Image Coa: | Wappen Feldatal.png |
Coordinates: | 50.65°N 19°W |
Image Plan: | Mittelhessen Vogelsberg Fel.png |
State: | Hessen |
Region: | Gießen |
District: | Vogelsbergkreis |
Elevation: | 385 |
Area: | 55.69 |
Postal Code: | 36325 |
Area Code: | 06637 |
Licence: | VB |
Gemeindeschlüssel: | 06 5 35 003 |
Divisions: | 7 Ortsteile |
Website: | www.feldatal.de |
Mayor: | Leopold Bach[1] |
Leader Term: | 2023 - 29 |
Feldatal is a municipality in the Vogelsbergkreis in Hesse, Germany.
The community lies 285 to 598 m above sea level on the north slope of the Vogelsberg mountains. Through the community flows the river Felda, which empties into the Ohm at Gemünden.
Feldatal borders in the north on the town of Romrod, in the northeast on the community of Schwalmtal, in the east on the community of Lautertal, in the south on the town of Ulrichstein, in the southwest on the community of Mücke, and in the northwest on the community of Gemünden.
The community consists of the centres of Ermenrod, Groß-Felda with constituent community of Schellnhausen, Kestrich, Köddingen, Stumpertenrod, Windhausen and Zeilbach.
Feldatal came into being as a result of the municipal reforms in 1972 when the aforesaid constituent communities were united into a greater community.
The municipal council is made up of 15 members. As of the municipal elections held on 26 March 2006, 4 seats are held by the SPD, 4 by the CDU, 6 by the FWG, a citizens' coalition, and one by the A.L.F.
The municipal executive is made up of 7 members and the mayor. Two seats are held by the SPD, 2 by the CDU, 2 by the FWG, and one by the A.L.F.
The current mayor, Leopold Bach, was elected in 2018.
Feldatal's civic coat of arms might heraldically be described thus: Or a virgin-headed spreadeagle gules crowned azure, therein an inescutcheon argent a hammer and four nails azure.
The inescutcheon (smaller inner shield, called a Herzschild or "heartshield" in German heraldry) refers to the dominant handicraft in the community, namely nailsmithing. This trade was practised even into the early 20th century. The virgin-headed spreadeagle (Jungfrauenadler) has its roots in Feldatal's mediaeval noble family's arms.
Through the community runs the Federal Highway (Bundesstraße) B 49.