Middle Ages were governed in both Bruttig and Fankel by several so-called Weistümer (a Weistum – cognate with English wisdom – was a legal pronouncement issued by men learned in law in the Middle Ages and early modern times). In the time of French occupation, beginning in 1794, both centres were assigned to the Mairie (“Mayoralty”) of Beilstein, which itself belonged to the Canton of Zell. Administration nevertheless lay with the Canton of Treis, and as of 1816, when Bruttig and Fankel were assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna, it lay with the former Cochem district. Since 1946, the two centres have been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. In the course of administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate, the two formerly administratively separate municipalities of Bruttig and Fankel were amalgamated into one, named Bruttig-Fankel. Politics Municipal council The council is made up of 16 council members, who were elected by majority vote at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman. Mayor Bruttig-Fankel's mayor is Rainer Welches. Coat of arms The municipality's arms might be described thus: Per pale argent a fess wavy vert, the whole surmounted by a key palewise gules, the wards to chief and turned to sinister, and vert a fleur-de-lis Or. Bruttig-Fankel has an impaled coat of arms, meaning that it is composed of two other coats united in one field and separated by a vertical line of partition (“per pale”). The former coats belonged to the two constituent communities when they were separate municipalities. Town partnerships Bruttig-Fankel fosters partnerships with the following places: Overijse, Flemish Brabant, Belgium since 1958. Culture and sightseeing Buildings The following are listed buildings or sites in Rhineland-Palatinate’s Directory of Cultural Monuments: Bruttig Saint Margaret’s Catholic Parish Church (Pfarrkirche St. Margaretha), Hauptstraße – late mediaeval west tower from 1507, sculpture early 16th century, Romanesque Revival quarrystone aisleless church, 1845-1847; in the churchyard wall: cross, 19th century, grave cross from 1504, two grave crosses from 1807 and 1833, gravestone from 1555, 11 grave crosses from, among other years, 1567, 1572, 1598, 1600 and 1614; niche with Crucifixion group from 1599, renovated in 1905, Mary and Joseph, 18th century; whole complex with graveyard and rectory Am Moselufer (no number) – town hall, three-floor plastered building, outdoor staircase, from 1619 Am Moselufer 6 – Schunck’sches Haus, former courthouse and residence, Late