Ilūkste

Ilūkste
Town
Ilūkste Roman Catholic Church
Coat of arms
Ilūkste Location in Latvia
Coordinates: 55°58′N 26°17′E / 55.967°N 26.283°E / 55.967; 26.283Coordinates: 55°58′N 26°17′E / 55.967°N 26.283°E / 55.967; 26.283
Country	Latvia
District	Daugavpils District
Town rights	1917
Government
• Mayor	Stefans Rāzna
Area
• Total	9 km2 (3 sq mi)
Population
• Total	2,938
• Density	326/km2 (840/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	LV-5447
Calling code	+371 654
Number of city council members	11

Ilūkste ( pronunciation ; German: Illuxt) is a town and a seat of Ilūkste municipality, southeastern Latvia.

Territory of modern Ilūkste was inhabited by ancient baltic tribe- Selonians. As a settlement Ilūkste started to grow in the beginning of 16th century when it was part of Livonian Confederation and was administered by Komtur of Daugavpils. Ilūkste was first mentioned in written sources in 1559 as a small village, part of the estate lands of Count Kasper Sieberg. After secularization of Livonian Order Ilūkste became part of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. In 1567 lutheran church was built in Ilūkste. Many russian Old-Believers found refugee in Ilūkste during this period. During 17th century local landowner Bartholomew Zieberg offered refugee to jesuits who were expelled from swedish controlled Riga. As a result wooden Catholic church was built in Ilūkste in 1690. In the 18th century jesuits constructed large catholic church with two towers which at that time was one of the biggest in Latvia.