Lüchow

For Lüchow in Schleswig-Holstein, see Lüchow, Schleswig-Holstein.
For the Chinese city formerly known as 'Luchow', see Hofei.
Lüchow

Coat of arms
Lüchow

Coordinates: 52°58′N 11°09′E / 52.967°N 11.150°E / 52.967; 11.150Coordinates: 52°58′N 11°09′E / 52.967°N 11.150°E / 52.967; 11.150
Country Germany
State Lower Saxony
District Lüchow-Dannenberg
Municipal assoc. Lüchow (Wendland)
Government
 • Mayor Karl-Heinz Schultz (CDU)
Area
 • Total 89.01 km2 (34.37 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)[1]
 • Total 9,481
 • Density 110/km2 (280/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 29439
Dialling codes 05841
Vehicle registration DAN
Website www.luechow.de

Lüchow (Wendland) (German pronunciation: [ˈlyːçoː]) is a city in northeastern Lower Saxony, in Germany. It is the seat of the Samtgemeinde ("collective municipality") Lüchow (Wendland), and is the capital of the district Lüchow-Dannenberg. Situated approximately 13 km north of Salzwedel, Lüchow is located on the German Framework Road. In the Polabian language, Lüchow is called Ljauchüw (Lgauchi or Lieuschü in older German reference material).

Geography

The marketplace with the old City Hall in the background.

The river Jeetzel, a tributary of the Elbe, flows through the city.[2] The surrounding landscape was created by glacial action, rising in the west, lower in the east.

A total of 89 km2 are within the limits of the city, which is divided into 24 boroughs:

  • Banneick
  • Beutow
  • Bösel
  • Gollau
  • Grabow
  • Jabel
  • Jeetzel
  • Kolborn
  • Krautze
  • Künsche
  • Loge
  • Lüchow
  • Lüsen
  • Müggenburg
  • Plate
  • Ranzau
  • Reddebeitz
  • Reetze
  • Rehbeck
  • Saaße
  • Satemin
  • Seerau in der Lucie
  • Tarmitz
  • Weitsche

Several of the boroughs are named for, and generally represent, previously-independent settlements which Lüchow has incorporated.

Map of the surrounding Drawehn landscape.

The site was first mentioned in 1158, and received city rights in 1293. The only remnant of the fortifications built to defend in the late Middle Ages is a tower, which was adapted and used as a bell tower by St John's Church. A gate was erected in 1555 which divided the city centre from its western suburbs; this gate was demolished in 1793. Lüchow suffered from an outbreak of the Plague in 1537, and barely half a century later, in 1589, was largely destroyed by fire. Another fire in 1608 destroyed much of what had been rebuilt. The worst fire, in 1811, destroyed even the city hall and the Schloss.

Sons and daughters of the city

Friedrich Syrup was born in Lüchow. Detlef Weigel grew up and attended high school in Lüchow.

The "Amtsturm", a remnant of the Schloss.

References

  1. ↑ Landesbetrieb für Statistik und Kommunikationstechnologie Niedersachsen, 102 Bevölkerung - Basis Zensus 2011, Stand 31. Dezember 2015 (Tabelle K1020014)
  2. ↑ Klaus Rohmeyer and Hans Jürgen Hansen, Land zwischen Heide und Meer, Süddeutscher Verlag (publisher), 1979, page 107.
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