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Ludza

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for the river see Ludza River
Ludza
Lucyn
Town
Ludza skyline
Ludza skyline
Coat of arms of Ludza
Coat of arms
Country Latvia
Town rights1777
Government
 • MayorAlīna Gendele
Population
 (20119)
 • Total
8,931
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
LV-570(1-2)
Calling code+371 657
Number of Municipality council members15

Ludza (pronunciationⓘ) is a town in the Latgalia region of eastern Latvia. It is located on the main Riga - Moscow road, part of European route E22, and only 30 km from the Latvian-Russian border. The population as of 2011 was 8,931.

History

Ludza, the oldest town in Latvia, was first mentioned in Russian chronicles dating to 1173 or 1177. In 1399 the Livonian Order built a stone fortress atop an older Latgalian fortress and used Ludza as an eastern outpost in Livonia. Ludza Castle ruins can be visited nowadays. After the dissolution of the Livonian Order in 1561, Ludza was incorporated to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and became part of Wenden Voivodeship. After the first partition of Poland in 1772 was taken over by the Russian Empire and added to Vitebsk Governorate. Ludza received town rights in 1777 from Catherine II of Russia. The Jewish population was important in the town. On July 1941, the Germans occupied the town and kept the Jews prisoners in a ghetto. From July 1941 until the spring of 1942, hundreds of Jews are murdered in mass executions perpetrated by an Einsatzgruppen.

Until July 1, 2009 Ludza was the administrative centre of Ludza District. On July 1, 2009 due to the introduction of the new administrative division in Latvia it became the centre of Ludza municipality.

Tourism

Ludza Museum and Ludza Tourism Information Centre offer excursions around the town. The most visited sights are:

Several lakes offer fishing and water tourism possibilities.

Education

The children of Ludza may attend three pre-school educational institutions - "Rūķītis", "Pasaciņa" and "Namiņš". Elementary and secondary education curricula are provided by Ludza Gymnasium and Ludza Secondary School #2, as well as by Ludza Evening Secondary School. Additional out of school activities are offered at:

  • Ludza Music Primary School (music school with integrated primary school)
  • Ludza Art School
  • Ludza Children and Youth Centre
  • Ludza Sport School

Demographics

As of 2011, the town had a population of 8931, of which 5175 (57.9%) were ethnic Latvians, 3259 (36.5%) were ethnic Russians, 192 (2.1%) were Belarusians, 103 (1.2%) were Ukrainians, 84 (0.9%) were Poles, 23 (0.3%) were Lithuanians, and 95 (1.1%) belonging to other ethnic groups.[1]

Notable people

Twinning and international cooperation

Ludza municipality has several cooperation partners abroad.

Ludza municipality takes part in the Euroregions Pskov, Livonija,[2] and Country of Lakes.[3]

  • Ruins of the castle
    Ruins of the castle
  • Yakov Kulnev
    Yakov Kulnev
  • "Suprematism" by Ilya Chashnik, 1923
    "Suprematism" by Ilya Chashnik, 1923
  • Ludza Catholic Church
    Ludza Catholic Church
  • Russian Orthodox church in Ludza
    Russian Orthodox church in Ludza
  • Ludza Music Primary School
    Ludza Music Primary School
  • Former synagogue
    Former synagogue
  • Jewish cemetery across Little Lake Ludza
    Jewish cemetery across Little Lake Ludza

See also

References

  1. ^ http://pop-stat.mashke.org/latvia-ethnic-comm2011.htm
  2. ^ Pskov, Livonija
  3. ^ Country of Lakes
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