Geography
Luzech is a small town of around 1,750 inhabitants, located in Quercy at the heart of the vineyard of Cahors wine making region (AOC) on the ancient line Monsempron – Libos – Cahors between Fumel and Cahors. Encircled by the river Lot, Luzech is a peninsula, an inescapable stage on the circuit "Empowered by the Lot". A dam, the ''Barrage de Luzech'' was constructed in the late 1940s. Animated by very active associations, the town offers many socio-cultural and sporting activities, such as orienteering, fishing and kayaking. Luzech is situated on an isthmus formed by the Lot, 90 m wide (or 300 Roman feet), bordered to the north by the hill of the Impernal (150 m) and to the south by that of the Pistoule (70 m), so that the river bypasses a loop, called "cingle" (meander). The central square (main street) is built on the site of an old canal, created for navigation in 1840, and filled in between 1940 and 1950. It shortened the navigation on the Lot by around 5 km. As part of the navigation project of the Lot as far as Aiguillon, there is currently an impassable barrier at Luzech, but projects are underway to advance it.Place Names
The place name Luzech could be based on Gallic names such as Lucetios, Luteus or Lutos followed by -ecia 1.History
Luzech was already inhabited in prehistoric times, including the Pech de la Nène. Before the Roman conquest, the Gauls built an oppidum on the Impernal, naturally fortified by its rugged character. Luzech was among the places in the Lot considered to possibly be the famous fortified camp of Uxellodunum. The hypothesis was defended once upon a time byHéraldique
Its blazon is: Écu quartered: first and fourth silver, with Azure Griffin, the second and third with Silver Crescent.Political trends and results
Related article : Élections municipales de 2014 dans le Lot.List of the Mayors
* March 2001 , 2014 , Jean-Claude Baldy, PRG , * March 1989 , 2001 , Henri Castagnède , PRG , Conseiller généralDemography
In 2017, the municipality had 1,815 inhabitants.Economy
The river port of Luzech is managed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Lot.Sites and monuments
* Château de Caïx * Château dof Luzech or Tour of Luzech. Tour de l'ancien château de Luzech was classified as an ancient monument on 18 February 1905, note 6. * Uxellodunum * Chapelle de Notre-Dame-de-l'Île : la chapelle de Notre-Dame de l'île 3 km to the south, dated 1504. elle est due à l'évêque Antoine de Luzech, elle abrite une vierge à l'Enfant du xve siècle. L'édifice est inscrit au titre des monuments historiques en 1929, note 7. * Chapelle Saint-Jacques de Luzech ou des Pénitents Bleus * la chapelle gothique des pénitents bleus construite en briques, elle se distingue des autres monuments de culte de la région. La chapelle est inscrite au titre des monuments historiques en 1995, note 8. * L'église Saint-Pierre des xive et xve siècles se compose d'une nef de trois travées, flanquée de bas-côtés, et d’un chevet plat ajouré d'une baie à remplage. Le clocher-tour carré, massif, s'élève au-dessus du chœur. * Église Saint-Martin-de-Caïx de Luzech : l'église de Caïx à 2 km au nord de Luzech, en direction de Caillac est inscrite au titre des monuments historiques en 1993, note 9. * L'église Notre-Dame de Camy 3 km west of Luzech, in the direction of Castelfranc est inscrite au titre des monuments historiques en 1976, note 10. * L'église de Fages à 3 km à l'ouest de Luzech, sur le plateau * Monument aux morts signé Henri Bouchard * Maison des Consuls est inscrite au titre des monuments historiques en 1974, note 11. * Oppidum de Luzech : Oppidum classé monument historique en 1984, note 12.Education
The Scholarly City
In 2014, the site of the Scholarly City was begun. This will bring together the nursery, primary and secondary schools. Funding is provided by the Department of the Lot, and by the town of Luzech for a total amount of €16.4 million, including €12 million for the College. The first stone was laid on 19 December 2014 by Serge Rigal (Chairman of the Department), Gérard Alazard (Mayor of Luzech) and three children: one for kindergarten, one for primary and one for college. The school will accommodate 450 students with the possibility of extending it to 500, a primary school size 150 and kindergarten size 90 on 6000 m2. Thirty companies of which a third are from the department of the Lot, participated in the construction. The Scholarly City was officially inaugurated by François Hollande, President of the Republic, in April 2017.The Impernal College
The college of the Imperial of Luzech is located on the left bank of Lot, 150 meters south of the east-west route D8. For the 2014-2015 school year, 292 students were enrolled and divided into twelve classes, on four levels, from sixth to third. 51 students are part of the rugby Sports Section.Primary school
The public primary school has 69 students divided into 3 classes of 16 students each.Nursery school
The public kindergarten hosted 71 children, divided into three classes, in 2012.Sport
The rugby club XV, the Sports Union of Luzech, evolved into the Championship of France, 3rd Federal division, for the 2010-2011 season. It was relegated for the 2011-2012 season. In 2013-2014, it was promoted again to a higher grade.Personalities linked to the commune
* Margrethe II of Denmark * Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, prince of Denmark * Bernadette Ségol, Secretary General of the European Confederation of the unions, is a native of Luzech.References
* Gaston Bazalgues, À la découverte des noms de lieux du Quercy : Toponymie lotoise, Gourdon, Éditions de la Bouriane et du Quercy, juin 2002, 127 p. (), p. 116. * "Uxellodunum : ville principale des Cadurques dans la Gaule celtique, qui, plus que toute autre, incarna l'honneur national des Gaulois et dont la reddition mit le point final à la conquête romaine. On n'arrive pas à se mettre d'accord sur sa localisation : Puy d'Issolud, Luzech, Capdenac, Murcens ? Un érudit local, Émile Albouy, entreprit, il y a quelques années (en 1957) de trancher ce problème particulièrement controversé. Il se prononce en faveur de Luzech. Sa démonstration parait assez convaincante" Annexe à la traduction de "la Guerre des Gaules" de César, La Pléiade, page 1080 * Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui rchivesur le site de l'École des hautes études en sciences sociales. * Fiches Insee - Populations légales de la commune pour les années 2005 rchive 2008 rchive 2010 rchive 2013 rchive * Le Lot partie Chemins de fer p. 202 - Armand Viré - Réédition de l'ouvrage de 1907 - * "Château de Luzech" rchive base Mérimée, ministère français de la Culture * "Chapelle de Notre-Dame-de-l'Île" rchive base Mérimée, ministère français de la Culture. * "Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus" rchive base Mérimée, ministère français de la Culture. * « Église Saint-Martin-de-Caïx » rchive base Mérimée, ministère français de la Culture. * « Église Notre-Dame de Camy » rchive base Mérimée, ministère français de la Culture. * « Maison des Consuls » rchive base Mérimée, ministère français de la Culture. * « Oppidum de Luzech » rchive base Mérimée, ministère français de la Culture. * « Le chantier de la Cité scolaire de Luzech en images » rchive sur http://lot.fr rchive 31 octobre 2014 (consulté le 1er février 2015).External links
* {{authority control Communes of Lot (department)