Dillingen (district)

Dillingen is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Donau-Ries, Augsburg and Günzburg[?], and by the state of Baden-Württemberg (district of Heidenheim).

History

In ancient times the Danube river was a border between the Roman empire and the Germanic peoples north of the river. The Roman camp of Phoebiana was a bridgehead crossing the danube. There was an Apollo temple being one of the largest buildings north of the Alps in that time.

In medieval times the county of Dillingen was established. The counts of Dillingen ruled from the 10th to the 13th century, then their tiny state was annexed by Bavaria (1258). Dillingen became a second residence for the bishops of Augsburg, who gained several villages for their clerical state, hence subdividing the region into several patches, which were dissolved in the early 19th century.

The district was established in 1972 by merging the former district of Dillingen (which had existed since 1804) with the western half of the former district of Wertingen. The city of Dillingen lost its status as a district-free city and became the capital of the newly established district.

Geography

The district is crossed by the river Danube, which enters the district in the southwest and leaves to the east. All cities in the district except for Wertingen are located along the Danube.

Coat of arms

Towns and municipalities

External links

Official website (http://www.landkreis-dillingen.de) (German)