 Frankenau's oldest known seals date from the mid 16th century and showed the lion of Hesse, with the usual red and silver stripes as seen in Hesse's coat of arms at right, and indeed in many civic coats of arms throughout Hesse.The current colours – including the heraldically unusual blue for a lion's tongue – have been in use since at least 1605.The partnership is a three-sided arrangement, with Die and Wirksworth also partnered with each other.