Mayen-Koblenz

Mayen-Koblenz is a district (Kreis) in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Ahrweiler, Neuwied, Westerwaldkreis, district-free Koblenz, Rhein-Lahn, Rhein-Hunsrück, Cochem-Zell, and Vulkaneifel.

Mayen-Koblenz
District
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Germany
State	Rhineland-Palatinate
Capital	Koblenz
Government
• District admin.	Alexander Saftig (CDU)
Area
• Total	817.1 km2 (315.5 sq mi)
Population  (31 December 2023)[1]
• Total	219,001
• Density	270/km2 (690/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registration	MYK, MY
Website	kvmyk.de

History

The district was created in 1973 when the two districts, Mayen and Koblenz, were merged.

The district has been 'twinned' with the Borough of Waverley in Surrey in southern England since 1982.

Geography

The two main rivers of the district are the Rhine and the Moselle, which join at the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz. In the west of the district are the Eifel mountains. These also include the large lake, the Laacher See, a volcanic caldera formed 12,000 years ago.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms combine the elements of the two precursor districts. The tree, a Maie, is taken from the Mayen district. The wavy line represents the two rivers Rhine and Moselle. The crown is a reference to the fact that in Rhens the Councils of Electors took place to choose the emperors and kings of the Holy Roman Empire.

Towns and municipalities

Verband-free towns
Andernach Bendorf Mayen

Verbandsgemeinden
1. Maifeld Einig Gappenach Gering Gierschnach Kalt Kerben Kollig Lonnig Mertloch Münstermaifeld2 Naunheim Ochtendung Pillig Polch1, 2 Rüber Trimbs Welling Wierschem 2. Mendig Bell Mendig1, 2 Rieden Thür Volkesfeld 3. Pellenz [seat: Plaidt] Kretz Kruft Nickenich Plaidt Saffig	4. Rhein-Mosel Alken Brey Brodenbach Burgen Dieblich Hatzenport Kobern-Gondorf1 Lehmen Löf Macken Niederfell Nörtershausen Oberfell Rhens2 Spay Waldesch Winningen Wolken 5. Vallendar Niederwerth Urbar Vallendar1, 2 Weitersburg	6. Vordereifel [seat: Mayen] Acht Anschau Arft Baar Bermel Boos Ditscheid Ettringen Hausten Herresbach Hirten Kehrig Kirchwald Kottenheim Langenfeld Langscheid Lind Luxem Monreal Münk Nachtsheim Reudelsterz Sankt Johann Siebenbach Virneburg Weiler Welschenbach 7. Weißenthurm Bassenheim Kaltenengers Kettig Mülheim-Kärlich2 Sankt Sebastian Urmitz Weißenthurm1, 2
1seat of the Verbandsgemeinde; 2town

Castles and palaces

The county has many castles and palaces:

• Eltz Castle, probably the best known German castle
• Trutzeltz Castle near Eltz Castle
• Schloss Bürresheim
• Genovevaburg in Mayen
• Oberburg, Kobern in Kobern with the Romanesque St. Matthew's Chapel
• Niederburg, Kobern in Kobern
• Schloss Liebieg in Gondorf
• Oberburg in Gondorf, family seat of the von der Leyen family
• Thurant Castle above Alken (Mosel)
• Ehrenburg near Brodenbach
• Sayn Castle and Schloss Sayn in Bendorf-Sayn
• Bischofstein Castle on the Moselle near Burgen
• Wernerseck Castle near Ochtendung
• Löwenburg and Philippsburg near Monreal
• Virneburg Castle
• Schloss Bassenheim in Bassenheim
• Namedy Castle in Andernach
• Andernach Castle in Andernach