Travel directory

Ludza and Ludza district

Ludza, one of the oldest towns in Latvia, was first mentioned in Russian chronicles dating to 1173 or 1177. The Livonian Order built a stone fortress in 1399 atop an older Latgalian fortress and used Ludza as an eastern outpost in Livonia. Ludza received town rights in 1777 from Catherine II of Russia.

Ludza district is the Far East of the Latvian Republic. The sculptorLudza Vilnis Titāns made a special group of sculptures “Latvia in the Sun’s sign” in honour of the 80th anniversary of independence of the Latvian Republic, marking symbolically Latvia in the map of the world. These sculptural signs were located in the Latvian farthest northern, eastern, southern and western points. Pasiene community of Ludza district is the farthest in the east and it is the first place in Latvia that says “Good morning!” to the sun in the morning. The sign “Austras koks” is located in Meikšani Village of Pasiene community on the left side of the road Zilupe-Šķaune. The sing has a latitude 56.16 North and a longitude LV 28.14 East.

The district’s location (248 km from the capital) gives an opportunity to forget urbanisation, noise and cities’ smoke, to enjoy the country nature: swimming in various lakes, fishing, mushrooming, gathering berries, hiking around picturesque landscapes and of course eating fresh ecologically clean products. The are of Ludza district is 2,478.7 km2 (3.84% of the total area of Latvia).

On May 1, 2004 the border of the district became the frontier of the European Union. Ludza dsitrict’s neighbours are the Russian Federation (122.6 km long border) and Belarus (8.4 km long border). At the place, where 3 countries’ borders come together at one place, a Friendship Barrow was made in honour of antifascist guerrillas of the Second World War. On the top of the Barrow an oak is growing – the symbol of the people’s friendship. There are three alleys leading from the Barrow to each of the three countries: lime trees – to Latvia, maples – to Belarus and birches – to Russia.

On the state frontier there are 4 points of border control: Zilupe and Grebņeva on railways and Terehova and Grebņeva on motorways.

There are 31 939 inhabitants (results of the 2000 poll); 54% - Latvians, 36% - Russians, 4% - Byelorussians, 1% - Ukrainians and 3% - other nationalities.

The east of Latvia is often called the Land of Blue Lakes and Ludza district makes a part of it. Waters make approx. 3% of the district. In the district there are 140 lakes and 7 reservoirs with area larger than 1 ha. The largest lakes are Cirma (12.6 km2), Nirza (5.6 km2), Plisūns, Šķaune and Pilda. Istra Lake and Pilda Lake are included into complex protected areas. In summer these lakes attracts large number of tourists and some guest houses are located close to beaches and offer playgrounds for volleyball, rent boats and fishing equipment, water bicycles, etc.

History of Ludza district

In the museum of the oldest town in Latvia – Ludza – you may leaLudzarn about history of the area, see how the Latgalian tribes lived centuries ago, what peoples wandered around the district searching for a settlement place. The ruins of the German castle (built in 1399) is a symbol of struggle and war that were led here in the Middle Ages. Rich archaeological expositions show that in the VII millenary B.C. here lived Finno-Ugric tribes. Latgalian tribes, moving to the north, in the beginning of the IX century reached the present Latvia’s northern frontier. A part of Finno-Ugric tribes moved farther to the north or assimilated with Latgalian tribes.

In the X-XI centuries several feudal princedoms with castles appeared in the area for protecting against outside enemies. In the place, which is very suitable for protection purposes – between Ludza Small and Big Lakes – the Latgalian castle was built. In the beginning of the XIII century the German knights consolidated at the shore of the Daugava River and began oppress the Latgalian tribes. They built powerful stone castles. Such a castle was also built in Ludza and its ruins are still seen today. More than for 700 years the power belonged to other peoples – Germans, Poles, Russians.

In 1772 after division of Poland, Latgale joined Russia. In the same year the Empress Catherine visited Ludza. A year after joining Russia, Ludza received the area status. Ludza area also existed at the time of the first independence of Latvia till 1949, when at the Soviet times Ludza district was created.          

Ludza town council

Address: Raiņa ielā 16A, Ludzā, LV-5701
Fax: +371 65707402
E-mail: dome@ludzaspils.lv
Website: www.ludzaspils.lv