Altena
Digital Passport
Nomenclature and Geography
Category: City / Municipality
Summary
About the place: Altena is a town in the Märkischer Kreis district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Situated in the Lenne valley in the Sauerland region, it is well known for its hilltop castle and long industrial history of wire production.
Flag Description: The flag consists of a horizontal bicolour of two equal horizontal bands of white and red, with an aspect ratio of 3:5. In the centre of the flag is the town's coat of arms. Within a golden shield, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is depicted wearing a red dress, blue cloak, golden crown, and silver halo, holding an upright silver sword in her right hand (viewer's left) and a red breaking wheel in her left hand. Below her is a fess chequy of red and silver, representing the arms of the Counts of Mark.
Symbolism: The white and red colours of the flag are derived from the traditional regional colours and the town's coat of arms. Saint Catherine of Alexandria is the patron saint of the town and its parish church, with the sword and wheel serving as the attributes of her martyrdom. The red and silver chequered fess originates from the coat of arms of the County of Mark, of which Altena was a historical centre.
Flag Description: The flag consists of a horizontal bicolour of two equal horizontal bands of white and red, with an aspect ratio of 3:5. In the centre of the flag is the town's coat of arms. Within a golden shield, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is depicted wearing a red dress, blue cloak, golden crown, and silver halo, holding an upright silver sword in her right hand (viewer's left) and a red breaking wheel in her left hand. Below her is a fess chequy of red and silver, representing the arms of the Counts of Mark.
Symbolism: The white and red colours of the flag are derived from the traditional regional colours and the town's coat of arms. Saint Catherine of Alexandria is the patron saint of the town and its parish church, with the sword and wheel serving as the attributes of her martyrdom. The red and silver chequered fess originates from the coat of arms of the County of Mark, of which Altena was a historical centre.
Statistics
Area
44.42 km²
Population
16,400