Bad Reichenhall

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Germany - Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)

BAD REICHENHALL

State : Bayern
District (Kreis) : Berchtesgadener Land (until 1973 a free urban district (Kreisfreie Stadt)
Additions : 1905 Sankt Zeno; 1978 Karlstein, Marzoll

Official blazon

Gespalten; vorne die bayerischen Rauten, hinten in Gold ein steigender, rot bewehrter schwarzer Panter.

Origin/meaning

Reichenhall received city rights in the middle of the 13^th century. The oldest seal shows a Agnus Dei, but already on the second seal (also dating from the 13^th century) the above arms appear. The combination of panther, the symbol of Niederbayern, and the diamonds symbolises that the city was a possession of the Wittelsbach family, Dukes of Bayern. Even though the combination has not changed since, the panther has been misinterpreted and shown as the lion of the Pfalz or as a griffin.

Seal from around 1900

The arms in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925

Literature : Stadler, K. : Deutsche Wappen - Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Angelsachsen Verlag, 1964-1971, 8 volumes.