Dornstetten

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

DORNSTETTEN

State : Baden-Württemberg
District (Kreis) : Freudenstadt
Additions : 1975 Aach, Hallwangen

Official blazon

In Gold unter einer liegenden fünfendigen schwarzen Hirschstange ein schwarzer Dornstrauch.

Origin/meaning

Dornstetten received city rights in 1270 from Count Heinrich II von Urach-Fürstenberg. The oldest seal dates from the same time and shows the arms of the counts.

Around 1320 the city became a possession of the Counts of Württemberg, and the seals showed the three deer antlers of Württemberg. The shield was surrounded by canting thorn branches (Dorn=thorn). The two elements were combined in the 16^th century, showing a single antler above a thorn bush. All later seals and images show the same combination, even though the actual shape and size of the bush differs widely.