View source for Ludza

{{Short description|Town in Ludza Municipality, Latvia}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Ludza
| settlement_type    = Town
| image_shield       = Ludza COA.svg
| shield_size        = 
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_skyline      = Ludza 2012. gads.jpg
| imagesize          = 280px
| image_caption      = Ludza skyline
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Latvia}}
| subdivision_type1  = Municipality
| subdivision_name1  = [[Ludza Municipality]]
| established_title  = [[Town rights]]
| established_date   = 1177
| pushpin_map        = Latvia
| pushpin_label_position = above
| pushpin_mapsize    = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Latvia
| coordinates        = {{coord|56|33|N|27|43|E|region:LV_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| nickname           = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Edgars Mekšs
| blank_name_sec1    = Number of Municipality council members
| blank_info_sec1    = 15
| area_total_km2     = {{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q16868672}}
| area_footnotes     = {{wikidata|reference|best||P2046|P518=Q16868672}}
| area_water_km2     = {{#expr:{{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q16868672}}-{{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q11081619}}}}
| area_land_km2      = {{#invoke:wd|properties|raw|qualifiers|best|raw||P2046|P518=Q11081619}}
| area_metro_km2     = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_as_of   = {{#invoke:WikidataIB|formatDate|{{wikidata|qualifier|best|raw||P1082|P585}}|df=y}}
| population_total   = {{wikidata|property|qualifier|best||P1082}}
| population_footnotes = {{wikidata|references|best||P1082}}
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal code]]
| postal_code        = LV-570(1-2)
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbering plan|Calling code]]
| area_code          = +371 657
| timezone1          = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset1        = +2
| timezone1_DST      = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +3
| website            = [http://www.ludza.lv/ ludza.lv]
}}
'''Ludza''' ({{audio|Lv-Ludza.ogg|pronunciation}}; {{langx|pl|Lucyn}}, {{langx|de|Ludsen}}, {{langx|yi|לוצין|Lutsin}}, {{langx|ru|Лудза}}, ''Ludza'') is a town in the [[Latgale]] region of eastern [[Latvia]].<ref name="LudzaMunicipality">{{cite web |title=Ludza municipality |url=https://ludzasnovads.lv/en/ |website=Ludzasnovads.lv |access-date=17 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Ludza is the oldest town in Latvia and this is commemorated by a key in its coat of arms.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ludza municipality - Symbols |url=https://ludzasnovads.lv/en/ludza-municipality/symbols/ |website=Ludzasnovads.lv |access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref> Ludza is the administrative centre of [[Ludza Municipality]] that is located nearby the [[Russia]]n border.<ref name="LudzaMunicipality" /> The population as of 2020 was 7,667.<ref name="csb.gov">{{cite web|url=http://data.csb.gov.lv/pxweb/en/iedz/iedz__iedzskaits__ikgad/ISG020.px/|title=ISG020. Population number and its change by statistical region, city, town, 21 development centres and county|website=data.csb.gov.lv|accessdate=2021-02-21}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Lucyn, Łuža. Люцын, Лужа (N. Orda, 1875-76).jpg|thumb|Painting of [[Ludza Castle]] ruins by [[Napoleon Orda]].]]
After [[Nikolay Karamzin]], Ludza was first mentioned as ''Лючин'' in [[Hypatian Codex]] dating back to 1173 or 1177.<ref name="rvb.ru">{{cite web|url=https://rvb.ru/18vek/karamzin/4igr/01text/02prim/vol_03.htm|title= Карамзин Н. История государства Российского: примечание 12 к III тому|website=rvb.ru|accessdate=2021-02-21}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruins of Ludza medieval castle |url=https://www.latvia.travel/en/sight/ruins-ludza-medieval-castle |website=Latvia.travel |access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref>

===Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth===
After the dissolution of the Livonian Order in 1561, Ludza was incorporated into the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and became a part of [[Wenden Voivodeship]]. In January 1626, during the [[Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629)|Polish-Swedish War]], Ludza was captured without a battle by [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]] due to the defeat of the forces of [[Marszałek|Polish-Lithuanian marshal]] [[Jan Stanisław Sapieha]]. Later it was recaptured by Polish forces.<ref name="Ludzas Taisneiba">{{cite news |last=Minčonoks |first=Vladislavs |title=Ludzas pilsētas vēsture |publisher=Ludzas Taisneiba |edition=17 |page=4 |date=1961-02-09}}</ref>

In 1678, [[Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Commonwealth's Sejm]] appointed a special commission in [[Grodno]] that had to build [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] churches in Latgale. A year later, the commission visited Ludza and in 1687, building of the church was completed. In 1736, the church was destroyed by fire.<ref name="Daugavas Vēstnesis">{{cite news |last=Murāns |first=Francis |title=Ludzas vēstures pēdās |publisher=Daugavas Vēstnesis |edition=45 |page=5 |date=1939-08-14}}</ref>

===Russian Empire===
After the first [[partition of Poland]] in 1772, Ludza was taken over by the [[Russian Empire]] and added to [[Vitebsk Governorate]]. Ludza received town rights in 1777 from [[Catherine II of Russia]]. During the first part of the 19th century, most of the population of Ludza were [[Jews]] (67% in 1815) and there were 7 [[synagogue]]s in the town.<ref>Mejers Melers. Ebreju kapsētas Latvijā. Rīga 2006. {{ISBN|9984-19-904-5}} 69. lpp.</ref>

===Latvia===
After signing of the [[Latvian–Soviet Peace Treaty]] in 1920, [[Ludzas apriņķis]] and Ludza as its administrative centre was incorporated into the [[Republic of Latvia]].

