Greiz (district)

Greiz is a Landkreis (rural district) in the east of Thuringia, Germany.

Coat of arms of Landkreis Greiz
Thuringia grz.png
Country Germany
StateThuringia
CapitalGreiz
Area
 • Total844 km2 (326 sq mi)
Population
 (2002)
 • Total121,129
 • Density143.52/km2 (371.71/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Vehicle registrationGRZ
Websitehttp://www.landkreis-greiz.de

History

Historically the area of the district was part of the Vogtland, named after the title Vogt given to the local rulers in the 13th century. Only two lines of the Reuß family survived from that time, with one principality based in Greiz, and the other in Gera and Schleiz. In 1919 both were merged into the Volksstaat Reuß (People's State of Reuss), which then became part of Thuringia in 1920.

A subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp was located at Berga/Elster during World War II. The SS made inmates dig tunnels and lay railway tracks for the Schwalbe V project.[1]

The district in its current form was created on July 1, 1994, when the districts Gera-Land, Zeulenroda and the previous district Greiz were merged.

Coat of arms

  Both the lion as well as the crane-bird in the top part of the coat of arms are from the coat of arms of the Reuß families and their principalities. In the bottom is a part of the coat of arms of Saxony, as a small part of the district belonged to the Duchies of Saxony.

Towns and municipalities

Verwaltungsgemeinschaft-free towns and municipalities
  1. Bad Köstritz
  2. Berga/Elster
  3. Greiz
  4. Ronneburg
  5. Weida
  6. Zeulenroda-Triebes
  1. Caaschwitz
  2. Crimla
  3. Harth-Pöllnitz
  4. Hartmannsdorf
  5. Kraftsdorf
  6. Langenwetzendorf
  7. Langenwolschendorf
  1. Mohlsdorf
  2. Neumühle/Elster
  3. Teichwolframsdorf
  4. Vogtländisches Oberland
  5. Weißendorf
  6. Wünschendorf/Elster
Verwaltungsgemeinschaften

1. Am Brahmetal

  1. Bethenhausen
  2. Brahmenau
  3. Großenstein1
  4. Hirschfeld
  5. Korbußen
  6. Pölzig
  7. Reichstädt
  8. Schwaara

2. Auma-Weidatal

  1. Auma1, 2
  2. Braunsdorf
  3. Göhren-Döhlen
  4. Merkendorf
  5. Silberfeld
  6. Staitz
  7. Wiebelsdorf
  8. Zadelsdorf

3. Ländereck

  1. Braunichswalde
  2. Endschütz
  3. Gauern
  4. Hilbersdorf
  5. Kauern
  6. Linda bei Weida
  7. Paitzdorf
  8. Rückersdorf
  9. Seelingstädt1

4. Leubatal

  1. Hain
  2. Hohenleuben1, 2
  3. Hohenölsen
  4. Kühdorf
  5. Lunzig
  6. Neugernsdorf
  7. Schömberg
  8. Steinsdorf
  9. Teichwitz
  10. Wildetaube

5. Münchenbernsdorf

  1. Bocka
  2. Hundhaupten
  3. Lederhose
  4. Lindenkreuz
  5. Münchenbernsdorf1, 2
  6. Saara
  7. Schwarzbach
  8. Zedlitz
1seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft;2town

Sights

Sights in the district Greiz:

  • The Upper Castle of Greiz
  • The Lower Castle of Greiz
  • The Summer Palace Greiz
  • Weida Osterburg Castle
  • Ronneburg Castle
  • Reichenfels Castle Ruin
  • Old Guardhouse "Alte Wache" in Greiz
  • Zeulenroda Town Hall
  • Widen Church Ruin in Weida
  • St. Veit Parish Church
  • Mildenfurth Monastery
  • Cronschwitz Monastery Ruin
  • Greiz Park
  • Fairy Tale Forest in Wünschendorf

Museums in the district Greiz:

References

  1. Edward Victor. Alphabetical List of Camps, Subcamps and Other Camps. www.edwardvictor.com/Holocaust/List %20 of %20 camps.htm

Other websites