The Rhein-Erft-Kreis (Kölsch: Rhing-Ärff-Kries) is a district in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Neuss, district-free Cologne, Rhein-Sieg, Euskirchen, Düren.

Rhein-Erft-Kreis
Flag of Rhein-Erft-Kreis
Coat of arms of Rhein-Erft-Kreis
Map
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Adm. regionCologne
CapitalBergheim
Government
 • District admin.Frank Rock (CDU)
Area
 • Total704.5 km2 (272.0 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2021)[1]
 • Total471,891
 • Density670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registrationBM
Websitehttp://www.rhein-erft-kreis.de

History edit

 
"Aachener Tor" Landmark of Bergheim and Rhein-Erft-Kreis

The district in its current borders was created in 1975, when the previous districts Bergheim and Cologne were merged. On 1 November 2003 the district was renamed from Erftkreis to Rhein-Erft-Kreis.

Geography edit

 Mettmann (district)Rhein-Erft-KreisNorth Rhine-WestphaliaHeinsberg (district)Rhein-Kreis NeussCologneWesselingRhein-Sieg-KreisDüren (district)Euskirchen (district)PulheimBergheimErftstadtHürthKerpenBedburgBrühlFrechenElsdorf
Clickable map of municipalities in the district

The main river in the district is the Erft, which also gave it the name. The Erft flows through the foothills of the Eifel, on the left side of the Rhine river. The lake Bleibtreusee is located within the district.

Towns edit

Coat of arms edit

The coat of arms shows the lion of Jülich in the left half, as most of the area belonged to the duchy of Jülich. The right side shows the Cologne cross, which stands for the former Cologne district. On top the Erft river is depicted; the Prussian Rhine Province had the same symbol in its coat of arms.

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2021" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 20 June 2022.

External links edit

  Media related to Rhein-Erft-Kreis at Wikimedia Commons

50°55′N 6°40′E / 50.92°N 6.67°E / 50.92; 6.67