Łęknica
| Łęknica | |||
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Rectory in Łęknica
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 Łęknica
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| Coordinates: 51°32′18″N 14°44′21″E / 51.53833°N 14.73917°E | |||
| Country |
 Poland
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| Voivodeship | Lubusz | ||
| County | Żary | ||
| Gmina | Łęknica (urban gmina) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 16.4 km2 (6.3 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| • Total | 2,641 | ||
| • Density | 160/km2 (420/sq mi) | ||
| Postal code | 68-208 | ||
| Climate | Cfb | ||
| Website | http://www.leknica.pl | ||
Łęknica [wɛŋkˈɲit͡sa] (German: Lugknitz; Upper Sorbian: Wjeska) is a border town in western Poland, one of the two gminas of Żary County in Lubusz Voivodeship.
The town is situated in the Polish part of the historic Upper Lusatia region, in the broad valley of the Neisse river, which forms the border with Germany. A bridge across the river connects it with the opposite German town of Bad Muskau, another border crossing in the south leads to Krauschwitz. Łęknica's population numbers 2,648 (2004).
Muskau Park (Park Mużakowski), a Polish-German World Heritage Site, stretches north of the town centre.
The area along the Neisse river was already settled in the Bronze Age. While neighbouring Muskau was already mentioned in 1249 and was awarded city rights in 1452, the village of Lugnitz was first documented in 1505, then part of the Muskau state country.
According to the 1635 Peace of Prague, Lugknitz together with Upper Lusatia passed from the Bohemian Crown to the Electorate of Saxony. Upon the Congress of Vienna in 1815, it was ceded to Prussia and incorporated into the Province of Silesia. About 1880 it was still a small Sorbian agricultural village, one of only two Sorbian-speaking settlements east of the Neisse river, the other being Braunsdorf (Brunojcy). That changed with the turn of century, when industry was established on the Neisse. Brown coal started to be mined. Based on rich clay deposits, ceramic companies emerged and also glass factories.
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Wikipedia