Oberaula

Oberaula is a community in the Schwalm-Eder district in Hesse, Germany.GeographyLocationOberaula lies in the Knüllgebirge, a low mountain range, in the Aula river valley and its neighbouring valleys.The nearest towns are Bad Hersfeld (about 20 km to the east), Schwalmstadt (about 25 km to the west), and Homberg (about 27 km to the north).Constituent communitiesThe community consists of the six centres of Hausen, Friedigerode, Ibra, Oberaula, Olberode and Wahlshausen.HistoryOberaula had its first mention in 856 as Ovilaha . The constituent community of Hausen was first mentioned in 1160. Quite early on, the Fulda Abbey had a castle with a moat in Hausen, upon whose remains the Barons of Dörnberg built their Renaissance stately home in 1674.AmalgamationsAs part of municipal reforms, the two communities of Oberaula and Hausen merged on 1 April 1972. On 1 January 1974 came the formation of the Greater Community of Oberaula with the amalgamation of the other above-named communities with Oberaula.PoliticsMunicipal councilThe council is made up of 23 members. As of the last municipal elections held on 26 March 2006, the seats are apportioned thus:The community executive consists of 7 members. Four of these seats are held by the CDU and three by the SPD.The mayor Karl Heinz Vestweber (SPD) was elected on 30 November 2003 with a 73.7% share of the vote.Coat of armsOberaula's civic coat of arms might heraldically be described thus: Azure an owl argent armed gules flanked by six mullets of six of the second and standing on a mount of three Or surmounted by a three-leafed oak sprig vert.