Montabaur

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

MONTABAUR

State : Rheinland-Pfalz
District (Kreis) : Westerwaldkreis (until 1969 Unterwesterwaldkreis)
Verbandsgemeinde : Verbandsgemeinde Montabaur
Additions : 1972 Bladernheim, Elgendorf, Eschelbach, Ettersdorf, Horressen, Reckenthal, Wirzenborn

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted in 1908.

Montabaur received city rights in 1291 and the oldest known seal dates from the same year. It already shows the city behind a wall, with St. Peter in the gate and the two small shields. St. Peter is the patron saint of the city and the diocese of Trier, to which the city belonged. The small shields with the cross are the arms of the diocese of Trier. All later seals show the same composition, which was copied to the arms in 1908.

Previously the city used as arms a single cross. This was abandoned in 1906, probably as a single cross is more common and the arms were thus more difficult to distinguish from arms of other cities.