Lüchow

Coat of arms

Lüchow

Location of Lüchow within Lüchow-Dannenberg district

Coordinates: 52°58′N 11°09′E / 52.967°N 11.150°ECoordinates: 52°58′N 11°09′E / 52.967°N 11.150°E

Country

Government

• Mayor

Karl-Heinz Schultz (CDU)

Area

• Total

89.01 km² (34.37 sq mi)

Elevation

18 m (59 ft)

Population (2015-12-31)

• Total

9,481

• Density

110/km² (280/sq mi)

CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)

29439

05841

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).

The river Jeetzel, a tributary of the Elbe, flows through the city. 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:

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

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.

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

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Wikipedia