Hirschau (Oberpfalz)

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

HIRSCHAU

State : Bayern
District (Kreis) : Amberg-Sulzbach (until 1972 Amberg)
Additions : 1971 Ehenfeld; 1978 Massenricht

Official blazon

In Rot ein springender, golden bewehrter, silberner Hirsch, dem vorne ein Schildchen mit den bayerischen Rauten aufgelegt ist.

Origin/meaning

Hirschau received city rights around 1300 from the Kings of Bohemia. In 1373 the city was acquired by the Wittelsbach family, Dukes of Bayern. The oldest seal is known from 1467 and already shows a canting deer (Hirsch) with the small shield of the Wittelsbach family. The arms basically never changed since, except that sometimes small pine trees were added around the deer. These were also canting (Au or forest). The historical arms were restored at the beginning of the 20^th century.