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Łuków county (Poland)

Powiat łukowski, Lubelskie voivodship

Last modified: 2011-05-14 by andrew weeks
Keywords: lukow |
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[Łuków county flag] image by Jens Pattke, 10 Jul 2005
adopted 23 Jul 2005; design: Dr. Krzysztof Skupienski Gminy (districts) in Łuków county: See also:

Łuków county flag

Here is the flag of Łuków county, adopted on 23 June 2005.
Source: county website.
Jens Pattke, 10 Jul 2005

The shape of that flag is very interesting. I have travelled frequently in Poland over the last few years and I've not seen anything like that before. I don't suppose anyone with greater language skills than mine has any further information, or photographs of it flying?
Colin Dobson, 10 Jul 2005

The word "Łuk" ("Luk" to make it simpler) means "Bow" (as in Archery), and the designer of the flag, Dr. Krzysztof Skupienski, wanted to stress the history of the
region in the symbolism of the flag of the county.
In the 15th century, the Land of Lukow (Łuków) was covered in 80% with dense forest and hunting deer (with the bow and arrows, obviously) was an important occupation of its inhabitants, hence the shape of the flag resembling the bow.

Further, as Dr. Skupienski explains on the county website, the Arms are relating the history of the territory. In 1474 King Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk (Casimir Jagiellon) ordered the formation of the Lublin Voivodship out of the Lands of Lublin, Lukow and Urzedowo. The three deer, adorned with the golden crowns on necks, represent the belonging of the Land of Lukow to the Voivodship of Lublin as one of the original components. (Single deer with the crown is the Coat of Arms of the Land of Lublin dating back to the early 14th century, as described in "Insigniorum clenodiorum Regis et Regni Poloniae descriptio" by Jan Dlugosz, long before it was to become a Voivodship)

The alternating horizontal stripes of yellow and white in the fly portion of the flag stand for the heraldic colors of the arms - gold and silver (or and argent).

Because of the relative novelty of the flag it is hard to find any photograph of it on the net yet. I will be in Poland in September and will try to get a more detailed
explanation for the shape of this flag from Mr Alfred Znamierowski, as he is a member of the Heraldic Commission of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, which approved the design of the county's flag as being in line with the heraldic and vexilollogical requirements.

BTW, the pronunciation of the name "Łuków" is closest to an English "Wookoof".
Chrystian Kretowicz, 10 Jul 2005


Łuków county Coat of Arms

[Łuków county Coat of Arms] image by Jens Pattke, 10 Jul 2005