Luže (Chrudim District)
Luže | |||
Biela | |||
Town | |||
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Country | Czech Republic | ||
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Region | Pardubice | ||
District | Chrudim | ||
Commune | Chrudim | ||
Municipality | Skuteč | ||
Elevation | 309 m (1,014 ft) | ||
Coordinates | 49°53′N 16°1′E / 49.883°N 16.017°E | ||
Area | 30.7 km2 (11.9 sq mi) | ||
Population | 2,582 (2006-10-02) | ||
Density | 84 / km2 (218 / sq mi) | ||
First mentioned | 1349 | ||
Mayor | Radek Zeman | ||
Timezone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
- summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
Postal code | 538 54 | ||
Location in the Czech Republic
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Wikimedia Commons: Luže | |||
Statistics: statnisprava.cz | |||
Website: www.luze.cz | |||
Luže is a town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. It has around 2,600 inhabitants.
Districts
The districts of Luže are Bělá, Brdo, Dobrkov, Doly, Domanice, Košumberk, Luže, Rabouň, Radim, Srbce, Voletice and Zdislav.
History
Luže was founded on the right bank of the river Novohradka. It lies between the woody hills of Českomoravská vrchovina and the plentiful Elbe lowlands. Luže was founded in 1250 when Kamenicza joined with the newly formed town of Luza. The history of the town is closely linked with the Košumberk castle. At the end of the Middle Ages, Luže was part of the manor of lords of Chlum and Košumberk, later Slavatas from Chlum and Košumberk. After the establishment of Czechoslovak republic, Luže became a spa town. The Hamza sanatorium in Luže was founded in 1901 by Professor. MD. Frantisek Hamza. It was the first sanatorium in Central Europe for children with tuberculosis. In 1962 the treatment of tuberculosis patients ceased and Luže focused upon the rehabilitation of patients with mobility impairments. The present-day spa town Luže attracts tourists to many monuments and beautiful nature in peaceful countryside.
Sights
Košumberk Castle
Košumberk Castle was established by the noble family Slavata of Chlum. In the 17th century, the local branch of the family died out. The manor was inherited by the wife of Slavata, the Countess Hieserle. In 1690, the property was donated to the Jesuits. They managed the castle until the abolition of the Jesuit friary. The last owner of this estate was a Bavarian family of Thurn und Taxis, who owned the estate until the establishment of an independent republic. In 1922 got Košumberk "Družstvo na záchranu hradu Košumberka" were the team that retrieved Košumberk. Nowadays Košumberk is the property of the town of Luže. There is an historical exhibition of the castle and town.
Pilgrimage Church of the Virgin Mary on Chlumek
The Pilgrimage Church of the Virgin Mary on Chlumek is translated to Poutní kostel Panny Marie na Chlumku in Czech. The founder of the pilgrimage site in the Chlumek was Mary Maximilian Countess of Zdar (Marie Maxmiliána hraběnka ze Žďáru ). She built the church at her expense. On 5/8/1668, Bishop Matouš Ferdinand Sobek devoted the foundation stone and on 8/9/1669, an expensive baroque church consecrated to Virgin Mary. The church complex has the rectangular floor plan. The main aisle is demarcated by balustrade interspersed by four larger and four smaller chapels. The Building construction and all architectural motifs are completely accurate. The same high rating applies to a unique set of artistic decoration of the building. It was created round 1700. Some works are undoubtedly the paramount gallery quality.
St. Bartholomew's Church
Originally a Gothic Church of St. Bartholomew, which was first mentioned in 1381, has been renovated several times. Part of the aisle has maintained the Gothic style. In the church there are some tombstones such as : the tombstone of Divis Slavata from Chlum and Kosumberk.
The Synagogue and Jewish Cemetry
On the South East side of town lies a district which was inhabited by a Jewish community. Since the late 18th century the city had a Rabbi. Dwellers (309 persons in 1920) were almost exterminated during the Second World War. The Synagogue building from the 18th century has been renewed. A large Jewish cemetery about 1 km north of Luže has graves dating back to the 17th century.
Other sights
- Baroque house No.87
- Plague Column in the Koukal square
- Statue of St. Florian (1777)
- St. Jan Nepomuk Chapel (1726)
- Tree Linduše under Košumberk (protected natural monument)
- Paletínská Chapel
- Huge mounds of an incomplete Celtic settlement
- Protected nature sanctuary Poklona with rare flora
- Arboretum in the Hamza sanatorium area
Notable residents
- Josef Koukal
- Vilém Slavatu z Chlumu a Košumberka
External links
- Municipality website (English)
- Municipality website (Czech)
- Hamza Hospital (Czech)