Gemarkung

Gemarkung is a cadastral unit used in German-speaking countries to describe the geographic area that a municipality or a part of a municipality assigns for land registration and property records. It forms part of the official land registry system and provides the framework within which property boundaries are defined, described, and taxed.

In the cadastre, a gemarkung is typically subdivided into one or more fluren (sections), and each flur is further divided into flurstücke (parcels). Each parcel receives a unique identifier, and its size, location, and ownership are recorded in the cadastre and corresponding land registers. The boundaries of a gemarkung, as well as its internal subdivisions, are shown on cadastral maps, often referred to as gemarkungskarten or liegenschaftskarten.

The gemarkung system serves several purposes: it supports precise land registration and property rights, underpins property taxation, and aids in planning, land-use management, and administration. Boundary changes or reorganization of gemarkungen require official acts or surveys and are typically carried out by the competent cadastral or land registry authorities.

Although in many cases the gemarkung aligns with the municipal boundary, it is a technical cadastral concept and may not always coincide exactly with political or administrative borders, especially in regions with historical boundary changes or complex municipal structures.

See also: Flur, Flurstück, Liegenschaftskataster, Kataster, property rights.