupied by the northern portions of the Westerwald mountains. The valley of the Sieg River borders the Westerwald on the north. The lands north of the Sieg are called Wildenburgisches Land, after the tiny county of Wildenburg, that once existed here.