Aizkraukle

In the second half of the 14th century Livonian Order built the Aizkraukle Castle, a few kilometres downstream from the ancient hillfort of Livs. The ruins of the castle still remain today. Before World War I, the settlement that stood near the site of modern-day Aizkraukle was known by its German name of Ascheraden.

The modern town was established in 1961 as a settlement to house the builders of the nearby hydroelectric power plant of Pļaviņas.[1] It was originally called Stučka[2] (or "Стучка", Stuchka[3] and "имени Петра Стучки", imeni Petra Stuchki[1] in Russian), for Pēteris Stučka, a Latvian communist.[1] Town status was granted to it in 1967,[1][2] which is also when it became the administrative center of Stučkas District. In 1990, it was renamed Aizkraukle, after the nearest railway station.[1] The name literally means beyond the Kraukle River.[1]

General industries in the area include power generation, woodworking, printing, and agriculture.

In 2004 Aizkraukle was awarded "The tidiest town in Latvia 2004" in its size group.

• 
  Aizkraukle Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church
• 
  Soviet-era supermarket

• Aizkraukle Station