Ludwigslust

Ludwigslust

Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust Castle
Ludwigslust Castle
Coat of arms of Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust is located in Germany
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Ludwigslust
Coordinates 53°19′N 11°29′E / 53.31667°N 11.48333°E / 53.31667; 11.48333
Administration
Country Germany
State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
District Ludwigslust-Parchim
Town subdivisions 7 Ortsteile
Mayor Petra Billerbeck (Ind.)
Basic statistics
Area 78.30 km2 (30.23 sq mi)
Elevation 35 m  (115 ft)
Population 12,319 (31 December 2010)
 - Density 157 /km2 (407 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate LWL
Postal code 19288
Area code 03874
Website stadtludwigslust.de

Ludwigslust (German pronunciation: [luːtvɪçsˈlʊst]) is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, 40 km south of Schwerin. It was the capital of the former district of Ludwigslust, and is part of the district Ludwigslust-Parchim since September 2011.

Contents

History

Ludwigslust

Ludwigslust is a relatively young town. In 1724 Prince Ludwig, the son of Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, decided to build a hunting lodge near a small hamlet called Klenow. Later, when he took over the reign, he stayed most time at this residence and called it Ludwigslust ("Ludwig's joy"). In 1765 Ludwigslust became the capital of the duchy instead of Schwerin. The town was enlarged by a residential palace (the Schloss). This situation lasted until 1837, when Grand Duke Paul Friedrich returned the capital status to Schwerin.

The Wöbbelin concentration camp—sometimes referred to as Ludwigslust concentration camp—was established by the SS near the city of Ludwigslust in 1945.

Citizens of Ludwigslust, Germany, inspect a nearby concentration camp under orders of the 82nd Airborne Division

Sights

  • Schloss Ludwigslust, a Baroque residential palace built in 1772-1776, after plans by Johann Joachim Busch. It is known as the "Little Versailles in Mecklenburg". The palace is located in the middle of the Schlosspark, a vast park (120 ha.), laid in English style, with canals, fountains and artificial cascades.
  • The Stadtkirche (Municipal Church), built in 1765-1770 in Neoclassical style with Baroque influences. Its classical design, with a portico resting on six Doric columns, gives the church the appearance of a Greek temple.

Twin towns — sister cities

Ludwigslust is twinned with:

  • Germany Ahrensburg, Germany
  • United States Muscatine, United States

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