Altrich

Altrich is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.GeographyLocationAltrich lies some 4 km south of the district seat, Wittlich. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Wittlich-Land, whose seat is in Wittlich, although that town is itself not in the Verbandsgemeinde.HistoryThe parish church is consecrated to Saint Andrew. In 952, Altrich had its first documentary mention – even earlier than the neighbouring town of Wittlich. The first mention in writing came as early as 636 in which it was named as Alta Regia.PoliticsMunicipal councilThe council is made up of 16 council members, who were elected by proportional representation at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results:Coat of armsThe German blazon reads: Schild Rot und Weiß gespalten, vorne ein weißes Andreaskreuz, hinten 2 rote Kugeln.The municipality’s arms might in English heraldic language be described thus: Per pale gules a saltire couped argent, and argent three roundels of the first.