Märkischer Kreis, Rural district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Märkischer Kreis is a rural district in the Arnsberg government region of North Rhine-Westphalia, with Lüdenscheid as its administrative seat. The area spreads across gentle hills and wooded valleys in the Sauerland, home to numerous small towns and villages.
The district came into being in 1975 through the merger of the city of Iserlohn with the former districts of Iserlohn and Lüdenscheid during municipal reorganization. This reform aimed to make administration more efficient and combine smaller municipalities into larger units.
The region takes its name from the historical territory of Mark, once part of the County of Mark. Many towns still show half-timbered houses and church towers from past centuries, standing between modern residential areas.
The motorway A45 crosses the area from northeast to southwest, connecting the larger towns with each other. Regional trains run regularly between the main towns and offer connections to the wider rail network.
Several towns still have old forge workshops and hammer mills now used as museums or cultural sites. These buildings recall the time when iron and steel were processed in small workshops here.
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