Ilūkste | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Ilūkste Roman Catholic Church | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Ilūkste Location in Latvia | |
| Coordinates:55°58′41″N26°17′48″E / 55.97806°N 26.29667°E /55.97806; 26.29667 | |
| Country |  Latvia |
| Municipality | Augšdaugava Municipality |
| Town rights | 1917 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Stefans Rāzna |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.69 km2 (3.36 sq mi) |
| • Land | 8.53 km2 (3.29 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.16 km2 (0.062 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Population (2025)[2] | |
• Total | 2,036 |
| • Density | 239/km2 (618/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | LV-5447 |
| Calling code | +371 654 |
| Number of city council members | 11 |
| Website | www |
Ilūkste (pronunciationⓘ;Lithuanian:Alūksta, Ilūkšta;German:Illuxt) is atown inAugšdaugava Municipality in theSelonia region ofLatvia. The population in 2020 was 2,216.[3]
The territory of modern Ilūkste was inhabited by theSelonians, an ancientBaltic tribe. As a settlement Ilūkste started to grow in the beginning of the 16th century when it was part of theLivonian Confederation and was administered by theKomtur ofDaugavpils. Ilūkste was first mentioned in written sources in 1559 as a small village, part of the estate lands ofCount Kasper Sieberg.After the secularization of theLivonian Order, Ilūkste became part of theDuchy of Courland and Semigallia. In 1567 aLutheran church was built in Ilūkste. Many RussianOld Believers found refuge in Ilūkste during this period.During 17th century local landowner Bartholomew Zieberg offered refugee toJesuits who were expelled fromSwedish-controlledRiga. As a result, a woodenCatholic church was built in Ilūkste in 1690. In the 18th century Jesuits constructed a large Catholic church with two towers which at that time was one of the biggest in Latvia.
After the Duchy of Courland was incorporated in theRussian Empire in 1795, thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads ofLithuania,Belarus andDaugavpils, Ilūkste became an important trade city and regional center.In 1816 aUniate church was built in Ilūkste. In the 19th century manyJewish merchants settled in Ilūkste and annualfairs were held. In 1840 a highway fromSt. Petersburg toWarsaw was constructed nearby which stimulated further development. In 1865 a new Lutheran church was built. In 1873 the Daugavpils-Tilsit railway line was constructed through the town.In 1910 a Russian teacher institute was opened in Ilūkste.
InWorld War I, Ilūkste was situated on the fighting front line, and by the war's end the city was totally destroyed. There were no intact houses left in Ilūkste and also all churches were damaged. Ilūkste was granted town rights in 1917 however it never fully regained its pre-war level of prosperity. In 1927 a new school building was constructed in town and Latvian poet, playwright and at that moment Minister of EducationRainis participated in the opening ceremony.
During the Soviet period, some industries shifted fromDaugavpils to Ilūkste.[citation needed]
| Towns | |
|---|---|
| Parishes | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
