Ludwigslust

Ludwigslust (German pronunciation: [luːtvɪçsˈlʊst]) is a central castle town of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, 40 km south of Schwerin. Since 2011 it has been part of the Ludwigslust-Parchim district.

Ludwigslust
Coat of arms
Location of Ludwigslust within Ludwigslust-Parchim district
Ludwigslust
Ludwigslust
Coordinates: 53°19′28″N 11°29′50″E
CountryGermany
StateMecklenburg-Vorpommern
DistrictLudwigslust-Parchim
Subdivisions7 Ortsteile
Government
 • MayorReinhard Mach (Ind.)
Area
 • Total78.30 km2 (30.23 sq mi)
Elevation
35 m (115 ft)
Population
 (2019-12-31)[1]
 • Total11,950
 • Density150/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
19288
Dialling codes03874
Vehicle registrationLWL
Websitestadtludwigslust.de

Ludwigslust is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. The former royal residential town is known for its rich heritage, especially the famed Ludwigslust Palace, known as Versailles of the North.

History
Ludwigslust

In 1724 Prince Ludwig, the son of Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, decided to build a hunting lodge near a small hamlet called Klenow. Later, after his succession to the Dukedom, this became his favourite residence and he named it accordingly Ludwigslust ("Ludwig's pleasure/desire"). In 1765 Ludwigslust became the capital of the duchy in place of Schwerin. The town was enlarged by a residential palace (the castle). This situation continued until 1837, when Grand Duke Paul Friedrich returned the capital status to Schwerin.

The Wöbbelin concentration camp—sometimes referred to as Ludwigslust concentration camp[2]—was established by the SS near the city of Ludwigslust in 1945.[3] At the end of World War II, as the Line of contact between Soviet and other Allied forces formed, Ludwigslust was captured by British troops initially, then handed over to American troops. After several months the US troops departed and allowed Soviet troops to enter under the Yalta agreement designating the occupation of Mecklenburg to be administered by the Soviets.

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, according to plans by Johann Joachim Busch. It is called the "Little Versailles of Mecklenburg". The palace is in the middle of the palace garden (Schlosspark), a vast park (120 ha.) in the English style, with canals, fountains and artificial cascades.
  • The Stadtkirche (Municipal- / City-Church), built in 1765–1770 in Neoclassical style with Baroque sway. Its classical design, with a portico resting on six doric columns, gives the church an appearance similar to a Greek temple.

Transport

Twin towns — sister cities
Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Ludwigslust is twinned with:

Sons and daughters of the town
Paul Frederick
Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

References
  1. "Statistisches Amt M-V – Bevölkerungsstand der Kreise, Ämter und Gemeinden 2019". Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (in German). July 2020.
  2. "Concentration Camp Listing". jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
  3. Staff (1967-02-23). "Verzeichnis der Konzentrationslager und ihrer Außenkommandos gemäß § 42 Abs. 2 BEG" (in German). Bundesministerium der Justiz. Archived from the original on 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2008-10-12. 1591 Wöbbelin, Kreis Ludwigslust, Bez. Schwerin, 12.2.1945 bis 2.5.1945 Neuengamme Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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