Neighbouring districts are (from north clockwise) Karlsruhe, Calw, Freudenstadt and the Ortenaukreis.

The district was created in 1939 as the successor of the Oberamt Rastatt and later the Großkreis Baden.

The partnership with the Italian Provincia di Pesaro e Urbino was started in 1996.

It is also twinned with the Czech town from which its Princess came from during the Baroque period and for whom the summer palace was built.

The top-left corner of the coat of arms show a wine ladder, the symbol of the city Rastatt.