Rotenburg is a district (Landkreis) in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is landlocked by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Stade, Harburg, Heidekreis, Verden, Osterholz and Cuxhaven.

History

In medieval times the region was part of the bishoprics of Bremen and Verden. After the Protestant Reformation the bishoprics became secular principalities, colloquially called Bremen-Verden, and finally parts of the Kingdom of Hanover.

The present district was established in 1977 by merging the former districts of Rotenburg and Bremervörde.

Geography

The Wümme River runs through the district from east to west. The marshy area to both sides of the river is called the Wümmeniederung (Wümme Depression).

Coat of arms

The coat of arms displays:

• a lion carrying a cross; the lion was the heraldic animal of Hanover, the cross is symbolising the Prince-Bishopric of Verden
• two criss-crossed keys from the arms of the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen

Towns and municipalities

Towns	Samtgemeinden
Bremervörde Rotenburg Visselhövede Free municipalities Gnarrenburg Scheeßel	1. Bothel Bothel Brockel Hemsbünde Hemslingen Kirchwalsede Westerwalsede 2. Fintel Fintel Helvesiek Lauenbrück Stemmen Vahlde 3. Geestequelle Alfstedt Basdahl Ebersdorf Hipstedt Oerel	4. Selsingen Anderlingen Deinstedt Farven Ostereistedt Rhade Sandbostel Seedorf Selsingen 5. Sittensen Groß Meckelsen Hamersen Kalbe Klein Meckelsen Lengenbostel Sittensen Tiste Vierden Wohnste	6. Sottrum Ahausen Bötersen Hassendorf Hellwege Horstedt Reeßum Sottrum 7. Tarmstedt Breddorf Bülstedt Hepstedt Kirchtimke Tarmstedt Vorwerk Westertimke Wilstedt 8. Zeven Elsdorf Gyhum Heeslingen Zeven
	seat of the Samtgemeinde; town