During [[World War II]], Ludza was under [[Nazi Germany|German]] occupation from 4 July 1941 until 23 July 1944.<ref>[https://www.soldat.ru/spravka/freedom/1-ssr-3.html Освобождение городов]</ref> It was administered as a part of the [[Generalbezirk Lettland]] of [[Reichskommissariat Ostland]]. The Jewish population was restricted to a [[ghetto]]. From July 1941 until the spring of 1942, hundreds of Jews were murdered in mass executions perpetrated by [[Einsatzgruppen]].

After Latvia regained its independence in 1991, Ludza became 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==
[[File:Ludzas pilsdrupas.jpg|thumb|Ruins of the [[Ludza Castle]]]]
Ludza Museum and Ludza Tourism Information Centre offer excursions around the town. The most visited sights are:

* Ludza History Museum and open-air exposition
* [[:lv:Ludzas katoļu baznīca|Roman Catholic Church]]
* [[Russian Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] Church
* [[:lv:Ludzas evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca|Evangelical Lutheran Church]]
* [[Old Believers]]' Church
* Ruins of the medieval [[Ludza Castle]]
* Ludza Craftsmen Centre

Several lakes offer fishing and water tourism possibilities.

==Transport==
===Roads===
Ludza is located on the main [[Riga]] - [[Moscow]] road, as a part of [[European route E22]], and only 30&nbsp;km away from the Latvian-[[Russia]]n border.

===Railway===
Ludza Train Station is a part of the [[Rēzekne|Rēzekne II]] - [[Zilupe]] railway line that was originally built in 1901 as a part of [[Ventspils]] - [[Moscow]] line. The current station building was built after the [[World War II]].<ref>Toms Altbergs, Karīna Augustāne, Ieva Pētersone. ''Dzelzceļi Latvijā''. Rīga : Jumava, 2009, 106. lpp. {{ISBN|978-9984-38-698-0}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Ludza music school.JPG|thumb|Ludza Music School in winter]]
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)<ref>{{cite web |title=Ludzas Mūzikas pamatskola |url=http://www.ludzamuzika.lv/ |website=Ludzamuzika.lv |access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref>
* Ludza Art School<ref>{{cite web |title=Ludzas art school - Vasals Latgolā |url=http://visitlatgale.com/en/objects/view?id=42 |website=VisitLatgale.com |access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref>
* Ludza Children and Youth Centre<ref>{{cite web |title=Ludza Youth Club "Umbrella" |url=https://ludzasnovads.lv/en/non-governmental-organizations/ludza-youth-club-umbrella/ |website=Ludzasnovads.lv |access-date=17 June 2022}}</ref>
* Ludza Sport School<ref>{{cite web |title=Ludzas novada Sporta skola |url=https://ludzasnovads.lv/sports/lnss-aktualitates/ |website=Ludzasnovads.lv |access-date=17 June 2022 |language=lv}}</ref>

==Demographics==
As of 2020, the town had a population of 7,667, of which 4,455 (58.1%) were ethnic [[Latvians]], 2,661 (34.7%) were ethnic [[Russians]], 168 (2.1%) were Belarusians, 93 (1.2%) were [[Ukrainians]], 63 (0.8%) were [[Polish people|Poles]], 24 (0.3%) were [[Lithuanians]], and 187 (2.4%) belonging to other ethnic groups.<ref name="csb.gov" />

==Notable people==
===Born in Ludza===
* [[Yakov Kulnev]] (1763–1812) – major-general, hero of the Patriotic war with Napoleon
* [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski]] (1878—1945) – Polish writer and explorer
* [[Karol Bohdanowicz]] (1864–1947) – Polish geologist
* [[Leonid Dobychin]] (1894–1936) – Russian writer
* [[Ilya Chashnik]] (1902–1929) – Russian [[suprematism|suprematist]] painter
* [[Stanislavs Ladusãns|Stanislaus Ladusãns]] (1912-1993) - [[Jesuits|Jesuit]] priest

==Twinning and international cooperation==
[[Ludza municipality]] has several cooperation partners abroad.

* [[Bad Bodenteich]] (Germany)
* [[Hlybokaye]] (Belarus)
* [[Brest, Belarus|Brest]] (Belarus)
* [[Nevel (town)|Nevel]] (Russia)
* [[Sebezh]] (Russia)
* [[Novopolotsk]] (Belarus)

==See also==
*[[Ludza Estonians]]
*[[Ludza Castle|Ludza castle ruins]]
*[[Ludza municipality]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.ludza.lv/ Ludza Municipality portal]
* [http://www.ludzasamatnieki.lv Portal of Ludza Craftsmen Centre, LV, ENG, DE, RU]
* [http://www.yadvashem.org/untoldstories/database/index.asp?cid=488 The murder of the Jews of Ludza] during [[World War II]], at the [[Yad Vashem]] website

{{Ludza Municipality}}
{{Latvian regional cities}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ludza| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Latgale]]
[[Category:12th-century establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Latvia]]
[[Category:Populated places in Ludza Municipality]]
[[Category:Historic Jewish communities in Latvia]]