Luckenwalde

Luckenwalde
Market tower and St. John's Church
Coat of arms
Luckenwalde
Location of Luckenwalde within Teltow-Fläming district
Coordinates: 52°05′N 13°10′E / 52.083°N 13.167°E / 52.083; 13.167Coordinates: 52°05′N 13°10′E / 52.083°N 13.167°E / 52.083; 13.167
Country	Germany
State	Brandenburg
District	Teltow-Fläming
Government
• Mayor	Elisabeth Herzog-von der Heide (SPD)
Area
• Total	46.75 km2 (18.05 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	20,358
• Density	440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	14943
Dialling codes	03371
Vehicle registration	TF
Website	www.luckenwalde.de

Luckenwalde (German pronunciation: [lʊkənˈvaldə]; Upper Sorbian: Łukowc) is the capital of the Teltow-Fläming district in the German state of Brandenburg. It is situated on the Nuthe river north of the Fläming Heath, at the eastern rim of the Nuthe-Nieplitz Nature Park, about 50 km (31 mi) south of Berlin. The town area includes the villages of Frankenfelde and Kolzenburg.

The former Slavic settlement of Lugkin was conquered by Margrave Conrad Wettin of Meissen in the course of the 1147 Wendish Crusade. Lukenwalde Castle was first mentioned in a 1216 deed as a burgward of the Bishopric of Brandenburg, it was acquired by Zinna Abbey in 1285. Together with Zinna it remained under the rule of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg and its successor, the Prussian Duchy of Magdeburg until it was attached to the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1773.

Originating in the 17th century, Luckenwalde's cloth and wool factories did not spring up till the reign of King Frederick II of Prussia and soon were among the most extensive in Germany. Other traditional industries were cotton printing and a dye works, brewing, and the making of metal and bronze goods. In 1808 Luckenwalde officially received town privileges.