A short look into the past.

Until about 600 AD Saxons controlled Stormarn. Towards the end of the 8th century migration from East Europe show the Slavic tribes settling the area, which we now consider as Stormarn. After several clashes between ethnic groups, the Emperor Charles the Great, in about 810 AD, ordered the Limes Saxoniae (also called Saxon Wall) to be built through Stormarn. Even now, the former border between Saxony and Wenden is almost identical with the district border between Stormarn and Lauenburg. Since the 11-th century in the old region Stormarn (perhaps storm land) the inhabitants were called a Stormarii (also Stormere). The provincial coat of arms shows an attacking swan in a fight position and is one of the oldest coats of arms in Germany. The provincial coat of arms also fits to this linguistic interpretation: It shows an attacking swan in fight position and is one of the oldest provincial coats of arms in Germany. In the course of the Stormarn provincial history some areas were ruled temporarily by Denmark. Modern Stormarn history begins when the province is founded in 1867, after the association of Schleswig – Holstein with Prussia. However, since then the district boundaries and the seat of government have seen several changes: First Reinbek, then Wandsbek were moved to the Hamburg administration and from 1949 Bad Oldesloe was chosen for the administrative centre and seat of government for the province. The last local government reorganisation took place in 1970 when the Stormarn municipalities Glashütte and Harksheide were moved to the administration of the Segeberg district.

The Stormarn coat of arms was established in the late 15th century and is one of the oldest provincial coats of arms in Germany.

The approximately 40 mansions found in Stormarn present a fascinating testimony to the architectural history of the province and very popular for tour destinations.