Kazlų Rūda

Kazlų Rūda (pronunciation^ⓘ) is a city in the Marijampole County in southern Lithuania. It is located 27 km (17 miles) north from Marijampolė. The city is surrounded by forests, but a railway line crosses the city and divides it into almost equal parts.

Kazlų Rūda
Town
Aerial view of Kazlų Rūda
Coat of arms
Kazlų Rūda Location of Kazlų Rūda
Coordinates: 54°45′0″N 23°30′0″E
Country	Lithuania
Ethnographic region	Suvalkija
County	Marijampole County
Municipality	Kazlų Rūda municipality
Eldership	Kazlų Rūda eldership
Capital of	Kazlų Rūda municipality Kazlų Rūda eldership
First mentioned	1744[1]
Government
• Mayor	Mantas Varaška
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,666
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Website	Official website

The former Soviet Army Kazlų Rūda airbase is 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Kazlų Rūda.

History

Train station during World War I

The settlement was founded by Polish Masurian grubbers.^[2] In the 19th century, iron was mined here and iron axes etc. were produced.^[2]

During World War I, it was occupied by Germany. During World War II, it was occupied by the Soviet Union from 1940, by Nazi Germany from 1941, and then once again by the Soviet Union from 1944.

Economy

Inter IKEA Holding operates a manufacturing plant in the city.

Sport

• FK Šilas Kazlų Rūda football club;
• FK Kazlų Rūda football club;
• Kazlų Rūdos miesto stadionas (Stadium of Kazlų Rūda);
• Sports center of Kazlų Rūda;

Twin towns – sister cities

Kazlų Rūda is twinned with six cities:^[3]

• Frombork, Poland^[4]
• Sondershausen, Germany
• Lwówek, Poland
• Koriukivka, Ukraine
• Olecko, Poland
• Gołdap, Poland