Xanten

Xanten
Coat of arms
Xanten
Location of Xanten within Wesel district
Coordinates: 51°39′44″N 06°27′14″E / 51.66222°N 6.45389°E / 51.66222; 6.45389Coordinates: 51°39′44″N 06°27′14″E / 51.66222°N 6.45389°E / 51.66222; 6.45389
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Düsseldorf
District	Wesel
• Mayor	(CDU)
Area
• Total	72.39 km2 (27.95 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	21,510
• Density	300/km2 (770/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	46509
Dialling codes	0 28 01 und 0 28 04 (Marienbaum)
Vehicle registration	WES
Website	www.rathaus-xanten.de

Xanten (German pronunciation: [ˈksantən], Lower Franconian Santen) is a town in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the district of Wesel.

Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park, one of the largest archaeological open air museums in the world, built at the site of the Roman settlements Colonia Ulpia Traiana. Other attractions include the medieval town centre with Xanten Cathedral, many museums and large man-made lakes for various watersport activities. Xanten is visited by approximately one million tourists a year.

Xanten, the only German town whose name begins with X, is made up of three boroughs (Ortsteile): Hochbruch, Niederbruch, and the town centre. Other localities (Bezirke) belonging to the town of Xanten include Birten, Lüttingen, Marienbaum, Vynen, Obermörmter, Wardt, Mörmter, Willich, Beek and Ursel. Parts of a nature reserve called Bislicher Insel are located in the municipality as well.

The town borders the Lower Rhine and the town of Rees to the north, the town of Wesel to the east, the municipalities of Alpen and Sonsbeck to the south, and the towns of Uedem and Kalkar to the west.

The closest international airport is Airport Weeze, (also called Niederrhein Airport; Ryanair hub) is in Weeze (25 km); the closest intercontinental airport is Düsseldorf Airport (60 km)