Bauska | |||
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Town | |||
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Location in Latvia | |||
Coordinates: 56°24′30″N 24°11′35″E / 56.40833°N 24.19306°ECoordinates: 56°24′30″N 24°11′35″E / 56.40833°N 24.19306°E | |||
Country | Latvia | ||
District | Bauska municipality | ||
Town rights | 1609 | ||
Government | |||
• Mayor | Raitis Ābelnieks | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 6,3 km2 (24 sq mi) | ||
Population | |||
• Total | 9,411 | ||
• Density | 1,493,8/km2 (38,690/sq mi) | ||
Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||
• Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||
Postal code | LV-390(1-2) | ||
Calling code | +371 639 | ||
Number of city council members | 11 | ||
Website | http://www.bauska.lv/en/ |
Bauska ( pronunciation ) is a town in Bauska municipality, in the Zemgale region of southern Latvia. Bauska is located 66 km from the Latvian capital Riga and 20 km from the Lithuanian border on the busy European route E67
The town is situated at the confluence of the shallow rivers Mūsa and Mēmele where they form the Lielupe River. Average temperatures in January are -5C, and 17.5C in July. Rainfall averages 500–650 mm annually.
In previous centuries city was known in German as Bauske, in Yiddish as Boisk and in Lithuanian as Bauskė.
By the early 13th century this territory was inhabited by Semigallian tribes. In the mid-15th century, Bauska castle was built by Germans of the Livonian Order, who then were a part of the Terra Mariana confederacy. In the shadow and protection of the castle a small town called Schildburg grew on the narrow peninsula formed by the Mūsa and Mēmele rivers. Around 1580 on the orders of Duke Gotthard Kettler this settlement was relocated to the present location of Bauska Old Town, eventually receiving city rights sometime before 1609.