Dolní Lukavice


Dolní Lukavice is a municipality and village in Plzeň-South District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of about 1,000.

Geography

Dolní Lukavice lies approximately south of Plzeň and south-west of Prague.

History

The Morzin family

The village was the seat of the aristocratic Morzin family, headed by 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 they hired the young composer Joseph Haydn to serve as their Kapellmeister, leading the family's small orchestra. Haydn followed the Morzins back and forth in their annual migrations: summers in Dolní Lukavice, 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 Esterházy family.