Country Czech Republic District Plzeň-South Elevation 346 m Local time Thursday 6:41 PM | Region Plzeň Postal code 334 01 to 334 44 Area 18.73 km² Population 815 (2006) | |
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Weather 9°C, Wind SW at 11 km/h, 72% Humidity | ||
Dolní Lukavice (German: Unter-Lukawitz, Unterlukawitz) is a village and municipality (obec) in Plzeň-South District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.
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Map of Doln%C3%AD Lukavice, Czechia
Location, population, and area
The municipality covers an area of 18.73 square kilometres (7.23 sq mi), and has a population of 815 (as of 28 August 2006).
Dolní Lukavice lies approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) south of Plzeň and 95 km (59 mi) south-west of Prague.
The Morzin family
The village was the seat of the aristocratic Morzin family, headed by a count; see Count Morzin. The handsome Morzin palace survives but is not in good condition. In 1988 it was reported as being used as a mental hospital; at present it is empty. The current owners have begun restoration work and seek additional funding to accelerate the process.
Haydn
During the mid-18th century the Morzin family was very musical, and in 1759 (by some sources, 1757) they hired the young composer Joseph Haydn to serve as their Kapellmeister (music director), leading the family's small orchestra. Haydn followed the Morzins back and forth in their annual migrations: summers in Dolní Lukavice (referred to as "Lukavec" in most Haydn biographies), and winters in the imperial capital of Vienna. It was Haydn's first professional position, and as Kapellmeister he composed and premiered his first 15 or so symphonies. Financial trouble forced the Morzins to disband their musical establishment in 1761, and Haydn changed jobs to work for the (far wealthier) Esterházy family.