Krāslava

Krāslava

Krāslava
—  Town  —
Krāslava Catholic Church

Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Kreslau; Kreslavka
Krāslava is located in Latvia
Krāslava
Location in Latvia
Coordinates: 55°53′N 27°10′E / 55.883°N 27.167°E / 55.883; 27.167Coordinates: 55°53′N 27°10′E / 55.883°N 27.167°E / 55.883; 27.167
Country  Latvia
District Krāslava municipality
Town rights 1923
Government
 - Mayor Mečislavs Lukša
Area
 - Total 8.6 km2 (3.3 sq mi)
Population
 - Total 10,854
 - Density 1,262/km2 (3,268.6/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code LV-560(1–3)
Calling code +371 656
Number of city council members 11

Krāslava(About this sound pronunciation ) is a major town in Krāslava municipality, in the Latgalia region of eastern Latvia.

Contents

History

  • Krāslava was an important hillfort on the waterway from Variags to Greeks since early Middle Ages, part of the orthodox Principality of Jersika in 13th century.
  • In 1558 was mentioned for the first time in written sources of Livonian Order.
  • In 1676 the church was built by Jesuit Order and Krāslava became the most northern located center of the Jesuit movement on the border with the areas dominated by Protestant and Orthodox churches.
  • In 1729 Count Ludvig Plater bought Krāslava. For nearly two centuries the Plater family determined Kraslava economical and cultural life.
  • Craftmen from Poland and Germany in co-operation with local people organized the production of carpets, velvet, silk and cotton material, weapons, jewellery and other goods. The goods were in demand at the four Kraslava fairs and also exported to Courland, Poland and Germany.
  • Between 1757 and 1842 Krāslava was home for the Roman Catholic Seminarium, the first educational institution in Latgale region.

Prominent residents

  • Sculptor Naum Aronson (1872-1943)
  • Philosopher Nikolai Lossky
  • Writer and philosopher Konstantin Raudive
  • athlete Ineta Radēviča
  • athlete Valentīna Gotovska
  • Monsignor Konstantin Budkevich – Roman Catholic priest executed in the Lubyanka Prison on Easter Sunday 1923.

See also

Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia portal

Gallery

Krāslava palace (Under restoration)
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