Rethen
![Map of the Papenteich](/Images/godic/202502/07/Karte_der_Samtgemeinde_Papenteich3601.jpg")
![](/Images/godic/202502/07/Brosen_windrose.svg3601.png")
![The old church of Rethen before its demolition in 1901](/Images/godic/202502/07/Alte_Kirche_von_Rethen_um_18993601.jpg")
![Map from 1600, showing the villages in the region Papenteich](/Images/godic/202502/07/Karte_vom_Papenteich_im_Amt_Gifhorn_um_16003601.jpg")
The formally independent municipality Rethen is part of the municipality Vordorf in Northern Germany. First documented in 1301, it now has a population of about 1,200. Rethen is part of the Samtgemeinde Papenteich at the administrative district of Gifhorn (Lower Saxony). Together with the villages Vordorf and Eickhorst it forms the municipality Vordorf which is situated halfway between Braunschweig and Gifhorn.