title: Bernburg (district)
text: # Bernburg (district)
  
  Bernburg was a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Schönebeck, Köthen, Saalkreis, Mansfelder Land and Aschersleben-Staßfurt.
  
  ## History
  
  There was an independent principality called Anhalt-Bernburg following the subdivision of the principality of Anhalt in 1603. This mini state was elevated to the rank of a duchy in 1806, and merged once more with the other parts to form a united duchy of Anhalt again in 1863.
  
  ## Geography
  
  The small district of Bernburg is located in the historical region of Anhalt. The Saale River crosses the district from south to north.
  
  ## Coat of arms
  
  * The arms display a bear walking on a red wall. The bear is the heraldic animal of Bernburg and Anhalt. The arms are similar to the old arms of the medieval state of Anhalt-Bernburg and the Free State of Anhalt within the Weimar Republic.
  
  ## Towns and municipalities
  
  | Towns | Verwaltungsgemeinschaften |
  | - | - |
  | Könnern | Bernburg (incl. town Bernburg) Nienburg (incl. town Nienburg) Saale-Wipper (incl. towns Alsleben and Güsten) |
  